Anna's Hummingbird vs Peruvian Racket-tail

Calypte anna compared with Ocreatus peruanus

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Anna's Hummingbird Peruvian Racket-tail
Scientific Name Calypte anna Ocreatus peruanus
Order Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgiformes
Family Trochilidae Trochilidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Not Evaluated
Length 10.0 cm (3.9 in)
Wingspan 12.0 cm (4.7 in)
Weight 4.3 g (0.15 oz) 3.0 g (0.11 oz)
Diet Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … Nectarivore of Peruvian montane forest; forages at diverse Andean flowers. Supplements with small arthropods.
Clutch Size 2 2
Population Trend

Size Comparison

Body Length
Anna's Hummingbird 10.0 cm
Peruvian Racket-tail
Wingspan
Anna's Hummingbird 12.0 cm
Peruvian Racket-tail
Weight
Anna's Hummingbird 4.3 g
Peruvian Racket-tail 3.0 g

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Anna's Hummingbird only

Peruvian Racket-tail only

Anna's Hummingbird

Chaparral, coastal sage scrub, gardens, parks, and open woodland along the Pacific coast. One of few hummingbirds not fully migratory.

Song & Call Comparison

Anna's Hummingbird

Song

Male produces a complex, scratchy song with buzzy 'dzzzzt' notes. Gives a nasal 'chee-chee-chee'. Males sing year-round, even in winter; one of few hummingbirds with true song.

Peruvian Racket-tail

Song

Soft, sibilant hissing trill; gentle continuous buzz with pulsing quality during slow courtship hovering display.

Geographic Range & Migration

Anna's Hummingbird

Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.

Peruvian Racket-tail

Found on the eastern Andean slope in Peru in foothill and lower montane forest. 400–1,600 m elevation.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Anna's Hummingbird

Not Evaluated

Peruvian Racket-tail

How to Tell Them Apart

Anna's Hummingbird

Plumage

Metallic bronze-green upperparts. Males have an iridescent rose-red crown and gorget. Females have green upperparts with grey underparts and a small red gorget patch.

Bill

Medium-length, straight, thin black bill

Peruvian Racket-tail

About These Birds

Anna's Hummingbird

Anna's hummingbird is the most common hummingbird along the Pacific coast and one of only three species resident in the United States year-round. Males perform spectacular dive displays, plummeting from 40 meters and pulling up with a loud chirp produced by tail feathers. Their body temperature can drop to near ambient at night to conserve energy.

Peruvian Racket-tail

A small hummingbird (8-10 cm plus tail rackets in males) found in Andean cloud forests of Peru at 1,500-2,500 m. Males have elongated tail rackets and white leg puffs. Recently split from Booted Racket-tail. Nectarivore of montane forest.

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