Anna's Hummingbird vs Ecuadorian Hillstar
Calypte anna compared with Oreotrochilus chimborazo
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | Ecuadorian Hillstar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Oreotrochilus chimborazo |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 10.0 cm (3.9 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 12.0 cm (4.7 in) | 14.8 cm (5.8 in) |
| Weight | 4.3 g (0.15 oz) | 8.383333333333333 g (0.30 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … | Nectarivore of Ecuadorian highland páramo; visits Chuquiraga jussieui and Puya. Takes small insects on cold … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
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
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.
Ecuadorian Hillstar
Harsh, grating screech with urgent tone; sudden loud rough call given sharply during aerial chase sequences.
Geographic Range & Migration
Anna's Hummingbird
Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.
Ecuadorian Hillstar
Endemic to Chimborazo and neighboring volcanoes in Ecuador in high páramo at 3,500–5,200 m. Nationally iconic.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
Ecuadorian Hillstar
How to Tell Them Apart
Anna's Hummingbird
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.
Medium-length, straight, thin black bill
Ecuadorian Hillstar
Slender-tailed Woodstar: males with iridescent purple-violet gorget; metallic green body; white pectoral tufts; females green above
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.
Ecuadorian Hillstar
A medium-sized hummingbird (12-13 cm) endemic to the highlands of Ecuador at 3,500-5,200 m, notably on Chimborazo volcano. Males have a violet-blue hood and white breast. One of the world's highest-living birds, adapted to extreme altitude with enhanced oxygen-carrying capacity.