Anna's Hummingbird vs Blue-throated Hillstar
Calypte anna compared with Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | Blue-throated Hillstar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Critically Endangered |
| Length | 10.0 cm (3.9 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 12.0 cm (4.7 in) | — |
| Weight | 4.3 g (0.15 oz) | 7.6 g (0.27 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … | Nectarivore adapted to very high elevations; forages at Chuquiraga, Gentianella, and Puya flowers. Gleans arthropods. |
| Clutch Size | 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.
Blue-throated Hillstar
Buzzy, sustained trill with monotonous quality; continuous low-pitched vibration with little variation across prolonged delivery.
Geographic Range & Migration
Anna's Hummingbird
Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.
Blue-throated Hillstar
Endemic to the Cordillera de Chilla region of extreme southwestern Ecuador in high páramo. 3,200–4,200 m. Endangered.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
Blue-throated 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
Blue-throated Hillstar
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.
Blue-throated Hillstar
A recently discovered hummingbird (11 cm) from the southwestern Andes of Ecuador at 3,300-3,900 m. Males have an iridescent blue throat. Described in 2018. Known from a single ridgeline. Critically Endangered with a range estimated at less than 100 km2.