Anna's Hummingbird vs Blue-bearded Helmetcrest
Calypte anna compared with Oxypogon cyanolaemus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | Blue-bearded Helmetcrest |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Oxypogon cyanolaemus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Endangered |
| Length | 10.0 cm (3.9 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 12.0 cm (4.7 in) | 14.0 cm (5.5 in) |
| Weight | 4.3 g (0.15 oz) | 4.8 g (0.17 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … | Nectarivore of Venezuelan páramo; forages at Espeletia and Ericaceae blooms in cold conditions. Catches small … |
| 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-bearded Helmetcrest
Rapid, mechanical clicking in even rhythm; dry staccato notes forming continuous even sequence typical of swift.
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-bearded Helmetcrest
Endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, in high páramo at 3,000–4,600 m. Critically endangered.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
Blue-bearded Helmetcrest
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-bearded Helmetcrest
Blue-chested Hummingbird: males with glittering blue-green gorget; metallic bronze-green above; females green above; buff underparts
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-bearded Helmetcrest
A small hummingbird (11-12 cm) endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, at 3,500-4,700 m. Males have a blue beard and erect crest. Critically Endangered due to extremely restricted páramo habitat on an isolated mountain range.