Anna's Hummingbird vs Buffy Helmetcrest
Calypte anna compared with Oxypogon stuebelii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | Buffy Helmetcrest |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Oxypogon stuebelii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | 10.0 cm (3.9 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 12.0 cm (4.7 in) | 11.1 cm (4.4 in) |
| Weight | 4.3 g (0.15 oz) | 5.4 g (0.19 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … | Nectarivore of high páramo and superparamo; visits sparse Espeletia and Chuquiraga flowers in harsh conditions. … |
| 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.
Buffy Helmetcrest
Pure, sustained flute-like tone; single clear note held steadily then fading, warm and round in quiet forest shade.
Geographic Range & Migration
Anna's Hummingbird
Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.
Buffy Helmetcrest
Endemic to the Ruiz-Tolima volcanic massif of Colombia in high páramo at 3,800–4,800 m. Locally common.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
Buffy 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
Buffy Helmetcrest
Purple-chested Hummingbird: males with brilliant iridescent violet-purple breast; metallic green above; females green with spotted below
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.
Buffy Helmetcrest
A small hummingbird (11-12 cm) endemic to the central Andes of Colombia at 3,500-4,500 m. Males have a striking erect crest and buffy beard. Nectarivore of high-altitude páramo, visiting Espeletia frailejón plants. Named after the German explorer Alphons Stübel.