Anna's Hummingbird vs Scale-throated Hermit
Calypte anna compared with Phaethornis eurynome
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | Scale-throated Hermit |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Phaethornis eurynome |
| 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) | 11.7 cm (4.6 in) |
| Weight | 4.3 g (0.15 oz) | 4.96 g (0.17 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … | Nectarivore of long-tubed lowland flowers, especially Heliconia. Gleans small insects and spiders from leaf surfaces. |
| 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.
Scale-throated Hermit
Buzzy, high-pitched trill sustained for several seconds; continuous vibrating note with little variation, insect-like quality.
Geographic Range & Migration
Anna's Hummingbird
Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.
Scale-throated Hermit
Endemic to the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil from Minas Gerais south to Rio Grande do Sul. Found at 100–1,500 m.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
Scale-throated Hermit
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
Scale-throated Hermit
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.
Scale-throated Hermit
A medium-sized hermit hummingbird (14-15 cm) found in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil, northeastern Argentina, and eastern Paraguay. Green plumage with scaled throat pattern and long, white-tipped tail. Nectarivore of forest undergrowth and edges.