Anna's Hummingbird vs Minute Hermit
Calypte anna compared with Phaethornis idaliae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | Minute Hermit |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Phaethornis idaliae |
| 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) | 6.9 cm (2.7 in) |
| Weight | 4.3 g (0.15 oz) | 2.25 g (0.08 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … | Nectarivore specializing in Heliconia and other curved tubular flowers. Supplements diet with small spiders and … |
| 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.
Minute Hermit
Harsh, grating buzz with mechanical quality; abrupt dry trill issued suddenly then stopping, leaving brief startling silence.
Geographic Range & Migration
Anna's Hummingbird
Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.
Minute Hermit
Endemic to the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil from Espírito Santo to Santa Catarina. Found at sea level to 900 m.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
Minute 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
Minute 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.
Minute Hermit
A tiny hermit hummingbird (6-7 cm), one of the smallest in its genus. Endemic to the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil. Green plumage with rufous underparts and a short, curved bill. Nectarivore of low forest undergrowth. Classified as Near Threatened due to habitat loss.