Anna's Hummingbird vs Ecuadorian Piedtail
Calypte anna compared with Phlogophilus hemileucurus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | Ecuadorian Piedtail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Phlogophilus hemileucurus |
| 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) | 10.0 cm (3.9 in) |
| Weight | 4.3 g (0.15 oz) | 2.56 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … | Nectarivore of Andean foothill undergrowth; visits small epiphyte and Heliconia flowers. Supplements with arthropods. |
| 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.
Ecuadorian Piedtail
High, crystalline notes in musical phrase; clear bright sequence ascending smoothly in cheerful morning vocalisation.
Geographic Range & Migration
Anna's Hummingbird
Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.
Ecuadorian Piedtail
Found on both Andean slopes in Ecuador in humid foothill and lower montane forest. 400–1,600 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
Ecuadorian Piedtail
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
Ecuadorian Piedtail
Costa's Hummingbird: males with brilliant violet gorget with elongated side gorget feathers; metallic green above; females plain 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.
Ecuadorian Piedtail
A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in Andean cloud forests of Colombia and Ecuador at 1,000-2,000 m. Green plumage with white-tipped tail and dusky breast. Nectarivore of montane forest. Found in dense, mossy cloud forest understory. Uncommon.