Anna's Hummingbird vs Black-backed Thornbill
Calypte anna compared with Ramphomicron dorsale
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | Black-backed Thornbill |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Ramphomicron dorsale |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | 10.0 cm (3.9 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 12.0 cm (4.7 in) | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) |
| Weight | 4.3 g (0.15 oz) | 3.5 g (0.12 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … | Nectarivore of high montane scrub and páramo; short bill suits small compact flowers. Gleans tiny … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Anna's Hummingbird only
Black-backed Thornbill only
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.
Black-backed Thornbill
Soft, sibilant hissing trill; gentle continuous buzz with slight pulsing quality during slow hover near blossoms.
Geographic Range & Migration
Anna's Hummingbird
Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.
Black-backed Thornbill
Endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, in high-elevation scrub and páramo. 1,800–3,500 m. Found nowhere else.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
Black-backed Thornbill
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
Black-backed Thornbill
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.
Black-backed Thornbill
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) endemic to the Santa Marta Mountains of northern Colombia at 3,000-4,600 m. Dark back, tiny bill, and white underparts. Nectarivore of high-altitude páramo. Classified as Vulnerable due to restricted mountain-top habitat.