Anna's Hummingbird vs Glow-throated Hummingbird
Calypte anna compared with Selasphorus ardens
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | Glow-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Selasphorus ardens |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Endangered |
| Length | 10.0 cm (3.9 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 12.0 cm (4.7 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 4.3 g (0.15 oz) | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … | Nectarivore of Chiriquí highlands; feeds at flowering understorey shrubs and supplements with insects and spiders. |
| 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.
Glow-throated Hummingbird
Deep, hollow resonant churr; low-frequency buzzing sound vibrating persistently through tropical forest canopy.
Geographic Range & Migration
Anna's Hummingbird
Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.
Glow-throated Hummingbird
Endemic to the western highlands of Panama at 900-2,000 m in the Chiriquí region. Classified as Endangered.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
Glow-throated Hummingbird
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
Glow-throated Hummingbird
Black-billed Streamertail: males with glittering green body; elongated tail streamers; black bill; females plain green above; spotted
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.
Glow-throated Hummingbird
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) endemic to the western highlands of Panama at 900-2,000 m. Males have a glowing magenta throat. Nectarivore of cloud forest edges. Classified as Endangered due to extremely restricted range in the Chiriquí highlands.