Anna's Hummingbird vs Bumblebee Hummingbird
Calypte anna compared with Selasphorus heloisa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | Bumblebee Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Selasphorus heloisa |
| 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) | — |
| Weight | 4.3 g (0.15 oz) | 2.35 g (0.08 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … | Feeds on floral nectar in pine-oak highlands of Mexico, hovering at small tubular blooms. Gleans … |
| 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.
Bumblebee Hummingbird
Thin, high whistle with delicate quality; soft pure note barely audible beyond close range in undergrowth.
Geographic Range & Migration
Anna's Hummingbird
Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.
Bumblebee Hummingbird
Endemic to the mountains of Mexico at 1,800-3,500 m elevation. Resident in pine-oak and cloud forest edges.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
Bumblebee 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
Bumblebee Hummingbird
Steely-vented Hummingbird (alt): males with steel-blue gorget; metallic green above; steel-blue tail; females 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.
Bumblebee Hummingbird
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) endemic to the mountains of Mexico at 1,800-3,500 m. Males have a magenta gorget. Named for its resemblance to a bumblebee in size. Nectarivore of pine-oak and cloud forest. One of the smallest hummingbirds in Mexico.