Anna's Hummingbird vs Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Calypte anna compared with Selasphorus platycercus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | Broad-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Selasphorus platycercus |
| 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) | 9.8 cm (3.9 in) |
| Weight | 4.3 g (0.15 oz) | 3.4875000000000003 g (0.12 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … | Nectarivore of high-altitude meadows, visiting paintbrush and Penstemon. Captures insects and spiders to supplement nectar … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Anna's Hummingbird only
Broad-tailed Hummingbird 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.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Rapid, buzzy chips in excited sequence; rough staccato notes tumbling quickly with energetic quality near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Anna's Hummingbird
Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Found in mountain meadows of western North America from Idaho to Guatemala at 1,500-3,500 m. Breeds in highlands; winters south.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
Broad-tailed 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
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Copper-rumped Hummingbird: males with iridescent copper rump; metallic green above; glittering violet gorget; females green; spots
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.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (10 cm) found in mountain meadows of the western US from Idaho to Guatemala at 1,500-3,500 m. Males produce a distinctive metallic trilling sound with their tail feathers during display dives. Rose-magenta gorget. Nectarivore of mountain wildflowers.