Anna's Hummingbird vs Rufous Hummingbird
Calypte anna compared with Selasphorus rufus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | Rufous Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Selasphorus rufus |
| 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) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 4.3 g (0.15 oz) | 3.72 g (0.13 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … | Highly migratory nectarivore visiting a wide diversity of western North American flowers. Supplements with insects … |
| 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.
Rufous Hummingbird
Soft, liquid notes with gentle melancholy; mellow flowing sequence with subtle sadness in quiet forest.
Geographic Range & Migration
Anna's Hummingbird
Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.
Rufous Hummingbird
Breeds from Alaska south to Oregon. Migrates up to 6,400 km to winter in Mexico, the longest migration relative to body size of any bird.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous 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
Rufous Hummingbird
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.
Rufous Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) known for its extraordinary migration, traveling up to 6,400 km between breeding grounds in Alaska and wintering areas in Mexico. Males have a brilliant orange-red gorget. The longest migration relative to body size of any bird.