Anna's Hummingbird vs Fiery Topaz
Calypte anna compared with Topaza pyra
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Anna's Hummingbird | Fiery Topaz |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Topaza pyra |
| 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) | 15.2 cm (6.0 in) |
| Weight | 4.3 g (0.15 oz) | 12.8 g (0.45 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Visits a wide variety of native and ornamental flowering … | Primarily nectar-feeding; uses exceptionally curved bill to access heliconia blossoms; supplements with small 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.
Fiery Topaz
Gentle, whistled three-note phrase with falling inflection; soft, pure tones delivered slowly with expressive melodic quality.
Geographic Range & Migration
Anna's Hummingbird
Western North America from southern British Columbia along the Pacific coast to Baja California. Range has expanded northward.
Fiery Topaz
Found in the western Amazon basin from Colombia and Ecuador south to Peru and Bolivia. Resident in lowland and foothill forest along rivers.
Conservation Status
Anna's Hummingbird
Fiery Topaz
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
Fiery Topaz
Males fiery orange-red body with glittering golden-orange gorget; elongated crossed purplish tail feathers; female bronze-green above, cinnamon below; Amazonian species with slightly more orange tone than Crimson Topaz.
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.
Fiery Topaz
A spectacular, large hummingbird (18-20 cm) of the western Amazon basin. Male has a brilliant fiery-red throat and breast with iridescent golden-green upperparts. Nectarivore of lowland rainforest canopy. Found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and western Brazil. Visits Heliconia and other large tropical flowers.