Anna's Hummingbird

Anna's Hummingbird is a familiar year-round resident along the Pacific Coast, well adapted to urban gardens as well as native chaparral and scrub. Its feathers show iridescent green upperparts, and males possess an extensive iridescent rose-pink to magenta patch covering not just the throat but also the crown, a feature that distinguishes them from most other North American hummingbirds whose colorful patch is limited to the throat.

Size and Shape

Feathers are extremely small, with narrow flight feathers and dense, scale-like body feathers typical of hummingbirds.

Color and Pattern

• Crown and throat feathers (male): iridescent rose-pink to magenta, appearing dark or blackish without direct light
• Back and crown base feathers: iridescent green
• Underparts: grayish, with some green flecking on the sides
• Female throat feathers: mostly whitish gray with a few iridescent red-pink spots

Distinguishing from Similar Species

Anna's Hummingbird males are unique among common North American species in having iridescent color on the crown as well as the throat; most other species, such as Ruby-throated or Black-chinned, show color restricted to the throat gorget alone. The pinkish-magenta tone also differs from the purer red of Ruby-throated or the purple lower band of Black-chinned Hummingbird.

Adult males show an iridescent rose-pink to magenta crown and throat with green upperparts and grayish underparts; adult females have a whitish throat flecked with a few iridescent spots and duller green upperparts. Juveniles resemble females, with young males gradually acquiring full crown and throat iridescence over their first year. Molt in this largely non-migratory species can occur across an extended period given the mild climate much of the population inhabits.

Anna's Hummingbird is resident along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia south through California into northern Mexico, occupying gardens, chaparral, coastal scrub, and urban and suburban areas with flowering plants and feeders. Unlike most North American hummingbirds, many populations do not migrate, remaining in place through winter thanks to a mild climate and reliable food sources including feeders.

This species feeds on nectar from native and ornamental flowers as well as feeders, and takes small insects for protein. Females build a small cup nest of plant down and spider silk, often beginning nesting earlier in the year than most other hummingbirds due to the mild winter climate across much of the range. Males perform a spectacular display dive from great height, producing a sharp popping sound at the bottom of the dive using their tail feathers, and also sing a scratchy, buzzy song from perches, unusual among hummingbirds.