A Comprehensive Guide To Anna’s Hummingbird

Anna's hummingbird is California's largest hummingbird and a highly popular species. They are found along the Pacific coast and add color to the beauty of different places. This is because these hummingbirds are perky and have bold colors.

An interesting fact about this animal is that it is named after a noblewoman. If you love Anna's hummingbird as much as we do, you've come to the right place. Below we have detailed all the information you need about this highly adaptable species of hummingbird.

How To Identify Anna’s Hummingbird?

If you live in California or another state in the US, you may have already observed Anna's hummingbird. Of course, you may not have realized the species then. However, if you're wondering how they look, worry no more.

A vital feature of the Anna's is that they are tiny and have thin bills that resemble needles. This part of their bodies is straight and completely black. Additionally, females tend to have a longer bill which is noticeable from a close distance.

Besides that, there are some characteristics that only particular Anna’s have. Here is how you can identify these birds depending on their life stage and gender:

Adult Male            

Anna's Hummingbird male

 

The male Anna's hummingbirds     are highly beautiful members of   this species. They have reddish-   pink heads and throats.   Meanwhile, the color of their neck   varies depending on the lighting.   Typically, it may seem orangish-   red or black.

These bright colors enhance the   beauty of the males, and it may   also appear that they have a completely pink head. However, that is not the case. The backside of the neck of these males is green. The sides, abdomen, and chest are primarily gray with some touch of green.

Besides these features, you can also identify male Anna's through their distinctive brown wings and tail. They also have a broken eye-ring that appears pale to most people.

Adult Female        

Anna's Hummingbird f

Unlike the males, most female Anna's don't show iridescence. Instead, their crowns, tails, and backs are primarily green. Meanwhile, the abdomen, chest, and throat are gray.

However, the throat is pale and has some red spots in the center. Besides that, the wings and tails of female Anna's are dark. They also have some white spots on the feathers on the outer side of their tails.

Female Anna’s hummingbird also has a white patch on their eye. However, its significance varies depending on the individual bird. Some have a large patch, while others have a small.

Young Anna’s Hummingbird

Anna's Hummingbird juvenile

All young males and females of this species mainly resemble the adult female Anna’s. They develop gorget like them which is of the respective color as the mature birds. 

Sound Of Anna’s Hummingbird

Typically, hummingbirds are not much vocal, and Anna's have the same characteristic. You can hear their songs throughout the year, which is one of the reasons why people are fascinated by this bird.

The time when you will be able to distinguish Anna's clearly is when they chase prey and intruders. This is because they make a high-pitched buzz during that time. Sometimes they also make sounds such as pip, chip, and much more.

Male Anna’s also sing and are usually found on tree branches or cables when singing. If you’re lucky enough, you may even get to experience the remarkable display that they make when approaching a female member for mating.

Habitats Of Anna’s Hummingbird

Anna’s hummingbirds are easy to find in the US and Canada because they are prevalent throughout the Pacific Coast. Here are some of the places where you can see this bird:

  • Central Baja
  • British Columbia
  • Southern Arizona
  • New Mexico

This species of hummingbird prefers to stay on scrubby grounds and woodland. Both of these habitats are spacious and open, which is why they like to spend their time there. However, Anna's hummingbirds are also highly adaptable.

The members of this species can live in an urbanized area as well due to their adaptability. You may find these birds frequently in some gardens and parks. This is because they stop at hummingbird feeders to rest and refresh themselves.

Migrating Habits Of Anna’s Hummingbird

It is no secret that many birds on this planet are migratory and change places as per weather season. They also move when the food resource at their natural location become scarce. However, Anna's hummingbird rarely migrates and prefers to stay in the same place throughout the year.

The only Anna's that you may find migrating are the ones that live in the extreme southern and northern regions. Some hummingbirds from Texas and Louisiana also migrate, but they do not move away from the Pacific coast.

Mating Of Anna’s Hummingbird

The mating display of Anna's hummingbird is unique and exciting for many bird lovers. This is because the males put on quite a show when approaching their female counterparts.

Typically, a male Anna's dives from a height of 130 feet in front of the female bird. While doing so, they also make a buzzing sound using the feathers of their tails. This gives a signal of mating to the female and also acts as an alarming tune for intruders.

Conservation Status Of Anna’s Hummingbird

Many animals on this planet are endangered or vulnerable, as per the IUCN Red List. This may have you wondering about the conservation status of Anna's hummingbird. 

Well, we have good news for you as this species has a rank of least concern. This means that they are very far from becoming endangered and extinct. However, this does not mean that they are not vulnerable to various threats.

Anna's are prone to window collisions and suffering from loss of habitat too. This is why we must take steps to ensure that humankind doesn't drive this species to extinction. One of the ways to help them is by keeping bird feeders for them and ensuring they don't freeze in cold weather.

Final Words

That was your complete guide to Anna's hummingbird. They are a magnificent species that live on the Pacific coast. If you want to observe them, you can visit different places such as nature centers, gardens, parks, and much more. These locations have bird feeders to which Anna's hummingbirds are attracted.

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