The Anna’s is a mostly green hummingbird.  Length 4 in.  Wingspan: 6 in.

• Red throat and crown.
• Upperparts greenish in color.
• Dusky white below with greenish wash.
• White over and behind the eye.
• The bill is relatively short and straight.

Females have a green head and white throat, sometimes with red patch.

Female hummingbirds are generally hard to tell apart.

None.

Lacks red on throat.

Open woods and gardens, coastal scrub, chaparral.

Nectar from flowers. Young are fed small insects as well.

Forages near constantly to maintain high metabolism. Courtship display includes aerobatic dives and back-and-forth flights in front of female.

Primarily the West Coast of the U.S. and some distance inland, including southern Arizona. Anna’s Hummingbirds have adapted well to ornamental plantings in residential gardens.

More information:

Bent Life History

Visit the Bent Life History for extensive additional information on the American Goldfinch.

Wing Shape

The shape of a bird's wing is often an indication of its habits and behavior. Fast flying birds have long, pointed wings. Soaring birds have long, broad wings. Different songbirds will have a slightly different wing shape. Some species look so much alike (Empidonax flycatchers) that scientists sometimes use the length of specific feathers to confirm a species' identification.

• Male, Washington, Sept. (molting)
• From below

Wing images from the University of Puget Sound, Slater Museum of Natural History

One of the few North American hummingbirds that sings frequently during the breeding season.

Song consists of a scratchy series of notes. Chase call is a rapid chatter.