Annas Hummingbird (Calypte anna)

A Photographic Guide to Southern Californias HummingbirdsBy Ryan Winkleman

Why Hummingbirds?

Theyre everywhereAside from adult males, they can range from moderately difficult to extremely difficult to ID, especially during late summer and migration when different age classes are presentThree of our six local species are considered sensitive by USFWS

Annas Hummingbird (Calypte anna)

Adult MaleSoCal Status, Distribution, and HabitatWidespread year-round throughout all of southern California. Very common in the coastal region. Utilizes all habitats readily, but ubiquitous in residential areas and at feeders.

Distinguishing Field MarksLarge (3.5-4), typically appears thin.Bill medium-length and straight or slightly decurved.Bright rose/pink or coppery gorget that covers the entire throat and head.Upper breast is medium/pale gray with mottling.Bright green or bluish green on back.Scaly green underparts.Tail extends well beyond wingtips.

VocalizationsSong Tik callsDive display tail pop

Photo by Jeff Bray, https://flic.kr/p/gShMDu

Annas Hummingbird (Calypte anna)Adult Female & JuvenilesSoCal Status, Distribution, and HabitatWidespread year-round throughout all of southern California. Very common in the coastal region. Utilizes all habitats readily, but ubiquitous in residential areas and at feeders.

Distinguishing Field MarksLarge (3.5-4), typically appears thin.Bill medium-length and straight or slightly decurved.Throat grayish with iridescent mottling. Rose or coppery patch in the center.Gray auricular patch.Bright green or bluish green on back.Scaly green to grayish or dingy white underparts.Tail extends to or beyond wingtips.Juvenile male has iridescent rosy feathers mottled throughout its throat and head, more than adult female and less than adult male. Very young males will lack any iridescent feathers.Juvenile female typically lacks the iridescent central throat patch of an adult female.

VocalizationsTik callsJuvenile male songFledgling callsTop photo by Jeff Bray, https://flic.kr/p/ozvXEu; bottom photos by Brad Schram, https://flic.kr/p/pan3Ke and https://flic.kr/p/pan8E4

Costas Hummingbird (Calypte costae)Adult MaleSoCal Status, Distribution, and HabitatWidespread throughout southern California. Most common in desert woodlands from late Jan to late May before mostly departing, and in the coastal region from mid-March to late September. After June (post-breeding), tends to migrate onto the immediate coast. Some birds remain on the coast year-round. Breeds in washes and riparian woodland in desert scrub habitat, as well as chaparral and coastal sage scrub.

Distinguishing Field MarksSmall (3-3.5), typically appears hunched over and fat.Relatively short, slightly decurved bill.Long, purple gorget covering entire throat and head.Green back.White/gray wraps up the neck to meet the eyeline.Green breast with central white stripe (vested appearance).Wingtips extend to or beyond the tail.VocalizationsSongCallTop photo by Jeff Bray, https://flic.kr/p/rZV7kBBottom photo by Anthony Gliozzo, https://flic.kr/p/fmygsA

Costas Hummingbird (Calypte costae)Adult Female & JuvenilesSoCal Status, Distribution, and HabitatWidespread throughout southern California. Most common in desert woodlands from late Jan to late May before mostly departing, and in the coastal region from mid-March to late September. After June (post-breeding), tends to migrate onto the immediate coast. Some birds remain on the coast year-round. Breeds in washes and riparian woodland in desert scrub habitat, as well as chaparral and sage scrub. Distinguishing Field MarksSmall (3-3.5), typically appears hunched over and fat.Relatively short, slightly decurved bill.Plain throat or small patch of iridescent feathers in the center.Green or golden-green back.Clean white to pale gray on breast and belly.Wingtips extend to or beyond the tail.Juvenile male and female both have broad buffy feather edges.Juvenile male has patchy purple feathers on its throat, developing as it ages.VocalizationsCallTop photo by Curtis Marantz, https://flic.kr/p/sxoZy5; bottom left photo by Brad Schram, https://flic.kr/p/4Ejo8y; bottom right photo by Jim Gain, https://flic.kr/p/J58tD8

Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri)Adult MaleSoCal Status, Distribution, and HabitatWidespread throughout the coastal region, rarer in the desert (although common along the Colorado River). Typically resident in the coastal region from early April to mid-September (mid-March to mid-August on the Colorado River). Adult males are the first to leave.Breeds in canyon and lowland riparian woodlands dominated by willows, sycamores, and cottonwoods, as well as oak woodlands.Distinguishing Field MarksMedium (3.25-3.75) and typically appears thin.Relatively long bill, slightly to moderately decurved.Cheek and throat black, with thin purple band at bottom of throat.Green on back and on sides, with vested appearance.Conspicuous white collar.Tail extends beyond wingtips and is flipped and spread almost continuously while hovering.VocalizationsInteraction callsShuttle displayPhoto by Tom Ford-Hutchinson, https://flic.kr/p/Hv37U5

Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri)Adult Female & JuvenilesSoCal Status, Distribution, and HabitatWidespread throughout the coastal region, rarer in the desert (although common along the Colorado River). Typically resident in the coastal region from early April to mid-September (mid-March to mid-August on the Colorado River). Breeds in canyon and lowland riparian woodlands dominated by willows, sycamores, and cottonwoods, as well as oak woodlands.Juveniles hatch from April to August.Distinguishing Field MarksMedium (3.25-3.75) and typically appears thin.Relatively long bill, slightly to moderately decurved.Green back, clean white underparts with grayish-green sides and buffy flanks (more pronounced in juveniles).Gray cheek extends onto neck.Throat varies from ummarked to streaked or with a spot in the center of the gorget.Tail extends beyond wingtips and is flipped and spread almost continuously while hovering.Juvenile bill typically shorter than adult female.Juvenile male has patchy purple feathers on its throat.VocalizationsInteraction callsTop photo by Sherry Meddick, https://flic.kr/p/p3BHz8; bottom left photo by Sherry Meddick, https://flic.kr/p/fMskvH; bottom right photo by Brad Schram, https://flic.kr/p/dbHpyW

Allens Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin)Adult MaleSoCal Status, Distribution, and HabitatWidespread and common year-round throughout the immediate coastal region, rarer inland (Riverside, San Bernardino) but gradually expanding north, east, and south. Breeds in coastal sage scrub and in woodlands.Distinguishing Field MarksMedium (3.2-3.6).Green back and crown with orange rump.Orange sides.Bright orange gorget covering throat only.Rectrices differ from Rufous Hummingbird by having a very thin R5 and a smooth R2.VocalizationsZee-chuppity callSingle-note callsMale wing buzzDive displayPhotos by Jeff Bray, https://flic.kr/p/hH6WYu and https://flic.kr/p/mYPfrk

Allens Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin)Adult Female & JuvenilesSoCal Status, Distribution, and HabitatWidespread and common year-round throughout the immediate coastal region, rarer inland (Riverside, San Bernardino) but gradually expanding north, east, and south. Breeds in coastal sage scrub and in woodlands.Young hatch between February and July and are the only juveniles of the Selasphorus genus to be present before fall migration (July to September).Distinguishing Field MarksMedium (3.2-3.6).Green back, crown, and rump.White underparts with orange sides.Throat has iridescent central spot and light spotting on the sides (adult female), moderately to heavily speckled (juvenile male), or lightly speckled (juvenile female).Tail extends past wingtips.Tails slightly different but in all cases rectrices differ from Rufous Hummingbird by having a smooth R2.Juveniles and adult females not safely identifiable from Rufous Hummingbirds in the field.VocalizationsZee-chuppity callSingle-note callsTop photo by Robert McNab, https://flic.kr/p/H2jg1y; bottom left photo by Trish Gussler, https://flic.kr/p/cCb5AS; bottom right photo by Tom Benson, https://flic.kr/p/rU1HY6

Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)Adult MaleSoCal Status, Distribution, and HabitatOnly passes through southern California during spring (late February to mid-April) and fall (early July to mid-September).Favors the coastal region (primarily the coastal mountains) during spring migration and the mountains and deserts during fall migration.Distinguishing Field MarksLarge (3.5-4).~95% are oranged-backed, and ~5% have green backs.Green crown.Orange sides.Bright orange gorget covering throat only.Rectrices differ from Allens Hummingbird by having a wider R5 and a notched R2.VocalizationsCalls and chase callsDive displayPhotos by Brad Schram, https://flic.kr/p/vARzZf and https://flic.kr/p/rVL83G

Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)Adult Females & JuvenilesSoCal Status, Distribution, and HabitatOnly passes through southern California during spring (late February to mid-April) and fall (early July to mid-September). Only adults present in the spring.Favors the coastal region (primarily the coastal mountains) during spring migration and the mountains and deserts during fall migration.Young hatch from early April to mid-July and are present in SoCal during the fall.Distinguishing Field MarksLarge (3.5-4).Virtually identical to Allens Hummingbirds of similar classes.Tails slightly different from each other. Adult females and juvenile males typically show a subtle notch in the R2, typically not visible in juvenile females.Juveniles and adult females not safely identifiable from Allens Hummingbirds in the field off breeding grounds.VocalizationsCallsPhoto by Jerry McFarland, https://flic.kr/p/o51QPi

Calliope Hummingbird (Selasphorus calliope)Adult MaleSoCal Status, Distribution, and HabitatOnly passes through the immediate coastal region and deserts, generally from late March to early May. Rare in these areas during migration. Rare summer breeder in the mountains.Distinguishing Field MarksVery small (2.75-3.25). Smallest breeding bird in North America.Red or reddish-purple gorget, visible as individual long, pointed feathers on throat only. Green back.White underparts.Green sides.Tail equal to or slightly shorter than wingtips.VocalizationsCallDisplay diveTop photo by Brad Dawson, https://flic.kr/p/ruUc21Bottom photo by Jeff Bray, https://flic.kr/p/mSAcGH

Calliope Hummingbird (Selasphorus calliope)Adult FemaleSoCal Status, Distribution, and HabitatOnly passes through the immediate coastal region and deserts, generally from late March to early May. Rare in these areas during migration. Rare summer breeder in the mountains.Distinguishing Field MarksVery small (2.75-3.25). Smallest breeding bird in North America.Throat spotted.Green back.White underparts with cinnamon wash on breast, side, and flanks.Tail slightly shorter than wingtips.Short bill with white line above base.VocalizationsCallPhoto by Tom Benson, https://flic.kr/p/t3Jc8S

The End

Thank you to everybody whose photos and recordings I usedThank you to Doug Willick, Jeff Bray, Tom Benson, and Tom Ford-Hutchinson for their invaluable assistance and feedback

Source material: Sheri Williamson, A Field Guide to Hummingbirds of North America; Kimball Garrett and Jon Dunn, Birds of Southern California Status and Distribution; and Kenn Kaufman, Field Guide to Advanced Birding