Anna’s hummingbirds are small, colorful birds known for their incredible speed and ability to hover mid-air. They are part of the hummingbird family, called Trochilidae. French naturalist René Primevère Lesson first described them in 1829 and named them after Anna Masséna, a duchess in France.
| POPULATION SIZE | 8 million |
| LIFE SPAN | 8.5 years |
| TOP SPEED | 60 miles per hour |
| WEIGHT | 14 to 19 gm |
| LENGTH | 9.9 to 10.9 cm |
Identification:
Juvenile Anna’s Hummingbird:
Juvenile Anna’s hummingbirds look less colorful than adults, with grayish-green feathers.
Adult Male Anna’s Hummingbird:
Adult males are easy to identify with their shiny, reddish-pink throat and crown, called a gorget.
Adult Female Anna’s Hummingbird:
Females are mostly green and gray with a small patch of red on their throat, much less flashy than the males.
Size of Anna’s Hummingbird:
- Length: Anna’s hummingbirds are about 3.9 to 4.3 inches long.
- Wingspan: Anna’s hummingbird’s wingspan of around 4.7 inches.
- Weight: Anna’s hummingbirds weigh about 0.1 to 0.2 ounces—tiny and incredibly light!
Also, read All About the Barn Owl
Call of Anna’s Hummingbird:
Habitat:
These birds live along the West Coast of North America, from Southern Canada to Mexico. They can be found in gardens, parks, forests, and even near cities where there are flowers or feeders to provide nectar.
Died/Food:
Anna’s hummingbirds love to eat nectar from flowers and sugar water from feeders. They also eat small insects like gnats and spiders for protein. Their diet helps them stay energetic and fast.
Nesting:
For nesting, females take the lead. They build tiny, cup-shaped nests out of soft materials like moss and plant fibers, held together with spider silk. Nests are often found on tree branches or shrubs, and females lay 2–3 tiny eggs.
Behaviour:
These birds are independent and not very social. They are known for being territorial, especially around food sources, and males perform dramatic dive displays to protect their space. Around humans, they are curious but cautious and will happily visit feeders.
Anna’s Hummingbird Lifespan:
Anna’s hummingbirds live for about 5 to 8 years in the wild. With plenty of food and no predators, some individuals may live even longer.
Anna’s Hummingbird Facts:
- Named After a Duchess: Anna’s hummingbird was named after Anna Masséna, the Duchess of Rivoli, by French naturalist René Primevère Lesson in 1829.
- Incredible Dive Speed: During courtship, males can dive at speeds up to 60 miles per hour, faster than a fighter jet if scaled to their size.
- Super-Lightweight: They weigh only about 0.1 to 0.2 ounces—lighter than a nickel!
- Heart Power: Their hearts beat around 1,200 times per minute during flight, an impressive feat for their tiny bodies.
- Hovering Masters: They can hover perfectly still in mid-air, beating their wings about 50 times per second.
- Longest Lifespan Recorded: The oldest known Anna’s hummingbird lived to be at least 8 years and 2 months old in the wild.
- Smallest Nest Builders: Their nests are about the size of a golf ball, built with spider silk, plant fibers, and moss.
- Color Changing Feathers: The males’ bright pink feathers can appear dull or invisible from certain angles, a natural camouflage.
- Temperature Regulation Superpower: To survive cold nights, they enter a state called torpor, slowing their heart rate and body temperature to conserve energy.
- First Documented in California: The species was first observed and recorded along the Pacific Coast, where they are still most commonly found.
- A researcher studying hummingbirds noticed an Anna’s hummingbird in a seemingly lifeless state during a cold snap. The bird was actually in torpor, a survival technique where they lower their body temperature and heart rate. By morning, it warmed up and resumed normal activity.
FAQ’s about Anna’s Hummingbird:
Are Anna’s hummingbirds rare?
No, Anna’s hummingbirds aren’t rare. They are quite common in their range, especially in areas where people set up feeders for them. Their ability to adapt to human environments has helped their population stay strong.
What are the predators of Anna’s hummingbirds?
Predators of Anna’s hummingbirds include larger birds, like hawks and jays, as well as snakes and cats. They have to stay alert and rely on their speed to escape danger.
Where do you find Anna’s hummingbirds? (Where do they live?)
You’ll find Anna’s hummingbirds in places like gardens, parks, and forests from Southern Canada down to Mexico. They love areas with lots of flowers or feeders filled with sugar water.
Do Anna’s hummingbirds migrate?
Unlike some hummingbirds, Anna’s hummingbirds don’t migrate far. They usually stay in the same area year-round, especially along the West Coast of North America.
Why are Anna’s hummingbirds considered exotic pets?
Anna’s hummingbirds are considered exotic pets because of their vibrant colors, tiny size, and incredible speed. However, keeping them as pets is illegal in most places since they are protected wild animals.
What do Anna’s hummingbirds like to eat?
Their favorite food is nectar from flowers. They also eat small insects like gnats, spiders, and fruit flies, which give them the protein they need to stay healthy and active.
Are Anna’s hummingbirds social birds?
These birds aren’t very social. They prefer to live and feed alone and can be quite territorial. However, they don’t mind humans as long as we don’t bother them. If we provide feeders with sugar water, they might visit often and even become a little curious about us.
How long do Anna’s hummingbirds live?
Anna’s hummingbirds live around 5 to 8 years in the wild, though some can live longer if they avoid predators and find enough food.
What can I feed my pet Anna’s hummingbirds at home?
If we ever had to care for an Anna’s hummingbird, we’d feed it sugar water (a mix of 1 part sugar to 4 parts water), similar to what they’d find in flowers. They also need small insects like fruit flies or gnats for protein. It’s very tricky to mimic their diet fully at home, so they’re better off in the wild.
How much weight can Anna’s hummingbird carry in flight?
Anna’s hummingbirds are tiny and lightweight, so they can only carry very small items, like bits of nesting material. Their strength lies in their speed and maneuverability, not in carrying weight.
What would happen if Anna’s hummingbirds went extinct?
If Anna’s hummingbirds went extinct, it would disrupt plant pollination in their habitat. These birds help flowers and plants reproduce by spreading pollen. Without them, certain plant species might struggle to survive, affecting other animals and the ecosystem.
Can Anna’s hummingbirds swim?
No, Anna’s hummingbirds can’t swim. They’re not built for water and rely entirely on their wings to stay in the air. If they fall into water, they can flap to escape but aren’t capable of swimming.
Are there different types of Anna’s hummingbirds?
Anna’s hummingbirds are a single species, so there aren’t different types of them. However, males and females look slightly different due to their vibrant coloring.
What do Anna’s hummingbirds dislike?
They dislike cold weather, strong winds, and areas without flowers or food sources. They can also be very territorial, fiercely defending their feeding spots from other birds.
Can we pet Anna’s hummingbirds?
No, we can’t keep Anna’s hummingbirds as pets. In the U.S. and most of the EU, it’s illegal to keep them because they are protected by wildlife laws. They are meant to live free in their natural environment, where they can feed, migrate, and thrive.
