Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
Anna’s Hummingbird vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Anna’s Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Anna’s Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Anna’s Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Anna’s Hummingbird vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Calypte anna vs Archilochus colubris): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
The continent’s two default hummingbirds, split by the Rockies. Three rules:
- Check the map: east of the Rocky Mountains, the only breeding hummingbird is the Ruby-throated; on the Pacific coast, the year-round default is Anna’s.
- Male head: ruby-red gorget on the throat only, with a green crown = Ruby-throated; entire crown and throat flashing rose-pink = Anna’s.
- Season: a hummingbird at a feeder in January on the West Coast = Anna’s; Ruby-throated winter in Central America and return to eastern yards in April–May.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
East meets West, side by side. KEY rows separate fastest.
| Feature | Anna’s Hummingbird | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Archilochus colubris |
| Length | 3.9–4.3 in (10–11 cm) | 3.1–3.5 in (8–9 cm) |
| Wingspan | 4.7 in (12 cm) | 3.1–4.3 in (8–11 cm) |
| Weight | 0.1–0.2 oz (3–6 g) | 0.1 oz (2–6 g) |
| Overall Shape | Mid-sized hummingbird, stocky for its family | Small, slim hummingbird |
| Male Plumage KEY | Entire head and throat covered in iridescent rose-pink (the “helmet”), flashing in sun | Iridescent ruby-red throat (gorget) on a green body; forked tail; black mask |
| Female Plumage | Green above, gray below, with a small patch of rose spots on the throat | Green above, white below, no throat color; white-tipped rounded tail |
| Bill Shape | Straight, slender black bill | Straight, slender black bill |
| Tail | Short gray-green tail | Forked (male) or rounded white-tipped (female) |
| Core Range KEY | Pacific coast year-round from British Columbia to Baja; expanding inland | The only breeding hummingbird of the eastern US; winters in Central America |
| Migration KEY | Non-migratory — the West Coast’s winter hummingbird | Long-distance migrant, many crossing the Gulf of Mexico; present April–September |
| Feeder Presence | The default sugar-water feeder hummingbird on the Pacific coast | The default sugar-water hummingbird of the entire East |
| Favorite Foods | Nectar, sugar water (4:1), tiny insects | Nectar, sugar water (4:1), tiny insects and spiders |
| Song KEY | A buzzy, squeaky warbled series — one of the few singing hummingbirds | High squeaky chips and rapid twitters |
| Flight Call | Hard “chick” notes; males dive with a loud tail chirp | Quick “chip” notes; wings hum audibly |
| Population Trend | Expanding north and inland with feeders and gardens | Increasing with feeder and garden planting |
Male Field Marks, Side by Side
Anna’s Hummingbird — Male
Calypte anna
- Rose-pink helmet covering the whole head and throat.
- Gorger flashes magenta in sun, looks dark in shade.
- Perches prominently, singing buzzy songs even in winter.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird — Male
Archilochus colubris
- Ruby-red gorget — black-looking in shade, blazing in sun.
- Forked tail; black mask between eye and gorget.
- The East’s only breeding hummingbird.
Female & Juvenile Marks, Side by Side
Anna’s Hummingbird — Female
Calypte anna
- Green and gray with a spotted rose throat patch.
- Stockier than migrant hummingbirds.
- Visits feeders through West Coast winters.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird — Female
Archilochus colubris
- Green and white, no throat color.
- White-tipped rounded tail.
- Aggressively defends feeders.
Part-by-Part Anatomy Breakdown
Males separate instantly; females need a closer look:
| Body Part | Anna’s Hummingbird | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Gorget (M) | Rose-pink, covering crown and throat | Ruby-red, throat only; blackish in poor light |
| Crown (M) | Rose-pink like the gorget | Green, matching the back |
| Chest (M) | Gray-green, dingy | White with green sides |
| Fork (M Tail) | Nearly square | Slightly forked, all dark |
| Female Throat | White with rose spotting in the center | Clean white, sometimes faint streaks |
| Female Flanks | Washed gray-green | Washed buff-green |
| Voice | Scratchy song from a perch | Rapid chips; no true song |
Song & Call Comparison
Anna’s Hummingbird
Calypte anna
Song: a buzzy, squeaky warbled series delivered from an exposed perch — unusual among hummingbirds.
Display: a sky-dive ending in a loud tail-generated chirp.
Anna’s Hummingbird voice • Wikimedia Commons
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
Voice: high squeaky chips and twitters at feeders.
Behavior: males perform U-shaped dive displays in spring.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird voice • Wikimedia Commons
Range & Seasonal Presence
Anna’s Hummingbird is the Pacific coast hummingbird — British Columbia to Arizona — and non-migratory, surviving winter on feeders, sap wells and winter blooms. It is steadily expanding inland with urban gardens.
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only breeding hummingbird of eastern North America, from the Rockies to the Atlantic. Every fall it migrates to Mexico and Central America — many individuals flying nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico, a 500-mile over-water flight on wings alone. Vagrants increasingly turn up out of range in both directions, so check males carefully at winter feeders anywhere.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- Anna’s Hummingbird: uses feeders every month of the year; West Coast keepers should maintain feeders through winter freezes — rotating two feeders so one always thaws.
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird: the eastern feeder hummingbird — put feeders out a week before the local spring arrival (mid-March on the Gulf, early May in the North) and keep them up through September.
- Nectar for both: 4:1 water to white sugar, boiled and cooled; never honey, dye or brown sugar. Clean every 2–3 days in heat.
- Plant pairing: Anna’s loves salvias and winter-blooming ornamentals; Ruby-throated keys on trumpet vine, bee balm and cardinal flower.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
Anna’s Hummingbirds are bold city birds — males sing their scratchy song from wires and tree tops all year and dive-bomb rivals with a tail-chirp.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are fiery little migrants — males defend feeders ferociously through summer, then vanish south while females linger into fall to fuel up.
6-Step Backyard ID Checklist
- Location. East of the Rockies = Ruby-throated; Pacific coast = Anna’s.
- Male’s crown. Green = Ruby-throated; rose-pink = Anna’s.
- Male’s gorget. Throat only, ruby-red = Ruby-throated; entire head rose-pink = Anna’s.
- Season. January hummingbird on the West Coast = Anna’s; eastern hummingbirds are April–September.
- Female throat. Rose spotting in the center = Anna’s; clean white = Ruby-throated.
- Song. Scratchy warbling song = Anna’s; chips only = Ruby-throated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell an Anna’s from a Ruby-throated Hummingbird?
Range answers most cases — Ruby-throated breeds east of the Rockies, Anna’s lives on the Pacific coast. Males: Ruby-throated has a ruby-red gorget on the throat only with a green crown; Anna’s has the entire crown and throat in rose-pink.
Which hummingbird lives on the East Coast?
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird — it is the only hummingbird that breeds in eastern North America. Any hummingbird at an eastern feeder in summer is a Ruby-throated; Anna’s is the Pacific coast counterpart.
Do Anna’s Hummingbirds migrate like Ruby-throated?
No. Ruby-throated make an epic migration to Central America — many flying nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico — while Anna’s are year-round residents along the Pacific coast.
When should I put out my hummingbird feeder?
On the West Coast, keep feeders up all year for resident Anna’s. In the East, hang feeders about a week before Ruby-throated arrive — mid-March on the Gulf Coast, late April to early May in the North.
What do female Anna’s and Ruby-throated look like?
Both are green above and pale below. Female Anna’s usually shows rose spotting in the center of the throat and a stockier build; female Ruby-throated is cleaner white with buff-green flanks and a longer bill.
Can Anna’s and Ruby-throated occur in the same place?
Rarely but increasingly — Anna’s is expanding inland and Ruby-throated vagrants sometimes winter in the West. In the overlap surprises, check the male’s crown and gorget coverage carefully.
Key Takeaways
- Range: Pacific coast = Anna’s; east of the Rockies = Ruby-throated.
- Male Crown: Rose-pink = Anna’s; green = Ruby-throated.
- Gorget Coverage: Entire head = Anna’s; throat only = Ruby-throated.
- Migration: Anna’s stays year-round; Ruby-throated crosses the Gulf.
- Females: Rose throat spots = Anna’s; clean white = Ruby-throated.
- Feeder Calendar: West Coast: feeders up all winter. East: April through September.