Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
Allen’s Hummingbird vs Anna’s Hummingbird
Allen’s Hummingbird
Allen’s Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Allen’s Hummingbird
Allen’s Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Allen’s Hummingbird
Allen’s Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Allen’s Hummingbird
Allen’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
Anna’s Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Allen’s Hummingbird vs Anna’s Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin vs Calypte anna): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
California’s two coastal hummingbirds. Three rules:
- Male’s head: entirely rose-pink, crown included = Anna’s; orange-red throat with a green crown and rufous flanks = Allen’s.
- Calendar: Allen’s breeds on the coast in spring and is gone to Mexico by midsummer; Anna’s is present every day of the year.
- Females: Allen’s females show rich rufous flanks and a rufous-based tail; Anna’s females are gray-green with rose throat spots — but range and date are usually the real answer.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
The coastal pair, side by side. KEY rows separate fastest.
| Feature | Allen’s Hummingbird | Anna’s Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Selasphorus sasin | Calypte anna |
| Length KEY | 3.5–3.8 in (9 cm) | 3.9–4.3 in (10–11 cm) |
| Wingspan | 4.3 in (11 cm) | 4.7 in (12 cm) |
| Weight | 0.1 oz (3 g) | 0.1–0.2 oz (3–6 g) |
| Overall Shape | Tiny hummingbird — one of North America’s smallest birds | Mid-sized hummingbird, stocky for its family |
| Male Plumage KEY | Green back and crown; brilliant orange-red gorget; rufous-orange flanks, rump and tail | Entire head and throat covered in iridescent rose-pink (the “helmet”), flashing in sun |
| Female Plumage | Green above, white below with rufous flanks and a rufous-based tail; throat whitish with dark spots | Green above, gray below, with a small patch of rose spots on the throat |
| Bill Shape | Short, straight, black | Straight, slender black bill |
| Tail | Rufous-based with narrow outer feathers | Short gray-green tail |
| Core Range KEY | Breeds along a narrow coastal strip of California and southern Oregon; winters in central Mexico | Pacific coast year-round from British Columbia to Baja; expanding inland |
| Migration KEY | A remarkably early migrant — males leave California for Mexico by June and July | Non-migratory — the West Coast’s winter hummingbird |
| Feeder Presence | Visits sugar-water feeders and flowers along the California coast during its short breeding window | The default sugar-water feeder hummingbird on the Pacific coast |
| Favorite Foods | Nectar from coastal sage and garden flowers; tiny insects | Nectar, sugar water (4:1), tiny insects |
| Song | No true song — thin chips and display sounds | A buzzy, squeaky warbled series — one of the few singing hummingbirds |
| Flight Call | A sharp, dry chip | Hard “chick” notes; males dive with a loud tail chirp |
| Population Trend | Declining in parts of its narrow breeding range | Expanding north and inland with feeders and gardens |
Male Field Marks, Side by Side
Allen’s Hummingbird — Male
Selasphorus sasin
- Green back and crown with rufous-orange flanks and tail.
- Brilliant orange-red gorget.
- On the California coast only — and only in spring and early summer.
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.
Female & Juvenile Marks, Side by Side
Allen’s Hummingbird — Female
Selasphorus sasin
- Green above with rufous flanks and a rufous-based tail.
- Essentially identical to female Rufous in the field.
- Tiny size and narrow tail feathers help, but photos and range matter more.
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.
Part-by-Part Anatomy Breakdown
Males are straightforward; females take real care:
| Body Part | Allen’s Hummingbird | Anna’s Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Gorget (M) | Orange-red, throat only | Rose-pink, covering crown and throat |
| Crown (M) | Green | Rose-pink |
| Flanks (M) | Rich rufous-orange | Gray-green |
| Back (M) | Green | Green |
| Female Flanks | Rufous-washed | Plain gray-green |
| Female Throat | White, sparsely spotted | White with rose spotting in the center |
| Size | Slightly smaller and more compact | Slightly larger and stockier |
Song & Call Comparison
Allen’s Hummingbird
Selasphorus sasin
Voice: thin, dry chips; males add a buzzy wing-trill in display.
Display: a steep dive ending in a sharp metallic whine from the tail.
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
Range & Seasonal Presence
The Allen’s Hummingbird breeds along a narrow strip of the California coast (and just into southern Oregon) and winters in central Mexico. Males famously depart by June and July — among the earliest migrant departures of any North American bird.
Anna’s Hummingbird is a year-round resident from British Columbia to Arizona, and it has expanded dramatically with urban gardens and feeders. Any hummingbird on the California coast in fall or winter is an Anna’s.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- Allen’s Hummingbird: uses coastal feeders and flower gardens intensely during its short breeding window — roughly February through June.
- Anna’s Hummingbird: defends feeders twelve months a year; winter feeders with unfrozen 4:1 sugar water are survival gear, not a hobby.
- Feeder setup: the same 4:1 sugar water for both; on the coast, simply never take the feeder down.
- Plants: both work salvias and tubular natives; Allen’s particularly favors coastal sage-scrub bloom.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
Allen’s Hummingbirds are fiery and short-staying — males display with steep dives and a sharp tail-whine, then vanish south before summer is half over.
Anna’s Hummingbirds are the permanent landlords — singing scratchy songs from exposed perches in every month, dive-bombing rivals with a loud tail-chirp.
6-Step Backyard ID Checklist
- Male’s crown. Green = Allen’s; rose-pink = Anna’s.
- Male’s flanks. Rufous-orange = Allen’s; gray-green = Anna’s.
- Date. After midsummer on the coast = Anna’s; Allen’s has left for Mexico.
- Female flanks. Rufous-washed = Allen’s; plain gray-green = Anna’s.
- Female throat. Sparse dark spots = Allen’s; central rose spotting = Anna’s.
- Still unsure on a female? Photograph the spread tail — narrow outer feathers point to Allen’s — and note the date and place.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell an Allen’s from an Anna’s Hummingbird?
Males: Allen’s has an orange-red gorget on the throat only, a green crown and rufous-orange flanks; Anna’s has the entire crown and throat in rose-pink with gray-green flanks. Females differ subtly — Allen’s shows rufous flanks and a rufous-based tail.
When do Allen’s Hummingbirds leave California?
Remarkably early — males depart for Mexico by June and July, among the earliest southbound migrations of any North American bird. After midsummer, coastal California hummingbirds are Anna’s.
Which hummingbird stays in California all winter?
Anna’s. It is a year-round resident along the Pacific coast; Allen’s winters in Mexico. A January hummingbird at a California feeder is an Anna’s.
Can female Allen’s and Anna’s be separated?
With care: Allen’s females show rich rufous flanks and a rufous-based tail, while Anna’s females are gray-green with rose spotting on the throat. Date and location usually settle it — fall and winter birds on the coast are Anna’s.
Do Allen’s Hummingbirds come to feeders?
Yes, eagerly, during their February-to-June breeding window on the California coast — the same 4:1 sugar water as any hummingbird.
How do their display dives differ?
Both dive spectacularly: the Anna’s pulls out with a loud chirp from its tail feathers, while the Allen’s dive ends in a sharp metallic whine. Watching a displaying male is often the fastest clue on the coast in spring.
Key Takeaways
- Male Crown: Green = Allen’s; rose-pink = Anna’s.
- Male Flanks: Rufous-orange = Allen’s; gray-green = Anna’s.
- Calendar: Gone by midsummer = Allen’s; there all year = Anna’s.
- Females: Rufous flanks = Allen’s; gray-green + rose throat spots = Anna’s.
- Winter Rule: A winter hummingbird on the coast is an Anna’s.
- Size: Anna’s is the slightly larger, stockier bird.