Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
Anna’s Hummingbird vs Black-chinned 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
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Black-chinned Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Black-chinned Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Black-chinned Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Black-chinned Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Anna’s Hummingbird vs Black-chinned Hummingbird (Calypte anna vs Archilochus alexandri): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
The two hummingbirds western feeders see most. Three rules:
- Male head: the entire crown and throat flashing rose-pink = Anna’s; a green crown above a black chin with a violet band at the throat’s base = Black-chinned.
- Season and place: a hummingbird at a West Coast feeder in January = Anna’s — they are year-round residents; Black-chinned winters in Mexico and returns in spring to the interior West.
- Females: nearly identical — Anna’s is stockier with a shorter bill and usually shows a patch of rose spots on the throat; Black-chinned females are slimmer with a cleaner white breast.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
The western feeder pair, side by side. KEY rows separate fastest.
| Feature | Anna’s Hummingbird | Black-chinned Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Archilochus alexandri |
| Length | 3.9–4.3 in (10–11 cm) | 3.5–3.9 in (9–10 cm) |
| Wingspan | 4.7 in (12 cm) | 4.3 in (11 cm) |
| Weight | 0.1–0.2 oz (3–6 g) | 0.1 oz (3 g) |
| Overall Shape | Mid-sized hummingbird, stocky for its family | Slim hummingbird with a slightly decurved bill |
| Male Plumage KEY | Entire head and throat covered in iridescent rose-pink (the “helmet”), flashing in sun | Black chin with a band of iridescent violet below it; otherwise green and gray |
| Female Plumage | Green above, gray below, with a small patch of rose spots on the throat | Plain green above, whitish below, no throat patch |
| Bill Shape | Straight, slender black bill | Slightly downcurved slender bill |
| Tail | Short gray-green tail | Forked dark tail (male), white-tipped (female) |
| Core Range KEY | Pacific coast year-round from British Columbia to Baja; expanding inland | Breeds across the interior West and Southwest along rivers; winters in Mexico |
| Migration KEY | Non-migratory — the West Coast’s winter hummingbird | Long-distance migrant; absent in winter |
| Feeder Presence | The default sugar-water feeder hummingbird on the Pacific coast | Summer sugar-water regular at western feeders |
| Favorite Foods | Nectar, sugar water (4:1), tiny insects | Nectar, sugar water, tiny insects |
| Song KEY | A buzzy, squeaky warbled series — one of the few singing hummingbirds | Soft warbled twitter from a perch |
| Flight Call | Hard “chick” notes; males dive with a loud tail chirp | High thin chips and chase squeaks |
| Population Trend | Expanding north and inland with feeders and gardens | Common across the interior West |
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.
Black-chinned Hummingbird — Male
Archilochus alexandri
- Black chin with a violet band that flashes only in good light.
- Green back, gray-white belly; forked tail.
- Pumps its tail constantly while hovering.
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.
Black-chinned Hummingbird — Female
Archilochus alexandri
- Plain green-and-white; no throat color.
- White-tipped tail corners.
- Slim bill slightly curved down.
Part-by-Part Anatomy Breakdown
Males are easy; females demand patience:
| Body Part | Anna’s Hummingbird | Black-chinned Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Gorget (M) | Rose-pink, covering crown and throat | Black chin with a violet-purple band below |
| Crown (M) | Rose-pink like the gorget | Green, matching the back |
| Breast (M) | Gray-green, dingy | Green sides, whiter center |
| Bill | Short, straight | Slightly longer, gently decurved |
| Female Throat | White with rose spotting in the center | Clean white with sparse dark streaks |
| Female Build | Stockier, bigger-headed | Slimmer, longer-billed |
| Display Dive | Steep dive with a loud chirp from tail feathers | Shallower shuttle display |
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
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Archilochus alexandri
Voice: high thin chips; wings produce a soft hum.
Behavior: tail-pumping while feeding is a good habit clue.
Black-chinned Hummingbird voice • Wikimedia Commons
Range & Seasonal Presence
Anna’s Hummingbird is the year-round hummingbird of the Pacific coast — from British Columbia through California and into Arizona — and has expanded dramatically with urban gardens and feeders. It does not migrate; it survives winter on feeders, sap wells and winter-blooming ornamentals.
The Black-chinned Hummingbird is a summer migrant of the interior West — breeding from Texas to Montana in riverside woods, canyons and towns — and winters in western Mexico. Any hummingbird in the interior West between March and September is likely this species.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- Anna’s Hummingbird: defends sugar-water feeders year-round; in cold snaps it depends on them, so West Coast feeders should stay up and unfrozen all winter (4:1 water-to-sugar, no dye).
- Black-chinned Hummingbird: a bold feeder user through the breeding season; males stake out a feeder and chase all comers, then vanish south by early fall.
- Feeder setup: both take the same 4:1 sugar water; hang feeders in shade to slow fermentation, and clean them twice a week in summer heat.
- Winter rule: on the Pacific coast, never take feeders down for winter — resident Anna’s rely on them during freezing weather.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
Anna’s Hummingbirds are bold and vocal — males sing a scratchy, squeaky song from exposed perches (unusual among North American hummingbirds) and perform spectacular 100-foot display dives ending in a sharp tail-chirp.
Black-chinned Hummingbirds are equally pugnacious at feeders but quieter; males lack a true song and advertise with display flights and high thin chips.
6-Step Backyard ID Checklist
- Male’s crown. Rose-pink crown = Anna’s; green crown = Black-chinned.
- Male’s throat. Entire head rose-pink = Anna’s; black chin with violet band = Black-chinned.
- Season. Winter hummingbird on the West Coast = Anna’s; summer hummingbird in the interior West = likely Black-chinned.
- Song. Scratchy squeaky song from a perch = Anna’s; Black-chinned does not truly sing.
- Female throat. Rose spotting in the center = Anna’s; clean white = Black-chinned.
- Female build. Stocky with short bill = Anna’s; slim with longer bill = Black-chinned.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell an Anna’s from a Black-chinned Hummingbird?
Males: an Anna’s has the entire crown and throat flashing rose-pink; a Black-chinned has a green crown, a black chin and a violet band at the base of the throat. Females are very similar — Anna’s is stockier with a shorter bill and rose spotting on the throat.
Do Anna’s Hummingbirds migrate?
No — Anna’s is a year-round resident of the Pacific coast, one of the few North American hummingbirds that does not migrate. Black-chinned Hummingbirds migrate to Mexico each winter.
Which hummingbird stays at West Coast feeders in winter?
Anna’s. If you have a hummingbird at a California, Oregon or Washington feeder in January, it is an Anna’s — keep the feeder filled and unfrozen, because they depend on it in cold snaps.
Do Anna’s Hummingbirds sing?
Yes — unusually for a North American hummingbird, the male Anna’s sings a scratchy, squeaky warble from an exposed perch. Black-chinned males have no true song.
What do male display dives sound like?
The male Anna’s pulls out of a steep dive with a loud chirp produced by the outer tail feathers. Black-chinned males perform a shallower shuttle display with wing and tail sound instead.
Are female Anna’s and Black-chinned identifiable?
Only with difficulty. Anna’s females are stockier with shorter bills and usually show rose spots in the center of the throat; Black-chinned females are slimmer, longer-billed and cleaner white below. Range and season help: winter West Coast = Anna’s.
Key Takeaways
- Male Head: Entirely rose-pink = Anna’s; green crown + black chin = Black-chinned.
- Residency: Year-round West Coast = Anna’s; summer interior West = Black-chinned.
- Song: Scratchy perched song = Anna’s; no true song = Black-chinned.
- Females: Stocky + rose throat spots = Anna’s; slim + clean white = Black-chinned.
- Winter Feeders: West Coast feeders must stay up — Anna’s depend on them.
- Dive Display: Steep dive with tail-chirp = Anna’s; shuttle display = Black-chinned.