Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
Anna’s Hummingbird vs Costa’s 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
Costa’s Hummingbird
Costa’s Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Costa’s Hummingbird
Costa’s Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Costa’s Hummingbird
Costa’s Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Costa’s Hummingbird
Costa’s Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Anna’s Hummingbird vs Costa’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna vs Calypte costae): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
Southern California is where these two meet. Three rules:
- Male gorget shape: a rose-pink helmet covering crown and throat = Anna’s; a violet-purple gorget with dramatically elongated side plumes flaring out like a mustache = Costa’s.
- Size and structure: larger and stockier = Anna’s; tiny and compact with a shorter tail = Costa’s.
- Habitat: coastal cities and gardens = Anna’s; desert washes and cactus gardens of the Sonoran and Mojave = Costa’s — but they overlap broadly in southern California.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
The pink vs the purple, side by side. KEY rows separate fastest.
| Feature | Anna’s Hummingbird | Costa’s Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Calypte costae |
| Length KEY | 3.9–4.3 in (10–11 cm) | 3.5 in (9 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 | Small, compact hummingbird |
| Male Plumage KEY | Entire head and throat covered in iridescent rose-pink (the “helmet”), flashing in sun | Iridescent violet-purple crown and long mustache-like gorget plumes flaring at the sides |
| Female Plumage | Green above, gray below, with a small patch of rose spots on the throat | Green above, whitish below, plainer than other females |
| Bill Shape | Straight, slender black bill | Slightly downcurved slender bill |
| Tail | Short gray-green tail | Short dark tail |
| Core Range KEY | Pacific coast year-round from British Columbia to Baja; expanding inland | Sonoran and Mojave deserts; southern California and Arizona gardens |
| Migration | Non-migratory — the West Coast’s winter hummingbird | Partial migrant — many move short distances |
| Feeder Presence | The default sugar-water feeder hummingbird on the Pacific coast | Desert garden sugar-water visitor year-round in the low desert |
| Favorite Foods | Nectar, sugar water (4:1), tiny insects | Nectar, sugar water, desert sage and cactus flowers, tiny insects |
| Song | A buzzy, squeaky warbled series — one of the few singing hummingbirds | A high, thin “zing” whistle during display |
| Flight Call | Hard “chick” notes; males dive with a loud tail chirp | Sharp tik notes |
| Population Trend | Expanding north and inland with feeders and gardens | Stable in desert suburbs with irrigated gardens |
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.
Costa’s Hummingbird — Male
Calypte costae
- Violet crown + flaring mustache gorget — a purple “face shield”.
- Gorget plumes extend well past the throat.
- Compact body, shorter-tailed than Anna’s.
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.
Costa’s Hummingbird — Female
Calypte costae
- Very plain green-and-white; whitish throat.
- Smaller and daintier than female Anna’s.
- Desert gardens and washes.
Part-by-Part Anatomy Breakdown
The gorget is the whole game for males:
| Body Part | Anna’s Hummingbird | Costa’s Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Gorget Color (M) | Rose-pink to magenta-red | Deep violet-purple |
| Gorget Shape (M) | Covers crown and throat evenly | Throat patch with long plumes flaring past the head |
| Crown (M) | Rose-pink like the gorget | Green — only the gorget is purple |
| Size | 3.9–4.1 in; stocky | 3.5 in; tiny and compact |
| Female | Green back, gray below, rose throat spots | Green back, whiter below, plainer face |
| Female Structure | Bigger-headed, short straight bill | Smaller overall, shorter tail |
| Display | Steep dive ending in tail chirp | Looping dives with a high whistled sound |
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
Costa’s Hummingbird
Calypte costae
Display: high thin whistled zing during shuttle display flights.
Calls: sharp tik notes at feeders.
Range & Seasonal Presence
Anna’s Hummingbird is a year-round resident of the Pacific coast and urban Southwest — British Columbia to Arizona — thriving in cities and gardens.
The Costa’s Hummingbird is the desert specialist: the Sonoran and Mojave deserts of Arizona, Nevada and southern California, breeding in desert washes and dry gardens. It is partially migratory — many winter in Mexico — while Anna’s stays put, so a desert-cities hummingbird in mid-winter is usually an Anna’s.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- Anna’s Hummingbird: defends feeders year-round in coastal and urban areas; tolerates dense feeder setups in cities.
- Costa’s Hummingbird: visits feeders in desert communities — especially where desert willow, chuparosa and fairy duster bloom — but is less feeder-dependent than Anna’s.
- Feeder setup: the same 4:1 sugar water serves both; in desert heat, hang feeders in full shade and change nectar every 2–3 days.
- Plant pairing: Anna’s gardens run on salvias and winter-blooming ornamentals; Costa’s yards do best with native desert bloomers like chuparosa, ocotillo and penstemon.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
Anna’s Hummingbirds are bold, conspicuous and noisy — perched males sing their scratchy song in the open year-round.
Costa’s Hummingbirds are busy desert sprites — quick between flowers, more retiring than Anna’s, with males showing off their flaring gorget plumes in shuttle displays over the cactus garden.
6-Step Backyard ID Checklist
- Gorget color. Rose-pink = Anna’s; violet-purple = Costa’s.
- Gorget shape. Even helmet over crown and throat = Anna’s; side plumes flaring like a mustache = Costa’s.
- Crown. Pink crown = Anna’s; green crown = Costa’s.
- Size. Stocky 4-inch bird = Anna’s; tiny compact 3.5-inch bird = Costa’s.
- Season in the desert. Mid-winter = likely Anna’s; spring desert bloom = likely Costa’s.
- Females. Bigger and stockier with throat spots = Anna’s; tiny, whiter and plainer = Costa’s — when unsure, note size and habitat.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell an Anna’s from a Costa’s Hummingbird?
Male Anna’s has a rose-pink gorget covering the entire crown and throat evenly. Male Costa’s has a deep violet-purple gorget with dramatically elongated side plumes that flare out past the head, and a green crown. Costa’s is also noticeably smaller.
Where do Costa’s Hummingbirds live?
The Sonoran and Mojave deserts — Arizona, Nevada and southern California — where they breed in desert washes and gardens. Anna’s lives along the Pacific coast and urban Southwest year-round.
Do Costa’s Hummingbirds come to feeders?
Yes, readily, in desert communities — especially yards planted with desert natives like chuparosa and ocotillo. They use the same 4:1 sugar water as any hummingbird.
Which hummingbird is smaller?
Costa’s — about 3.5 inches versus nearly 4 for Anna’s. Among common US hummingbirds, only the Calliope is smaller than a Costa’s.
Do Costa’s Hummingbirds migrate?
Partially — many Costa’s winter in Mexico, while Anna’s are non-migratory. A hummingbird in a desert city in mid-winter is more likely an Anna’s; Costa’s numbers peak with the spring desert bloom.
What is the purple hummingbird with the big mustache?
A male Costa’s Hummingbird — its violet gorget feathers extend into long plumes on each side of the throat, flaring outward like an extravagant jeweled mustache when it displays.
Key Takeaways
- Gorget Color: Rose-pink = Anna’s; violet-purple = Costa’s.
- Gorget Shape: Even pink helmet = Anna’s; flaring purple mustache = Costa’s.
- Crown: Pink = Anna’s; green = Costa’s.
- Size: Stocky 4 in = Anna’s; tiny 3.5 in = Costa’s.
- Habitat: Coastal city gardens = Anna’s; desert washes = Costa’s.
- Winter Rule: Mid-winter desert hummingbird = probably Anna’s.