Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
Anna’s Hummingbird vs Rufous 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
Rufous Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Rufous Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Rufous Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Rufous Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Anna’s Hummingbird vs Rufous Hummingbird (Calypte anna vs Selasphorus rufus): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
The resident and the orange tornado. Three rules:
- Male body: gray-green with a rose-pink head = Anna’s; rufous-orange over the entire body and tail = Rufous.
- Behavior: the bird that has been at your feeder all year = Anna’s; the furious orange migrant that arrives, conquers every feeder, and leaves = Rufous.
- Females: rufous flanks and a rufous-based tail with a central orange throat patch = Rufous; gray-green with rose throat spotting = Anna’s.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
Resident vs migrant, side by side. KEY rows separate fastest.
| Feature | Anna’s Hummingbird | Rufous Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna | Selasphorus rufus |
| Length | 3.9–4.3 in (10–11 cm) | 3.8 in (9.5 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 | Tiny, famously aggressive hummingbird |
| Male Plumage KEY | Entire head and throat covered in iridescent rose-pink (the “helmet”), flashing in sun | Almost entirely rufous-orange — back, flanks and tail — with a blazing orange-red gorget; some males show green on the back |
| Female Plumage KEY | Green above, gray below, with a small patch of rose spots on the throat | Green above, white below with rufous flanks and rufous at the tail base; throat spotted, often with an orange central patch |
| Bill Shape | Straight, slender black bill | Short, straight, black |
| Tail | Short gray-green tail | Rufous with notched tip; broad outer feathers |
| Core Range KEY | Pacific coast year-round from British Columbia to Baja; expanding inland | Breeds from the Pacific Northwest to Alaska; migrates through the Rockies and Southwest; winters in Mexico |
| Migration KEY | Non-migratory — the West Coast’s winter hummingbird | Long-distance migrant — the longest migration of any hummingbird relative to body size |
| Feeder Presence | The default sugar-water feeder hummingbird on the Pacific coast | The fiercest feeder bird in the West — one male will dominate and empty several feeders |
| Favorite Foods | Nectar, sugar water (4:1), tiny insects | Nectar from red tubular flowers; sugar water; tiny insects |
| Song | A buzzy, squeaky warbled series — one of the few singing hummingbirds | No true song — chips and buzzes |
| Flight Call | Hard “chick” notes; males dive with a loud tail chirp | A hard chip and a rising “tzzee” |
| Population Trend | Expanding north and inland with feeders and gardens | Declining and near-threatened; a species of growing concern |
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.
Rufous Hummingbird — Male
Selasphorus rufus
- All-rufous back and sides — the orange bullet of western feeders.
- Blazing orange-red gorget.
- Chases everything, including birds ten times its size.
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.
Rufous Hummingbird — Female
Selasphorus rufus
- Green back with rufous flanks and rufous at the tail base.
- Throat spots often coalesce into an orange central patch.
- Field-separable from Allen’s females only with difficulty.
Part-by-Part Anatomy Breakdown
Males couldn’t differ more; females take a closer look:
| Body Part | Anna’s Hummingbird | Rufous Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Body (M) | Gray-green back and flanks | Rufous-orange back, flanks and tail |
| Gorget (M) | Rose-pink over crown and throat | Orange-red, throat only |
| Crown (M) | Rose-pink | Rufous-orange (some males green-flecked) |
| Female Flanks | Gray-green | Rufous-washed |
| Female Tail | Dark, white-tipped | Rufous at the base |
| Female Throat | Rose spotting in the center | Spots often forming an orange central patch |
| Display Dive | Steep dive, loud tail-chirp | Steep dive, buzzy wing-whine |
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
Rufous Hummingbird
Selasphorus rufus
Voice: hard chips and a rising tzzee.
Display: a steep dive with a buzzy whine from the wings and tail.
Range & Seasonal Presence
Anna’s Hummingbird is the year-round resident of the Pacific coast and urban Southwest — British Columbia to Arizona — never migrating.
The Rufous Hummingbird breeds from the Pacific Northwest to Alaska and migrates through the whole West — spring along the coast, late summer through the Rockies — to winter in Mexico. It passes through western yards twice a year in furious waves.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- Anna’s Hummingbird: the permanent feeder tenant — defends feeders all year and relies on them in winter freezes.
- Rufous Hummingbird: the most aggressive feeder bird on the continent — a single migrating male will dominate every feeder in the yard and attack anything that approaches.
- Management: during Rufous passage (March–April and July–September), hang extra feeders out of sight of each other so no single bird can guard them all.
- Same nectar for both: 4:1 water to white sugar; never dye or honey.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
Anna’s Hummingbirds are bold and showy — singing scratchy songs from high perches and diving with a loud tail-chirp.
Rufous Hummingbirds are pure fury in a 3-gram package — they attack jays, other hummingbirds and each other, and migrate farther relative to body size than any other bird.
6-Step Backyard ID Checklist
- Male body color. Rufous-orange all over = Rufous; green-gray = Anna’s.
- Male head. Rose-pink crown + throat = Anna’s; orange-red throat only = Rufous.
- Calendar. Present all winter = Anna’s; brief furious passages = Rufous.
- Female flanks. Rufous-washed = Rufous; gray-green = Anna’s.
- Female tail base. Rufous = Rufous; dark = Anna’s.
- Aggression level. Merely bold = Anna’s; attacking everything = Rufous.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell a Rufous from an Anna’s Hummingbird?
Male Rufous are rufous-orange over the entire body and tail with an orange-red gorget on the throat only. Male Anna’s are gray-green with the entire crown and throat in rose-pink. Females differ subtly: Rufous females show rufous flanks and a rufous tail base.
Which hummingbird is the most aggressive?
The Rufous — famously. A single migrating male will dominate an entire feeder array, attacking other hummingbirds and even much larger birds. Anna’s are bold but far less ferocious.
Do Rufous Hummingbirds winter in the US?
Essentially no — they winter in Mexico. Anna’s Hummingbirds are the year-round residents of the Pacific coast; a January hummingbird there is an Anna’s.
When do Rufous Hummingbirds pass through?
Twice yearly: northbound along the Pacific coast in early spring (February–April), and southbound through the Rockies and interior West in mid-to-late summer (July–September).
Why did the orange hummingbird disappear from my feeder?
That was a Rufous on migration — they arrive, dominate feeders to refuel, and move on within days or weeks. The year-round bird that remains is your resident Anna’s.
Are Rufous Hummingbirds in trouble?
Yes — Rufous populations have declined significantly and the species is considered near-threatened, likely from habitat loss on the Mexican wintering grounds and along migration routes.
Key Takeaways
- Male Body: Rufous all over = Rufous; green-gray = Anna’s.
- Male Head: Orange throat only = Rufous; full pink helmet = Anna’s.
- Residency: Year-round = Anna’s; passage migrant = Rufous.
- Aggression: Furious feeder tyrant = Rufous.
- Females: Rufous flanks + tail base = Rufous; gray-green = Anna’s.
- Winter Rule: A winter West Coast hummingbird is an Anna’s.