Family: Trochilidae, Hummingbirds view all from this family

Description 3 1/2-4" (9-10 cm). A medium-sized hummingbird. Both sexes metallic green above; male has dark rose-red crown and gorget and grayish chest. Female has spotted throat with central patch of red spots, grayish-white underparts, and white-tipped outer tail feathers. Throat of juveniles frequently unmarked.

Habitat Chaparral, brushy oak woodlands, and gardens.

Nesting 2 white eggs in a tiny woven cup of small twigs and lichen fastened onto a sheltered horizontal limb.

Range Resident from northern California southward. Winters regularly from British Columbia south to Arizona.

Voice   A sharp chip and a rapid chee-chee-chee-chee-chee.

Discussion Anna's and other hummingbirds vigorously defend their feeding territories which, although often as small as a few clumps of fuchsias, provide adequate nectar and small nectar-feeding insects. From July to late fall, however, transient and juvenile birds disregard territorial claims, and competition at feeders increases greatly.