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.

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

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.

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.