Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) is in the Hummingbirds family (Trochilidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 100,774 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Anna's Hummingbird: observations by month (U.S.)
About Anna's Hummingbird
Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna), a medium-sized hummingbird native to the west coast of North America, was named after Anna Masséna, Duchess of Rivoli. In the early 20th century, Anna's hummingbirds bred only in northern Baja California and southern California. The transplanting of exotic ornamental plants in residential areas throughout the Pacific coast and inland deserts provided expanded nectar and nesting sites, allowing the species to expand its breeding range.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Anna's Hummingbird by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 74,665 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Arizona | 9,179 | March | Jul–May |
| Washington | 8,423 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Oregon | 6,563 | March | Feb–Jan |
| Nevada | 987 | March | Feb–Jan |
| Texas | 424 | December | Dec–Jan |
| Alaska | 135 | January | Sep–May |
| Utah | 129 | March | Jan–May |
| Idaho | 94 | January | Sep–Apr |
| New Mexico | 29 | January | Oct–Jan |
| Ohio | 24 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Minnesota | 15 | November | Oct–Nov |
| Louisiana | 12 | January | Dec–Jan |
| Michigan | 11 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Colorado | 10 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Illinois | 9 | November | Oct–Nov |
| Montana | 9 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 8 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Wisconsin | 8 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Nebraska | 6 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Virginia | 6 | December | Nov–Jan |
| Kansas | 5 | March | Mar–Mar |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Hummingbirds)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Allen's Hummingbird
Costa's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Broad-billed Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Anna's Hummingbird?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to February.
Where is Anna's Hummingbird most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Arizona, Washington.