Anna’s hummingbirds (Calypte anna) are small, colorful birds that are native to the west coast of North America. The males are known for their iridescent red throat feathers, which appear black or dark purple depending on the viewing angle. But do the females also have red throats? Let’s take a closer look at the physical characteristics and behavior of these tiny birds to find out.
Physical Differences Between Male and Female Anna’s Hummingbirds
There are distinct physical differences between male and female Anna’s hummingbirds. The most noticeable is the color of the throat feathers:
- Males have bright iridescent red throats that can appear dark purplish-black at certain angles.
- Females have light gray throats with small dark spots. Their throats do not have any red or iridescent coloring.
This sexual dimorphism, where the two sexes have different physical characteristics, is common among hummingbird species. The bright red throats of the males serve to attract females during the breeding season.
In addition to throat color, there are some subtle differences between male and female Anna’s hummingbirds:
- Females tend to be slightly larger than males on average.
- Males have slightly shorter and straighter bills compared to females.
- Female tail feathers are tipped with white spots, while male tail feathers have dark subterminal bands.
However, the most obvious and reliable way to distinguish males from females is by carefully observing the color of the throat. Even young fledglings display this sexual dimorphism from a very early age.
Displaying Behavior of Male Anna’s Hummingbirds
During the breeding season, male Anna’s hummingbirds perform elaborate display rituals to attract females and defend their breeding territories. These rituals prominently showcase their vivid red throats:
- Aerial displays – Males fly in looping, U-shaped patterns up to 130 feet in the air. The rapid diving and climbing highlights their red throat patches.
- Perch displays – Males perch conspicuously, often on bare branches, and turn their heads from side to side to flash their throats at nearby females.
- Courtship feeding – As part of their courtship, males catch small insects and feed them to potential mates. This behavior draws attention to the male’s red throat.
These behaviors serve both to entice females and ward off competing males from their territory. Females lack the red throat patch and do not engage in similar displays.
Do Female Anna’s Hummingbirds Sing?
In addition to visual displays, male Anna’s hummingbirds also sing complex songs to attract mates. Their primary song, known as a dawn song, is a high-pitched sustained warbling. Here are some key differences between the vocalizations of males and females:
- Males sing elaborate dawn songs, while females may occasionally produce short, simple calls.
- Male vocalizations are longer, more complex and melodious compared to female calls.
- Males produce songs throughout the day with a high frequency during the dawn breeding season. Female vocalizations are rare and sporadic.
The males’ dawn song serves to defend their breeding territory and communicate with nearby females when their visual displays may not be as effective, like at night or dawn. In comparison, the occasional chirps and calls of females are simple and brief.
Do Female Anna’s Hummingbirds Have Similar Red Feathering?
While female Anna’s hummingbirds do not have bright red throats like males, some females may occasionally display limited red or orange spotting on their throats. However, these spotting patterns differ from the extensive red iridescent feathers of males in the following ways:
- The red spotting in females is very minimal, scattered and irregular. Male throats are entirely red.
- The red spots on female throats are non-iridescent. Male red feathers have a distinctive glossy and metallic sheen.
- Female red spots are rare and do not intensify during the breeding season. Male red throats are vibrant year-round and especially prominent during courtship displays.
The sporadic red spots on some female Anna’s hummingbird throats is likely inherited genetic variation. But it occurs so rarely and diffusely that it does not play a role in visual displays or mate selection the way the males’ vivid red throats do.
Do Juveniles Have Red Throats?
Young Anna’s hummingbirds when they first leave the nest do not have any red throat feathers. Their throat plumage resembles the light grey coloration of adult females. As they mature, the following changes occur:
- Male fledglings develop red throats within 1-3 months after leaving the nest.
- Female fledglings maintain the grey spotted throat coloring as adults.
- Juveniles of both sexes attain full adult plumage within their first year.
This quick development of mature adult plumage soon after fledging enables young Anna’s hummingbirds to breed in their first year. The rapid emergence of male red throat feathers ensures they are able to participate in courtship displays when their first breeding season arrives.
Key Takeaways
To summarize the key points on whether female Anna’s hummingbirds have red throats:
- Definitively, female Anna’s hummingbirds do not have red throats. They have light grey throats with minimal spotting.
- Vibrant red iridescent throat feathers are exclusive to adult males and function in breeding displays to attract females.
- Females may occasionally display a few red spots on their throats, but this sparse coloring does not serve a display purpose.
- Juveniles of both sexes hatch with grey throats. Young males develop red throats within months after leaving the nest.
Conclusion
The bright red iridescent throats of male Anna’s hummingbirds are instantly recognizable. This flashy plumage plays an important role in mating rituals, territory defense and securing females’ attention. Adult females retain an inconspicuous light grey throat with sparse spotting that provides camouflage while nesting. Any occasional red spotting that occurs in females is minimal and irregular compared to the vibrant throats of males. So in summary, the definitive answer is that female Anna’s hummingbirds do not display the distinctive red throats that are exclusive to adult males of the species.