Oklahoma Vagrants: Anna's Hummingbird

Larger than many hummingbirds, Anna's males' red throat and crown (and female's red central throat patch) are good distinguishing characteristics.  Not seen in many places, this is the most common hummingbird within oak/chapparal habitat of the Pacific coast and it is native.

Range expansion is sending this delightful bird north to British Columbia, where it is becoming common.  As a medium sized hummingbird, the broad tail extends beyond the wingtips while seated, and the bill is short and straight.

As collectors of nectar, these hummingbirds are excellent pollinators of an assortment of plants, most notably tubular flowers.  Early in the twentieth century, this bird was only found in Baja California as well as California.   Exotic plants brought it north, and due to range expansion for the simplest of reasons, it was found to do well in other climates and take nectar from introduced species of plants..

Found in 2010 in Oklahoma at both a private residence in Cherokee County, as well as proven at another residence in the fall in Comanche County, these are the only two instances known on eBird.

                                                           Male Anna's Hummingbird
                                                               Pima County, AZ 2018

Anna's frequently hybridizes with Costa's Hummingbird.  In the 1860s or thereabouts in Mexico, a hybrid was located in Mexico and was named Floresi's Hummingbird.  After a number of years, this extremely rare bird was discovered in California and was learned to be a hybrid of Anna's and Allen's Hummingbirds.  Nearly three decades later, also in California, the rare Violet-throated Hummingbird was noted as a mix between the Black-chinned Hummingbird and Anna's. Perhaps there will be more to add to this saga at a later date.

The Anna's is believed to consume more insects than any other hummingbird, which most likely adds something to its strong constitution, especially during the winter.  It can stay in some areas that no other hummingbirds will go during that season.  This fact could also lend to why this bird is so far reaching in hybridization for survival and its sometimes unlikely appearances in other climate zones.