How to Attract Anna's Hummingbirds to Your Yard

Here is how to attract Anna’s Hummingbirds: keep a clean feeder with 1:4 sugar water up every month of the year, protect it from freezing in winter, and plant flowers that bloom in the cool season, such as native currants, manzanitas and California fuchsia. Anna’s are year-round residents in much of the Pacific Coast and Southwest, so the yard that feeds them reliably in January is the one they claim.

Anna’s Hummingbird at a glance

How to identify an Anna’s Hummingbird

The Cornell Lab describes Anna’s as very slightly larger than a Rufous Hummingbird and sparrow-sized or smaller. It looks stockier than most western hummingbirds and often sits upright on an exposed twig.

Adult male

• Iridescent rose-pink crown and throat. The Cornell Lab notes the gorget extends over the head, making it more like a balaclava than a bib.
• In poor light the whole head can look dark or blackish, then flash hot pink when he turns.
• Green back, grayish underparts washed with green.

Female and immature

• Metallic green above, grayish below.
• Usually a small patch of reddish-pink feathers in the center of the throat.
• A small white spot behind the eye.
• Immature males are duller than adults and show a blotchy pink crown and throat rather than a full hood.

Song

Male Anna’s sing, which is unusual among North American hummingbirds. The song is a thin, scratchy, buzzy series of notes often delivered from a high perch, even in winter. If you hear squeaky, electric-sounding phrases from the top of a shrub in January, look for a male Anna’s.

Similar species

• Costa’s Hummingbird: a desert species with a purple crown and throat whose gorget flares into long points at the sides.
• Rufous and Allen’s Hummingbirds: show orange or rufous on the sides and tail, and males have orange-red throats. Anna’s has no rufous color.
• Black-chinned Hummingbird: slimmer, with a black chin and thin purple band on males. Females are paler below than female Anna’s and lack the pink throat patch.
• Broad-tailed Hummingbird: a mountain species with a rose-red throat only, not the crown.

For practice with lookalikes, see our guide on how to identify birds.

Where Anna’s Hummingbirds live, and why they are spreading

The Cornell Lab notes Anna’s was once limited to northern Baja California and southern California. Since the 1930s its range has expanded to Vancouver, Canada, helped by backyard feeders and introduced flowering trees such as eucalyptus. Audubon notes the breeding range has expanded north and east since the 1950s, now reaching British Columbia and Arizona, and that some southwestern birds move seasonally between Arizona and California while others stay year-round.

Anna’s are common in cities and suburbs. The Cornell Lab lists chaparral, coastal scrub, oak savannah and open woodland among natural habitats, and notes the birds are notably abundant around eucalyptus. Populations grew by more than 2 percent a year between 1966 and 2019, with a global breeding population estimated at 9.6 million.

That range growth is good news for backyard feeders, but it also puts a responsibility on you: in places like Seattle, Portland and Vancouver, some Anna’s rely on feeders to get through cold snaps.

What Anna’s Hummingbirds eat

The Cornell Lab lists nectar from currant, gooseberry, manzanita and eucalyptus, and notes Anna’s also catch insects from leaves, crevices, spider webs and the air, mainly midges, whiteflies and leafhoppers. One female was documented with 32 leafhoppers in her stomach. They also take tree sap and trapped insects from sapsucker wells.

Insects are critical for raising young and for getting through winter days when few flowers bloom. A yard without pesticides, with some leaf litter and a few spider webs left alone, supports the small insects Anna’s hunt.

Hummingbird nectar for Anna’s: the recipe

The Cornell Lab and Audubon both recommend one part plain white sugar to four parts water, a quarter cup of sugar per cup of water. Stir until dissolved and let it cool before filling. Our step-by-step hummingbird nectar recipe covers batch sizes and storage.

• Cold-weather option: the Cornell Lab notes some people use about one-third cup of sugar per cup of water in cold, rainy weather, when birds need extra energy. A slightly stronger mix also freezes at a lower temperature than a weak one, though it will still freeze in a hard frost.
• Never add red dye. Audubon warns it is unnecessary and could be harmful.
• Never use honey. Audubon says it can promote dangerous fungal growth.
• Plain white table sugar only. Skip brown, raw or organic sugars and artificial sweeteners.

How often to change nectar

Audubon’s schedule: every day or every other day in hot weather, every three days in temperate weather and twice a week in cooler weather. Along the coast, where summers are mild, that often means every three days most of the year. Inland in hot summers, change it daily. Our guide on how to clean a bird feeder covers scrubbing and rinsing.

Winter feeding: keeping Anna’s going through cold snaps

This is the part of Anna’s care that matters most, and where the species differs from eastern hummingbirds.

Why winter feeders matter

The Cornell Lab says Anna’s do not migrate much, and Audubon notes they stay through winter in many areas where no other hummingbirds are present. On cold nights they enter torpor: according to the Cornell Lab, breathing and heart rate slow, and body temperature, normally around 107 degrees Fahrenheit, can fall as low as 48 degrees Fahrenheit. At dawn a bird coming out of torpor needs food quickly. A frozen feeder at first light is a real problem.

How to keep nectar from freezing

1. Rotate two feeders. Keep one indoors. At dawn, swap the frozen one for the thawed one. This is the simplest method and costs nothing extra if you already own two feeders.
2. Bring the feeder in at night. Take it indoors after dusk and rehang it before sunrise. Anna’s feed very early, so set an alarm if a hard freeze is forecast.
3. Add gentle heat. Some people clip an outdoor-rated incandescent bulb or a purpose-made feeder heater near or under the feeder. Follow the product’s instructions and keep electrical connections dry.
4. Wrap the feeder. Pipe insulation or a sock around a bottle feeder can slow freezing on marginal nights, but it will not stop a hard freeze.
5. Choose a sheltered spot. Hang winter feeders under an eave, out of the wind, where you can reach them easily in bad weather.

Audubon notes drinking cold nectar does not appear to cold stun hummingbirds, so the goal is to keep it liquid, not warm.

Do not stop partway through winter

If Anna’s are using your feeder in late fall, keep it going until spring. Birds that have built their winter routine around your yard may struggle if the food disappears during a freeze. If you travel, ask a neighbor to swap feeders.

Choosing and placing a feeder for Anna’s

Based on manufacturer designs and patterns in owner feedback, the features that matter most for year-round use are:

• Parts you can scrub. You will clean this feeder more than a hundred times a year.
• Small to medium capacity. An 8 to 12 oz feeder is enough for most yards. Big feeders mostly mean wasted nectar.
• Built-in or add-on ant moat. Ants are active much of the year in mild climates.
• Red color on the feeder, not in the nectar.

Placement tips:

1. Partial shade. The Cornell Lab warns direct sun spoils nectar quickly.
2. A nearby perch. Male Anna’s defend feeding territories from exposed twigs. Leave a small bare branch nearby.
3. Multiple feeders out of sight of each other. One dominant male can guard a single feeder all winter. A second feeder around a corner lets other birds feed.
4. Window safety. Put feeders either right on the glass or well back from it, and treat windows as described in how to stop birds hitting windows.
5. Out of reach of cats. Hang feeders high and away from shrubs where a cat can wait.

Our roundup of hummingbird feeders that are easy to clean and do not leak compares models in more detail.

The best native plants for Anna’s Hummingbirds

The ideal Anna’s garden has something blooming in every month, especially from late fall through early spring, when other food is scarce.

Many gardeners in the Anna’s range also grow non-native winter bloomers such as grevilleas and some eucalyptus, which Anna’s use heavily. Natives are the better long-term choice because they also support the insects Anna’s feed on. Check your local native plant society or extension office for species suited to your county.

Nesting: the earliest hummingbird of the year

Anna’s are famous for nesting in winter. Audubon notes they may begin nesting in December or even earlier.

The Cornell Lab describes the nest as a small cup of plant down and spider web, sometimes with cattail, willow or thistle fluff, feathers, lichens and moss, about 1 inch tall and 1.5 inches across. It is usually on a horizontal branch of a tree or shrub 6 to 20 feet up, often near a nectar source, and commonly in oak, sycamore or eucalyptus. Building takes about a week.

Anna’s do not form pair bonds, according to the Cornell Lab, and only females care for the young. You can help nesting females by leaving spider webs on eaves and fences, not tidying away every bit of plant fluff, and never spraying for insects around shrubs.

Hummingbirds do not use nest boxes. If you find a nest, watch from a distance and do not touch it or the branch.

The courtship dive

The Cornell Lab describes the male’s display: he climbs as high as 130 feet into the air, then dives past the female and produces an explosive squeak with his tail feathers at the bottom. He also performs a shuttle display, swinging side to side just above her. Seeing dives in your yard in winter is a strong sign a female is nesting nearby.

How Anna’s differ from eastern hummingbirds

If you moved west from the East, or read hummingbird advice written for eastern yards, a few habits need to change.

The practical takeaway: an Anna’s feeder is a twelve-month commitment. Plan your cleaning routine, nectar supply and winter thawing method before you start.

Attracting Anna’s to a balcony or small patio

Anna’s are one of the most urban hummingbirds in North America, and they readily use apartment balconies in cities along the coast.

1. Start with a small feeder. An 8 oz window or hanging feeder is enough. Our guide to bird feeders for balconies and small spaces covers railing and window mounts.
2. Grow one winter bloomer in a pot. A container of hummingbird sage, a dwarf manzanita or a native currant gives birds a reason to stop between feeder visits.
3. Pick the sheltered side. A balcony out of the prevailing winter wind keeps nectar from freezing as quickly.
4. Plan for winter access. You will be swapping feeders on dark, cold mornings, so hang it where you can reach it without a ladder.

Give birds a second reason to visit by keeping a shallow dish or mister nearby; many hummingbirds bathe by flying through fine spray or rubbing against wet leaves.

A year with Anna’s Hummingbirds

Common mistakes with Anna’s Hummingbirds

• Taking feeders down in fall. Unlike eastern hummingbirds, most Anna’s do not leave. A feeder in December can be a lifeline.
• Letting a feeder freeze solid at dawn. Rotate feeders or bring them in on frosty nights.
• Leaving nectar too long. Even in cool weather, change it at least twice a week.
• One feeder in full sun. It spoils fast and one male will control it.
• Spraying insecticides. Anna’s need small insects year-round.
• Pruning shrubs heavily in winter and spring. You may remove an active nest; Anna’s are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
• Expecting instant results. If no Anna’s have been using your yard, it may take time for one to find a new feeder. See why birds are not coming to a new feeder.

Sources

• Anna’s Hummingbird Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Anna’s Hummingbird Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Anna’s Hummingbird Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Anna’s Hummingbird, Audubon Guide to North American Birds
• Hummingbird Feeding FAQs, Audubon
• Aspects Jewel Box Window Hummingbird Feeder, Birds Choice