General Description: Anna's Hummingbirds (Calypte anna) are tiny birds with long bills. They hover in front of flowers and feed on nectar. Males have a large iridescent gorget (head and throat feathers) that is brilliant reddish-purple when the sun hits it right. The gorget covers the top of the head and the throat. Females have a small iridescent throat patch and the top of the head is green.

Taxonomy: Apodiformes, Trochilidae, Trochilinae.

Favored Habitat: Desert scrub with flowers, but yards with feeders are favored too.

Where to Find: Anyplace in the desert with a hummingbird feeder.

Comments: Historically, hummingbirds were summer visitors to the Las Vegas area, but with so many feeders, Anna's Hummingbirds now stay in town all year. Other species mostly leave during winter.

In the wild, Anna's feed on many species of flowering plants, but mostly those with red flowers. However, they do feed on other colors, including yellow creosote bush flowers, which seems unlikely.