Anna’s or Costa’s? Which Hummingbird Is Visiting Your Desert Garden?
Compare throat feathers, shape and tail position with original photographs—and learn when to leave an identification open.
A hummingbird pauses near the patio. Its throat flashes, then looks dark again. Was that Anna’s or Costa’s?
My photographs give us a way to slow that moment down. Compare the details you can actually see, learn which clues matter and leave space for uncertainty when the bird disappears too quickly.
- Start with throat pattern, then check shape and a perched tail.
- Female and immature birds need more than a quick color match.
- Use the photo tool to compare clues, not to force a certain answer.
LOOK CLOSER · YOUR PHOTO GUIDE
Compare what you saw
Compare a detail, then choose the clue you remember. Head brings you closer; Tail shows perched views. Select any photo to enlarge.
Anna’s Hummingbird
A small pink patch is a clue. Do not expect every Anna’s to wear the full rose-pink throat of an adult male.
Explore the species profileCosta’s Hummingbird
Look at the purple feathers extending along the sides of the throat: the flared shape is as useful as the color.
Explore the species profileA brief look is enough to begin observing, but it may not be enough to name the species.
Original photography by Mark Miller. Identification clues: Cornell Lab. [1] [2]
The quickest useful difference
On a clearly seen adult male, Anna’s usually announces itself with a rose-pink crown and throat. A male Costa’s shows purple with long throat feathers spreading down the sides of the neck. That throat patch is called a gorget. [1] [2]
Think color plus shape. A tiny flash of color is helpful; an entire pattern, seen more than once, is better.
Adult male
- Anna’s
- Rose-pink crown and throat
- Costa’s
- Purple crown with a flared throat patch
Overall shape
- Anna’s
- Stockier and somewhat larger
- Costa’s
- Small and compact; often hunched
Perched tail
- Anna’s
- Extends beyond the folded wingtips
- Costa’s
- Ends close to the folded wingtips
Female or immature
- Anna’s
- Subdued; some show pink throat feathers
- Costa’s
- Subdued, with pale underparts
Posture, viewing angle and feather condition can obscure these differences. The photographs above are not displayed at a common size. [1] [2]
Why a bright throat can suddenly look dark
Hummingbird color is not a dependable swatch. Iridescent feathers change appearance with the angle of the bird and the light. An Anna’s can turn its head and lose the bright flash you just noticed. A dark-looking throat does not automatically mean a different species. [1]
Watch from the same comfortable distance for another head turn. Look for the outline of the throat feathers, the crown and the bird’s overall shape rather than trying to chase the color.
Females and young birds: leave room for uncertainty
Both species can appear mostly green above and pale below. Immature males may be developing only part of their adult throat pattern. Some female Anna’s also have a small patch of reddish feathers. A plain throat on its own cannot settle the comparison. [1] [2]
Try for a side view of a perched bird. Note where the folded wings end relative to the tail, then record the date and setting. These are two species to compare, not the only hummingbirds that can occur in the region: other species, including migrants, can complicate an identification.
If the view remains inconclusive, “hummingbird, species uncertain” is a useful observation. Save the photograph and revisit it when you have more evidence.
Follow the bird into the garden
Anna’s use gardens and other wooded or shrubby settings. Costa’s are closely associated with desert scrub and also visit gardens. A garden visitor can be either species; habitat helps frame the question but does not answer it alone. [3] [4]
Both take insects as well as nectar. Costa’s feed at desert flowers including chuparosa and ocotillo. Follow the flowers the bird actually visits, rather than assuming a feeder is its whole food supply. [3] [4]
Continue with our native plant guide and ocotillo photographs. For a garden outing, explore Sunnylands; for a broader habitat comparison, see Coachella Valley Preserve and Whitewater Preserve. These are places to observe, not promises of either species.
Make your next sighting more useful
- Let the bird settle. A perch can reveal details a hovering blur conceals.
- Record more than color. Add throat shape, tail position and the plant or perch.
- Keep your uncertainty. Do not turn a possibility into a confirmed sighting.
Use the species profiles to explore more photographs or record a sighting: Anna’s Hummingbird · Costa’s Hummingbird. If you are still comparing, browse the complete bird collection.
Give feeding birds space, avoid disturbing nests and use a longer lens rather than stepping closer. You can learn a surprising amount by watching one familiar perch.
Hummingbird questions
What is the easiest way to tell a male Anna’s from a male Costa’s?
Why does a hummingbird’s throat look black in my photograph?
The appearance of iridescent feathers depends on lighting and viewing angle. A dark photograph does not necessarily mean the bird lacks colorful feathers. [1]
Can I identify a female from a plain throat?
Are Anna’s and Costa’s the only hummingbirds in the Coachella Valley?
No. This guide compares two species represented in Mark’s collection; it is not a complete regional checklist. Explore the bird collection and consider other species before confirming a difficult observation.
Which flowers do Costa’s Hummingbirds visit?
Cornell documents nectar feeding at desert flowers including chuparosa and ocotillo. Flower visits are part of their diet; they also eat insects. [4]
Sources and photo notes
Researched October 19, 2026. Original photographs by Mark Miller, drawn from the existing Anna’s and Costa’s species galleries. Precise locations and dates are not assigned where the source record does not establish them. No generated bird photographs are used. Images are not to a common scale; descriptions explain visible details without altering plumage.
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — Anna’s Hummingbird identification. Accessed October 19, 2026.
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — Costa’s Hummingbird identification. Accessed October 19, 2026.
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — Anna’s Hummingbird life history. Accessed October 19, 2026.
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — Costa’s Hummingbird life history. Accessed October 19, 2026.
