206 LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



72. Calypte anna (Lesson) 



ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD. 



Orxiftmya anna Lesson, Supplement des Oiseaux Mouclies, 1831, 115, PI. 7. 

 Calypte anna Gould, Mouograpli of the Tiochilidie, Pt. XI, 1850, PI. 5; and Vol. Ill, 1861, 

 PI. 135. 



(B 105, C 279, R 338, 115, U 431.) 



Geographical range: Western North America; north through southern and 

 middle California to about latitude 41°; east to the Sierra Nevada; south to northern 

 Lower California and Cerros Island, and through southern Arizona; in winter to northern 

 Mexico. Casually! to Guadalupe Island, Mexico. 



The breeding range of Anna's Hummingbird, one of the handsomest species 

 found in the United States, appears to be a rather restricted one, and, as far as 

 known at present, seems to be confined to those regions of California situiited 

 between the coast and the Sierra Nevadas, and to tlie northern hah' of Lower Cah- 

 fornia. Quite a number of these birds winter regularly in southern California, 

 while others pass, during their fall migration, through southern Arizona, and likely 

 also tln-ongh southwestern New Mexico, en route to their winter haunts in north- 

 ern Mexico. Mr. H. W. Henshaw met with Anna's Hummingbird in the vicinity 

 of Camp Grant, Arizona, during- the last week of September, 1873, while they 

 were evidently migrating, and Mr. W. E. D. Scott obtained a single specimen 

 in the Santa Catalina Mountains, in the same territory, on C)ctober 1, 1883. 

 If it should prove to be a summer resident in Arizona, its nests and eggs must 

 be looked for in the canyons of the mountains at altitudes of from 5,000 to 

 7,000 feet. It usually returns to its breeding grounds very early in the spring. 

 Its general habits, food, etc., resemble those of the other species already rather 

 fully described, and the breeding season begins occasionally in February and 

 lasts into July, daring- which time two, if not three broods are raised. 



Mr. Chnrles A. Allen, of Nicasio, California, writes me: "The male Anna's 

 Hummingbird has a very nice little song; it may often be seen perched on some 

 prominent twig or a telegraph wire singing away for dear life. Its simple 

 little lay sounds like 'te-uit, te-uit, te-wieu, wieu, wieu,' repeated over and over 

 again, and when angry it utters a very harsh, ras})ing screech. In this vicinity 

 it is migratory, usually arriving about the second week in February." 



Mr. F. Stephens sent me the following notes on this species: "When I first 

 came to California I confused the females of this species with those of TrochUus 

 alexandri, and thought that Calypte anna was a summer resident in the valleys. 

 Others ap|)ear to have made the same mistake. Mv present ])elief is that Caljiptc 

 anna seldom or never breeds lielow the pine region of the mountains ot southern 

 California, except possibly immediately along the coast, and <»f this I have no 

 certain knowledge. I do know the species is found, though rather rarely, in 

 the j)ines in May and June. It is an abundant winter resident in the valleys. 



