The Anna’s hummingbird (Calypte anna) is a small, brightly colored hummingbird found along the west coast of North America. Known for its speedy flight and territorial behavior, the Anna’s hummingbird produces a variety of sounds used for communication.
Types of sounds
Anna’s hummingbirds make three main types of sounds:
- Songs – Long, complex vocalizations used to attract mates and defend territories
- Calls – Short, simple vocalizations used to communicate with other individuals
- Tail sounds – Sounds produced by male Anna’s hummingbirds during courtship dives
Songs
The songs of male Anna’s hummingbirds are one of their most distinctive features. Used primarily during the breeding season, songs are complex vocalizations incorporating clicks, chirps, and buzzes in variable sequences. Songs can last from 5 to over 20 seconds. The function of songs is to advertise the presence of a male and his territory to other birds.
Each male has a single song type that is individually distinct. Songs are initially learned from the male’s father, but may be improvised and altered slightly over time. The basic song of each Anna’s hummingbird is unique, similar to a human fingerprint.
To human ears, Anna’s hummingbird songs have a fast-paced, energetic, rhythmic quality. The complex mixes of clicks and buzzes give the songs a mechanical, almost electronic sound. Here are some descriptions of Anna’s hummingbird songs from bird experts:
- “A long series of squeaks, buzzes, chirps and whistles.” – The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- “A rapid series of squeaky notes that sound like a thumb running over the teeth of a comb.” – The Audubon Society
- “A persistent series of rapid, squeaky chipping sounds.” – The California Academy of Sciences
You can listen to examples of Anna’s hummingbird songs at the following links:
Calls
In addition to complex songs, Anna’s hummingbirds also make simpler vocalizations known as calls. Calls are short, single note sounds used in contexts including aggressive interactions or communicating with offspring. Some examples of Anna’s hummingbird calls include:
- Chips – Short, hard “chip” notes used in aggressive encounters with other hummingbirds
- Squeaks – High-pitched squeaking sounds made near the nest, possibly to communicate with nestlings
- Shrieks – Loud, piercing shrieks emitted during disputes over food sources or territories
The calls of Anna’s hummingbirds are much simpler and shorter than their elaborate songs. However, calls still play an important role in communication. Here are some audio examples of Anna’s hummingbird call vocalizations:
Tail sounds
A unique behavioral display of male Anna’s hummingbirds during courtship is the dive display. As part of this display, males climb 30-130 feet into the air then dive toward the ground, reaching speeds of over 60 mph while making loud sounds with their tail feathers.
To produce these sounds, male Anna’s hummingbirds have stiff, specially adapted tail feathers that vibrate and flutter as air rushes through them during the dive. This creates a high-pitched chirping or whistling noise. The outer tail feathers that produce the sound are oriented perpendicular to the tail during the dive.
The sound of the dive is thought to advertise the male’s fitness. Females pay attention to the sound as well as the visual display when selecting a potential mate. Characteristics like the pitch, volume, and quality of the dive sound may indicate the male’s physical condition.
Here are how the sounds of the Anna’s hummingbird dive display are described:
- “Loud high-pitched squeaks or whistles”
- “Chirps or whistles so high-pitched they are sometimes inaudible to humans”
- “A thin, whistling, twittering trill”
Listen to audio examples of the Anna’s hummingbird dive sound:
When are sounds produced?
The different vocalizations of Anna’s hummingbirds are associated with specific contexts and times of year:
- Songs: Produced primarily by males during the breeding season from November to June
- Calls: Made year-round by both males and females
- Dive sounds: Produced by males during courtship displays from December to June
In the non-breeding season, vocalizations are less frequent. But chip calls and squeaks can still be heard from Anna’s hummingbirds defending food sources.
Males are the primary singers, using songs to attract mates and defend nesting areas. However, female Anna’s hummingbirds may also occasionally produce shorter songs. The functions of female song are less certain but could include communicating with males or defending resources.
Regional variations
The songs of Anna’s hummingbirds can show regional dialects, with subtle variation between different geographic populations. For example, researchers found the songs of males in Arizona sound slightly different than those of males in California.
It’s thought the songs evolve gradually over time in populations isolated from each other. This leads to local traditions being passed on through learning. Other factors like habitat acoustics may also drive differences between regions.
Here are some characteristics of Anna’s hummingbird songs in two different regions:
| Region | Song characteristics |
|---|---|
| Southern California |
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| Arizona |
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However, the regional variations in Anna’s hummingbird songs are relatively subtle. The different song types still clearly identify as being produced by Anna’s hummingbirds rather than other species.
How do sounds compare to other hummingbirds?
There are around 17 species of hummingbirds found in the western United States that overlap in range with Anna’s hummingbirds. How do Anna’s hummingbird sounds compare to other hummingbird species?
- Rufous hummingbird – The males have a buzzy, scratchy song, with a faster tempo than Anna’s. Their dive sound has a lower pitch.
- Black-chinned hummingbird – Songs have more whistles and fewer buzzes compared to Anna’s. Dives sound thinner and higher-pitched.
- Calliope hummingbird – The smallest hummingbird in the US. Songs are even faster and shorter than Anna’s, with a higher pitch.
- Allen’s hummingbird – Songs are lower-pitched and slower than Anna’s, with more tonal quality.
While subtle differences exist, Anna’s hummingbird vocalizations overlap broadly in sound qualities with these other western hummingbird species. Identifying songs visually or by ear alone can be challenging.
However, there are some distinguishing features that help separate Anna’s hummingbird sounds from other hummingbirds:
- Longer songs than most species
- Broad frequency range covering both buzzy and tonal notes
- Rapid pace and rhythm compared to larger species like Allen’s
In summary, the energetic, complex songs of Anna’s hummingbirds have a distinctive mechanical buzzy quality that differs from many other western hummingbird species.
Conclusion
The Anna’s hummingbird produces a range of vocalizations that include complex songs, short calls, and courtship dive sounds. Songs combine buzzes, chirps, and squeaks in rapid sequences that advertise territories and attract mates. Short alarm and contact calls serve other communication functions. During breeding displays, males make loud chirping noises with their tail feathers during high-speed dives. Regional variations exist, but Anna’s hummingbird sounds can be identified by their long duration, broad frequency range, and rhythmic, buzzy quality compared to other western hummingbirds.
