[Length 3.75 in. Wingspan 4.25 in.]

This male Allen's Hummingbird was photographed at a residentail neighborhood, Houston, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens + Nikkor TC14E II 1.4x Teleconverter (EFL=630mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: February 6, 2008)

[Length 3.75 in. Wingspan 4.25 in.]

This male Allen's Hummingbird was photographed at a residentail neighborhood, Houston, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens + Nikkor TC14E II 1.4x Teleconverter (EFL=630mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: February 6, 2008)

[Length 3.75 in. Wingspan 4.25 in.]

This male Allen's Hummingbird was photographed at a residentail neighborhood, Houston, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: February 6, 2008)

[Length 3.75 in. Wingspan 4.25 in.]

This male Allen's Hummingbird was photographed at a residentail neighborhood, Houston, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: February 6, 2008)

[Length 4 in. Wingspan 5.25 in.]

This male Anna's Hummingbird was photographed at Beatty's Lodge, Miller Canyon, Sierra Vista, Arizona, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: August 6, 2007)

[Length 4 in. Wingspan 5.25 in.]

Anna's Hummingbirds occur in the west coast states of the US and southwestern Arizona. Hummingbirds get their name from the low humming sound produced by their rapidly beating wings. There are a number of birds that can hover, but Hummingbirds are the only ones that can actually fly backwards. Male Hummingbirds have iridescent coloring on the throat or gorget. Most colors in nature are created by chemical compounds called pigments that look the same from any direction. However, iridescent coloring is created by the physical structure of the feather reflecting and refracting the light, and the color can only be seen when the feathers are facing directly towards the observer. When the bird turns its head even slightly in either direction, the color disappears and the feathers appear black. The effect is similar to a mirror reflecting bright light into your eyes. If the mirror is turned even slightly, the bright light disappears. Females lack this coloring since they do not display to attract a mate. However, females usually have white spots in the tail feathers that they use to display to other Hummingbirds, particularly when they compete for food sources, such as flowers and feeders. This male Anna's Hummingbird was photographed around ornamental plantings at a park in the foothills near Arroyo Grande, California, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 180mm f2.8 EDAF lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: September 1997)

[Length 4 in. Wingspan 5.25 in.]

This immature male Anna's Hummingbird was photographed in the foothills near Arroyo Grande, California, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: September 1997)

[Length 4 in. Wingspan 5.25 in.]

This immature male Anna's Hummingbird was photographed in the foothills near Arroyo Grande, California, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: September 1997)