Hummingbirds

Length 3.5″ to 4″ Weight 0.1 oz (!!)

Male Allen’s — Pat Bates

Male Allen’s — Pat Bates

Hummingbirds are everyone’s favorite yard birds, and for good reason. Their acrobatic flight abilities, including hovering and flying backward like a helicopter, are truly amazing. Their brightly flashing throat patches (gorgets) add to their charm, all in a package so tiny it’s hard to believe they’re warm-blooded animals. The Allen’s Hummingbird (ALHU) was the most common species in the San Fernando Valley for several years, but the Anna’s Hummingbird (ANHU) has made a comeback, with the Rufous Hummingbird (RUHU) in third place. Costa’s (COHU) and Black-Chinned (BCHU) Hummingbirds are rarer sightings. If you see hummingbirds around your yard or balcony feeder in the spring, there’s a good chance there’s a tiny nest with a couple of jellybean-sized eggs tucked into a nearby bush or small tree.