dalemeister's Identifications

Comparison of 3 Hawks commonly seen in Monterey County: Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis),
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus), and Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii):

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Western Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis ssp. calurus) Range map of subspecies: National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 7th ed., 2017, p. 567.

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is a large, widespread, migratory bird of prey in the Accipitridae family. It is probably the most common hawk in North America. Length is 56cm (22 inches); wingspan 127cm (50 inches) with rounded wing tips. The darker head gives it a "hooded" appearance. Pale breast contrasts with darkish head, mottled belly and "V" shaped belly band (more visible in adults). Juveniles have gray-brown tails with many blackish bands. They have a white chest with heavily mottled belly (streaked and spotted with brown coloring on lower abdomen). It is bulky and broad-winged, designed for effortless soaring. It is seen in open country, commonly perched on roadside poles or sailing over fields and woods. Although adults can usually be recognized by the trademark reddish-brown tail, the rest of their plumage can be quite variable. Western birds are typically darker. Immatures do not have a red tail. There are many subspecies.
The Red-tailed Hawk occupies a wide range of habitats and altitudes, including deserts, grasslands, coniferous and deciduous forests, agricultural fields, and urban areas. It favors varied habitats with open woodland, woodland edge and open terrain. All buteos may be noted for their broad wings and sturdy builds. They frequently soar on thermals at midday over openings in the terrain. Red-tailed Hawk is legally protected in Canada, Mexico, and the United States by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Ebird with species description, range map and sound recordings: https://ebird.org/species/rethaw/

Xeno-canto Bird songs, sound recordings, and species range map: https://xeno-canto.org/species/Buteo-jamaicensis

Audubon Guide to North American Birds https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/red-tailed-hawk

The Cornell Lab (Birds in U.S. and Canada) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-tailed_Hawk

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 7th ed., 2017, pp. 288, 292, 567.

Monterey Birds, Don Roberson, 2nd ed. 2002, sponsored by Monterey Peninsula Audubon Society, p. 163

Merlin Bird ID (great app available for Iphones) by The Cornell Lab (Bird ID help for 8,500+ species) https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Comprehensive Feather I.D. tools and more: https://foundfeathers.org/resources/

Found Feathers (Worldwide): https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/idtool.php

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

COMPARED TO another Buteo:

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) is a medium-sized raptor, 38-48 cm (15-19 inches) long. Buteos are high-soaring hawks. Adult has reddish-orange shoulders. Wings have bold black-and-white checkerboard patterning. Tail is black with white bands. Tail is shorter than Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii).
"Diet includes small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds. Diet varies with region and season. Main items often mammals such as voles and chipmunks, at other times frogs and toads; may eat many crayfish in some areas. Also eats snakes, small birds, mice, large insects, occasionally fish, rarely carrion. Usually hunts by watching from a perch, then swooping down when it locates prey. Sometimes it flies very low in open areas, taking creatures by surprise."
There are several subspecies. In the Western U.S., we have the California Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus ssp. elegans).

Audubon Guide to North American Birds https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/red-shouldered-hawk

Ebird with species description, range map and sound recordings: https://ebird.org/species/reshaw/

Xeno-canto Bird songs, sound recordings, and species range map: https://xeno-canto.org/species/Buteo-lineatus

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 7th ed., 2017. pp. 282-283.

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 2008, pp.
pp. 106-107.

Monterey Birds, Don Roberson, 2nd ed. 2002, sponsored by Monterey Peninsula Audubon Society, p. 160.

The Cornell Lab (Birds in U.S. and Canada) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/ (enter common name) and https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk

Merlin Bird ID (great app available for Iphones) by The Cornell Lab (Bird ID help for 8,500+ species) https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Comprehensive Feather I.D. tools and more: https://foundfeathers.org/resources/

Found Feathers (Worldwide): https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/idtool.php

INaturalist Project: Found Feathers https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/found-feathers

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

COMPARED TO

Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) is a medium-sized hawk in the Hawks, Eagles, and Kites (Accipitridae) family. Cooper's Hawk has a long tail with black horizontal stripes and short rounded wings, giving this woodland hawk great agility. "Flight is several quick wingbeats and a glide. Females are larger than males. Looks similar to Sharp-shinned Hawk, but is larger with a bigger head. Cooper's Hawk has a long rounded tail tip, unlike Sharp-shinned Hawk that has a squared off tail tip.
Diet is mostly medium size birds and small mammals. Usually hunts by stealth, moving from perch to perch in dense cover, listening and watching, then putting on a burst of speed to overtake prey. Sometimes cruises low over ground, approaching from behind shrubbery to take prey by surprise."
Conservation Status: Apparently secure (S4) in California, US (NatureServe). Was S3; See: https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100417/Accipiter_cooperii

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 7th ed., 2017, pp. 278-279.

Ebird with species description, range map and sound recordings: https://ebird.org/species/coohaw/ and https://ebird.org/explore

Audubon Guide to North American Birds https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/coopers-hawk

Monterey Birds, Don Roberson, 2nd ed. 2002, sponsored by Monterey Peninsula Audubon Society, pp. 158-159.

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 2008, pp. 104-105.

Xeno-canto Bird songs, sound recordings, and species range map: https://xeno-canto.org/species/Accipiter-cooperii

Merlin Bird ID (great app available for Iphones) by The Cornell Lab (Bird ID help for 8,500+ species) https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

The Cornell Lab (Birds in U.S. and Canada) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/ (enter common name)

Comprehensive Feather I.D. tools and more: https://foundfeathers.org/resources/

Found Feathers (Worldwide): https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/idtool.php

Mournful Duskywing on Italian Thistle at the top of Fremont Peak, elevation 3173 feet.

Mournful Duskywing butterfly with prominent white hindwing fringe on California Blackberry.

Mournful Duskywing (Erynnis tristis) is a small butterfly in the Spreadwing Skippers (Hesperiidae) family with a wingspan of 1.25 - 1.75 inches. They have 2 -3 flights February-October. Males are strong hilltoppers. Hindwing fringes are white. In California, Mournful and Funereal Duskywings are the only duskywings with white hindwing fringes. Larval foodplant: Oak (Quercus species). Adult nectaring plant favorites include Yerba Santa, Buckwheats, and California Buckeye. Habitat: Oak woodlands, chaparral, and riparian.

Butterflies of Monterey County: A comprehensive guide to finding and identifying 91 species of butterflies in Monterey County, Chris Tenney and Jan Austin, August 2023, pp. 170-171.
Coming soon: Companion website to Butterflies of Monterey County: https://www.montereybutterflies.online/

Link to confirmed observation of Mournful Duskywing with open wings: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/206293699 and Mournful Duskywing with closed wings: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/219394825

Butterflies Through Binoculars: The West: a field guide to the butterflies of western North America, by Jeffrey Glassberg, 2001, pp. 234-235.

Butterflies of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento Valley Regions, pp. 225-226, pl. 27.

Bug photographs from the U.S/Canada for I.D: https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Erynnis+tristis

Butterflies and Moths of North America: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Erynnis-tristis
"Caterpillar host plants: oaks including coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), blue oak (Q. douglasii), and valley oak (Q. lobata)."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

BUTTERFLY and CATERPILLAR (Annotated References):

In California, there are about 240 species of butterflies. There are more than 3,000 species of MOTHS, which represent 4 suborders in about 50 families. Butterflies have clubbed antennae, moths do not. Many moths are nocturnal, but not all.

Field Guide to California Insects, by Kip Will, J. Gross, D. Rubinoff , J. Powell, 2nd ed., 2020 (Lepidoptera, pp. 347-426)

Butterflies of Monterey County: A comprehensive guide to finding and identifying 91 species of butterflies in Monterey County, by Chris Tenney and photograher Jan Austin, August 2023 and companion website: https://www.montereybutterflies.online/

Glossary of Butterfly (and Moth) Terminology: https://butterfly.ucdavis.edu/resources/glossary

Butterflies of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento Valley Regions: A Field Guide, Arthur M. Shapiro and Timothy D. Manolis, 2007

Law's Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada, John Muir Laws, California Academy of Sciences, 2007

eButterfly: (2115+ species) https://www.e-butterfly.org/ebapp/en/observations/explore

BugGuide: Butterflies and Moths (U.S. and Canada) clickable categories or use search bar: https://bugguide.net/node/view/57

Butterfly Wing Areas and Body Parts (diagram)
Butterflies Through Binoculars: The West: a field guide to the butterflies of western North America, by Jeffrey Glassberg, 2001, p. 40.

Butterflies Through Binoculars: The West: a field guide to the butterflies of western North America, by Jeffrey Glassberg, 2001

Butterflies and Moths of North America https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species_search

Butterflies of Central and Northern California, a laminated pamphlet (guide to common and notable species) by Jim Brock, 2023

Caterpillar Anatomy diagram and Butterfly Basics: https://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/activities/printouts/caterpillarprintout.shtml Life Cycle of a Butterfly: Egg --> Larva (the caterpillar) --> Pupa (the chrysalis or cocoon) --> Adult.

Caterpillars: INaturalist Project https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/california-caterpillars

MALE
Orioles are usually seen in the vicinity of tall palm trees because they weave their nests behind the dead palm fronds. There are several tall palm trees in the neighborhood.

Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus) is a migratory perching bird in the New World Blackbirds and Orioles (Icteridae) family. It is long and slender with a long and slightly decurved bill. Both sexes have white bars on black wings. Breeding males are more orange or orange-yellow than females. Males have a black bib, that appears oval when viewed from the front. They seem to enjoy visiting hummingbird feeders. They also enjoy the nectar of sliced oranges attached to feeders.
Hooded Orioles are sometimes called "Palm-leaf Orioles," because they "sew" their hanging nests onto the undersides of palm fronds. These nests are almost never visible from below. That’s why old palm fronds should never be cut down from the palm trees--to help preserve Oriole habitat.

Ebird with species description, range map and sound recordings: https://ebird.org/species/hooori/

Xeno-canto Bird songs, sound recordings, and species range map:
https://xeno-canto.org/species/Icterus-cucullatus

Audubon Guide to North American Birds https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/hooded-oriole

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 7th ed., 2017. pp. 540-541, 575.

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 2008, pp. 396-397.

Monterey Birds, Don Roberson, 2nd ed. 2002, sponsored by Monterey Peninsula Audubon Society. p. 458.

The Cornell Lab (Birds in U.S. and Canada) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hooded_Oriole

Compare to Scott's Oriole (Icterus parisorum): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/199062614

Merlin Bird ID (great app available for Iphones) by The Cornell Lab (Bird ID help for 8,500+ species) https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Comprehensive Feather I.D. tools and more: https://foundfeathers.org/resources/

Found Feathers (Worldwide): https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/idtool.php

Stellar’s Jay was eyeing our picnic lunch.

Steller's jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) is a Corvid with a black head, head crest of feathers and black upper back. It is also known as the long-crested jay, mountain jay, and pine jay. It is the only crested jay west of the Rocky Mountains. It has omnivorousdiet. Diet is about two-thirds vegetable and one-third animal matter. Feeds heavily on pine seeds, acorns, and other nuts and seeds, especially during fall and winter; also eats many berries and wild fruits, sometimes cultivated fruit. Especially in summer, eats many insects, including beetles, wasps, and wild bees. Also eats spiders, birds' eggs, table scraps, sometimes small rodents or lizards.
Nesting: In courtship, male feeds female. Adults are quiet and secretive while nesting, but become noisy and aggressive if nest is threatened. Nest site is usually in Conifers."
Audubon Guide to North American Birds https://www.audubon.org/bird-guide and https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/stellers-jay

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 2008, pp. 278-279.

"Black-and-blue with a crest. Widespread in western North America, from Alaska to Nicaragua. Shows marked variation across range: coastal populations are the darkest, with no pale markings around the eye. Central American birds have shorter crest, limited black on the face, and very bold white markings around the eye. Occurs in coniferous forests, usually in small groups. Regularly visits feeders, campgrounds, and picnic areas. Loud and conspicuous; listen for harsh calls."
Ebird: https://ebird.org/species/stejay/ and https://ebird.org/explore

Xeno-canto Bird songs, sound recordings, and species range map: https://xeno-canto.org/species/Cyanocitta-stelleri

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

BIRDS (Annotated References)

The Cornell Lab (Birds in U.S. and Canada, includes Compare with Similiar Species) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/

Xeno-canto: Bird songs, sound recordings, bird range and migration map: https://xeno-canto.org/about/xeno-canto

Audubon Guide to North American Birds https://www.audubon.org/bird-guide

Ebird with species description, range map and sound recordings: https://ebird.org/explore

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 7th ed., 2017

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 2008

Monterey Birds, Don Roberson, 2nd ed. 2002, sponsored by Monterey Peninsula Audubon Society

Merlin Bird ID: How to use/get the portable App (Bird ID help for 8,500+ species) https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Comprehensive Feather I.D. tools and more: https://foundfeathers.org/resources/

Found Feathers (Worldwide): https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/idtool.php

How to Tell a Raven From a Crow (comparison sound recordings, photos): https://www.audubon.org/news/how-tell-raven-crow

2 Nuttal’s Woodpeckers have come to the backyard the past 2 days. One has a red cap.

FEMALE Nuttal’s Woodpecker has NO red at the back of the crown.
Link to Male for comparison: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/187417851

Nuttall's Woodpecker (Dryobates nuttallii) is a small woodpecker, 19cm (7.5 inches) long, in the Woodpeckers (Picidae) family. Only the male Nuttall's Woodpecker has red at the back of the crown. White outer tail feathers are sparsely spotted rather than barred. Nasal tufts are white. Compared to Ladder-backed, Nuttal's has more black on face, with black cheeks (Ladder-backed has white cheeks). Nuttal's white bars on back are narrow and stop on upper back (Ladder-backed's white bars on back are a bit wider and extend to nape.
Nuttal's habitat is oak woodland foothills and canyons. It prefers less arid habit than Ladder-backed. It is a year round local resident in Monterey County with in Coast Live Oak woodland with streams and the Salinas River nearby. Diet is mostly insects. It feeds on a wide variety of insects, especially beetles, also caterpillars, spiders, ants, true bugs. Also eats some nuts, seeds, fruits, berries. Despite a close association with oaks, it eats only a small numbers of acorns.

Xeno-canto Bird songs, sound recordings, and species range map: https://xeno-canto.org/species/Dryobates-nuttallii

Ebird with species description, range map and sound recordings: https://ebird.org/species/nutwoo/

Audubon Guide to North American Birds https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/nuttalls-woodpecker

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 7th ed., 2017. pp. 312-313.

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 2008, pp. 250-251.

Monterey Birds, Don Roberson, 2nd ed. 2002, sponsored by Monterey Peninsula Audubon Society, p. 306.

Merlin Bird ID (great app available for Iphones) by The Cornell Lab (Bird ID help for 8,500+ species) https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

The Cornell Lab (Birds in U.S. and Canada) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/ (enter common name)

Comprehensive Feather I.D. tools and more: https://foundfeathers.org/resources/

Found Feathers (Worldwide): https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/idtool.php

Did you know that hummingbirds ...

Are the smallest migrating birds. Their average weight is less than a nickel.
Get their name from the humming sounds their wings make.
Can perch, but cannot hop nor walk on their tiny legs.
Have no sense of smell, but have excellent color vision.
Can consume nectar up to twice their body weight in a day.
In a flock may be called a bouquet, hover, glittering, shimmer or tune.

COMPARISON OF 3 Humminbirds: Costa's, Anna's and Broad-tailed

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae)

Link to observation of a successful hatch of Costa's hummingbirds in a neighbor's orange tree in the desert in February. Nest is the size of half a golf ball made of feathers and small bits of plant material: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/151012296
Link to brilliant adult MALE Costa's Hummingbird: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/144253292
Link to observation of dozens of Costa's peacefully sharing hummingbird feeders: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/144476737

Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae) is a medium-size hummingbird in the (Trochilidae) family that is 9cm (3.5 inches) long. Costa's are a bit smaller with a more hunched posture than Anna's. Bill is a little longer than Anna's Hummingbird. Both sexes have a green upper body. Adult male has a deep violet crown and a gorget that extends far down the sides of neck. Female is green above, white below, with NO chin spots (like Anna's). Immature males have streaking on neck, with spots of purple feathers increasing with age. Costa's has longer length wings than Anna's (when perched, the tail of Anna's extends farther past the wings).
Costa's is a desert adapted hummingbird. Natural desert habitat includes washes, stream sides, creosote brush scrub, mostly in dry and open places having a good variety of blooming plants.
Conservation Status: Vulnerable in California. It is common but numbers have declined where the desert has been cleared for development. In some places it has adapted to nesting in suburbs.
Diet is mostly nectar and sometimes tiny insects, especially during nesting season. It looks for nectar on native desert and garden plants. (See https://www.desertstrawhouse.com/plant-nursery for native plants to attract birds and butterflies to your garden). Supplement plant nectar with hummingbird feeder. 4:1 (or even 3:1) is a good ratio of water to sugar. Change the solution at least weekly before it gets cloudy or moldly and NEVER add red dye!
Feeding Hummingbirds (The Cornell Lab) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/feeding-hummingbirds/

Male Costa's call is a loud "zing," a thin, high-pitched whistle.
Xeno-canto Bird songs, sound recordings, and species range map: https://xeno-canto.org/species/Calypte-costae

Ebird with species description, range map and sound recordings: https://ebird.org/species/coshum/

Audubon Guide to North American Birds https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/costas-hummingbird

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 2008, pp. 238-239.

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 7th ed., 2017, pp. 96-97.

Feeding Hummingbirds (The Cornell Lab) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/feeding-hummingbirds/

Merlin Bird ID (great app available for Iphones) by The Cornell Lab (Bird ID help for 8,500+ species) https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Comprehensive Feather I.D. tools and more: https://foundfeathers.org/resources/

Found Feathers: https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/idtool.php

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)

Link to close-up of Male with bright fuchsia gorget : https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/190601885

Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna) is a medium-size hummingbird in the (Trochilidae) family that is 10cm (4 inches) long. Anna's are larger with a less hunched posture than Costa's. Bill is straight (and shorter than Costa's Humminbird). Both sexes have a green upper body. Adult male head and throat are fuchsia (deep rose red), with color extending a short distance onto sides of neck. Female's throat usually shows rose-red flecks or spots. She is dingy gray below with extensive green flanks turning to green spots at tail end (compared to female Costa's that is more pure white below). Anna's has shorter length wings than Costa's. When perched, the tail of Anna's extends farther past the wings (Costa's wings are a bit longer).
Range: Abundant in coastal lowlands and mountains in California, and also in deserts, especially in winter. It is a year round resident in Monterey County. In recent decades the species has expanded its range north to British Columbia and east to Arizona, probably helped along by flowers and feeders in suburban gardens.
Diet is mostly nectar and sometimes tiny insects, especially during nesting season. It looks for nectar on native desert and garden plants. (See https://www.desertstrawhouse.com/plant-nursery for native plants to attract birds and butterflies to your desert garden). Supplement plant nectar with hummingbird feeder. 4:1 (or even 3:1) is a good ratio of water to sugar. Change the solution at least weekly before it gets cloudy or moldly and NEVER add red dye!
Feeding Hummingbirds (The Cornell Lab) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/feeding-hummingbirds/

Ebird with species description, range map and sound recordings: https://ebird.org/species/annhum

Audubon Guide to North American Birds https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/annas-hummingbird

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 2008, p. 238-239.

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 7th ed., 2017, pp. 98-99.

Monterey Birds, Don Roberson, 2nd ed. 2002, sponsored by Monterey Peninsula Audubon Society, p. 297.

Xeno-canto Bird songs, sound recordings, and species range map: https://xeno-canto.org/species/Calypte-anna

The Cornell Lab (Birds in U.S. and Canada) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Annas_Hummingbird

Merlin Bird ID (great app available for Iphones) by The Cornell Lab (Bird ID help for 8,500+ species) https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Comprehensive Feather I.D. tools and more: https://foundfeathers.org/resources/

Found Feathers (Worldwide): https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/idtool.php

“The Anna's Hummingbird is a very distinctive bird with its iridescent ruby-colored throat, which is called a gorget. The male's gorget extends over its head, like a hood. Interestingly, the female Anna's also has a very small gorget, a red patch on her throat, whereas most female hummingbirds do not.

Back in the early 1900s, Anna's Hummingbirds were found only in Baja California and Southern California. Today, their range extends from southwestern British Columbia to southwestern Arizona and extreme northeastern Mexico.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

COMPARED TO

Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus)
Male Broad-tailed hummingbirds do NOT have an iridescent crown (like male Anna's)

Link to Confirmed observation of Broad-tailed Hummingbird in Morongo Valley, CA: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/45882012

Ebird with species description, range map and sound recordings: https://ebird.org/species/brthum/

Xeno-canto Bird songs, sound recordings, and species range map: https://xeno-canto.org/species/Selasphorus-platycercus

Audubon Guide to North American Birds https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/broad-tailed-hummingbird