Hummingbirds are amazing little birds that can hover in mid-air and fly backwards. Their tiny size and jewel-like colors make them a favorite among birdwatchers. But which hummingbird species winters the farthest north in North America?
Quick Answer
The Anna’s hummingbird is the hummingbird species that winters the farthest north in North America. Anna’s hummingbirds are found along the Pacific Coast and some inland areas west of the Rocky Mountains. They have been recorded as far north as British Columbia in Canada during the winter months.
Overview of Hummingbird Species in North America
There are over 300 species of hummingbirds worldwide, with about 16 regular species found in North America. The main hummingbird species found in the USA and Canada include:
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Black-chinned Hummingbird
- Anna’s Hummingbird
- Costa’s Hummingbird
- Rufous Hummingbird
- Allen’s Hummingbird
- Calliope Hummingbird
Most hummingbird species migrate south for the winter, traveling all the way to Mexico or Central America. However, some species are exceptions and have expanded their wintering grounds farther north along the Pacific Coast.
Winter Range of Anna’s Hummingbird
The Anna’s hummingbird (Calypte anna) is the only hummingbird species found year-round along the Pacific Coast. Their breeding range extends from southern British Columbia to Baja California. Many Anna’s hummingbirds migrate south in winter, but a significant number remain through winter along coastal California, Oregon, Washington and southern British Columbia.
Banding records show that some Anna’s hummingbirds have been documented as far north as Juneau, Alaska in winter. But most wintering Anna’s stay much farther south, with highest concentrations from northern California to British Columbia. Their ability to tolerate colder temperatures has allowed them to greatly expand their wintering range northward in the last few decades.
Winter Range Map
Here is a map showing the winter range of the Anna’s hummingbird in western North America:
Image source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Comparison to Other Hummingbirds
No other hummingbird comes close to wintering as far north as the Anna’s hummingbird. Here is how the winter ranges of some other common hummingbird species compare:
| Species | Winter Range |
|---|---|
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Southern Florida, Mexico, Central America |
| Rufous Hummingbird | Coastal California south through Mexico |
| Black-chinned Hummingbird | Southern Arizona, Mexico, Central America |
| Allen’s Hummingbird | California coast south to Mexico |
| Anna’s Hummingbird | Pacific Coast from Baja to British Columbia |
As the table shows, the Anna’s hummingbird has a distinctly more northern winter range than other hummingbirds in North America. No other species comes close to wintering as far north as British Columbia.
How Anna’s Hummingbirds Survive Colder Winters
Anna’s hummingbirds have adapted in several key ways that allow them to withstand colder winter temperatures:
- They enter torpor – a short-term hibernation – at night to conserve energy
- They eat insects and tree sap when flowers are not available
- They store fat before winter to provide extra insulation and energy
- They seek shelter in trees and shrubs to get out of the wind
Their ability to go into torpor is especially important. Their metabolic rate slows down and body temperature drops to conserve energy on cold nights. This enables them to survive freezing temperatures as far north as British Columbia.
Benefits of Expanding North
Expanding their winter range north provides Anna’s hummingbirds with several benefits:
- Less competition with other hummingbird species
- First access to newly blooming flowers in spring
- More available habitat to occupy and nest
Their adaptation to cooler weather has allowed Anna’s hummingbirds to successfully expand their breeding range northward as well. They now nest farther north than any other hummingbird species.
Conclusion
With its ability to tolerate cold temperatures and go into torpor, the Anna’s hummingbird is uniquely adapted among North American hummingbirds for surviving winter in the far north. No other hummingbird comes close to wintering as far north as the Anna’s, with some individuals recorded as far as Alaska. Their expansion north in recent decades is an amazing example of a species adapting to find and occupy new habitat.
