BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report
Calypte anna
Anna's Hummingbird
| Scientific Name: | Calypte anna |
|---|---|
| English Name: | Anna's Hummingbird |
| Provincial Status Summary | |
| Status: | S5 |
| Date Status Assigned: | March 25, 2022 |
| Date Last Reviewed: | March 25, 2022 |
| Reasons: | Expanding range and rapidly increasing population. Habitat not threatened since the species uses modified landscapes, suburban areas and shrubby areas. Range in province is likely limited by cold winter weather however some recent data indicates the species may be developing season movements to mitigate the effect of colder temperatures. |
| Range | |
| Range Extent: | F = 20,000-200,000 square km |
| Range Extent Estimate (km2): | 55,000 square km |
| Range Extent Comments: | Most birds concentrated on southeast Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland (Campbell et al. 1990b). Range expanding into southern interior and north along the coast. BC Breeding Bird Atlas documented breeding at sites in the Similkameen Valley (Moran and Fraser 2015). Many areas of the province have records of Anna's Hummingbird now and the breeding range may be larger than known as nests are hard to find and surprisingly early in the season (Moran and Fraser 2015). Battey (2019) documents recent overwintering as far north as Prince Rupert, and since the species breeds so early in the year breeding there is likely. |
| Area of Occupancy (km2): | H = 2,501-12,500 |
| Occurrences & Population | |
| Number of Occurrences: | E = > 300 |
| Comments: | Large numbers of birds in urban and surburban habitats in the Georgia Depression. Small but increasing numbers in other coastal areas and in the southern interior of the province (Moran and Fraser 2015), very small numbers in the central interior of BC with some indication that they could be breeding. |
| Number of Occurrences with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Number of Occurrences Appropriately Protected & Managed: | DE = 13 to >40 |
| Comments: | Most occurrences in suburban and rural residential areas, but most suburban and urban parks in provincial, national, regional and municipal park system in the sw coast now have populations. |
| Population Size: | G = 100,000 - 1,000,000 individuals |
| Comments: | Partners in Flight estimate for the British Columbia population is 120,000 (PIF 2020) |
| Threats (to population, occurrences, or area affected) | |
| Degree of Threat: | D = Low |
| Comments: | Population is likely limited by extreme winter weather events, however some banding records are revealing that some interior birds may be developing local movement patterns to compensate. Winter feeding stations are often kept from freezing by homeowners during cold snaps. |
| Trend (in population, range, area occupied, and/or condition of occurrences) | |
| Short-Term Trend: | HI = Increase of >10% |
| Comments: | Expanding range and population (Campbell et al. 1990b). BC Breeding Bird Atlas documented breeding in the Similkameen (Moran and Fraser 2015) with increasing numbers (e.g 15 banded at one banding station at Summer Creek in September 2021) (https://ebird.org/canada/checklist/S94336969). Spring records of males on territory now found north all along the BC coast well into Alaska and north to Hazelton and Prince George in the interior of the BC (eBird records). |
| Long-Term Trend: | I = Increase of >25% |
| Comments: | Christmas Bird Count data shows a +3.76% increase per year (Upper CL 4.9, Lower CL 3.6) for the period 1970-2019 (Meehan et al. 2020). |
| Other Factors | |
| Intrinsic Vulnerability: | C=Not intrinsically vulnerable |
| Comments: | Nests only contain 2 eggs, however this is offset by multiple clutches per year (Scarfe and Finlay 2001, Moran and Fraser 2015) |
| Environmental Specificity: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Other Rank Considerations: | Relatively recent arrival in British Columbia. Range expansion limited by winter climate but provision of feeding stations allows overwintering of many birds. Populations in the interior may be developing migration and movement strategies to cope with climate. |
| Information Gaps | |
| Research Needs: | Research into fecundity and seasonal movements is required (Moran and Fraser 2015), especially for birds in the interior of BC. |
| Inventory Needs: | Monitoring of population trends and range expansion should continue via Christmas Bird Counts, banding programs and eBird records (Moran and Fraser 2015). |
| Stewardship | |
| Protection: | |
| Management: | Develop public education program on habitat requirements (Fraser and Ramsay 1991a). |
| Version | |
| Author: | Fraser, David F. |
| Date: | January 02, 2022 |
| References | |
|
Battey, C.J. 2019. Ecological Release of the Anna's Hummingbird during a Northern Range Expansion. The American Naturalist 94:306-315
|
|
|
Campbell, R.W., N.K. Dawe, I. McTaggart-Cowan, J.M. Cooper, G.W. Kaiser, and M.C.E. McNall. 1990b. The Birds of British Columbia Vol. 2: Nonpasserines: Diurnal Birds of Prey through Woodpeckers. Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, BC.
|
|
|
Fraser, D.F., and L.R. Ramsay. 1991. Preliminary species management plan for Anna's Hummingbird in British Columbia. Unpubl. rep., B.C. Environ. Wildl. Branch, Victoria, B.C. 5pp.
|
|
|
Moran, A. and D.F. Fraser. 2015. Anna's Hummingbird in Davidson, P.J.A., R.J. Cannings, A.R. Couturier, D. Lepage, and C.M. Di Corrado (eds.). The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of British Columbia, 2008-2012. Bird Studies Canada. Delta, B.C.
|
|
|
Partners in Flight (PIF). 2019. Population Estimates Database, version 3.0. Available on line at: http://pif.birdconservancy.org/PopEstimates <Accessed 2020>
|
|
|
Scarfe, A. and J.C. Finlay. 2001. Rapid second nesting by Anna's Hummingbird near its northern breeding limits. Western Birds 32:131-133.
|
|
Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for information on how the CDC determines conservation status ranks. For global conservation status reports and ranks, please visit the NatureServe website http://www.natureserve.org/.
Suggested Citation:
B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2022. Conservation Status Report: Calypte anna. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Feb 20, 2025).