Allen's Hummingbird

A small hummingbird of coastal scrub, gardens and chaparral in California, it feeds on nectar from tubular flowers and small insects, and males perform a dramatic, high-speed diving display accompanied by a distinctive wing-produced sound during courtship. It is most easily seen in late winter and spring, when migrants arrive to breed and males are actively displaying and defending flowering territories. Look for the male's coppery-orange throat flashing in direct sunlight and listen for its buzzy chip call.