June 21, 2026 · 2:01 AM
SF's Only Year-Round Hummingbird Does a 60 MPH Courtship Dive
Anna's hummingbird is the only species that stays in San Francisco all year — and the male's 60 mph courtship dive is one of nature's most spectacular stunts. Head to the SF Botanical Garden at dawn this weekend to catch one.
A weekly urban-naturalist field guide locked to San Francisco. Each episode profiles one wild creature that actually lives within 5 miles of the viewer — Pier 39 sea otters, Glen Canyon coyotes, Salesforce Tower red-tailed hawks.
Anna's hummingbirds are SF's only year-round resident hummingbird — spotted at the SF Botanical Garden, Golden Gate Park, and neighborhood gardens every month of the year. While every other hummingbird species migrates south for winter, Anna's stay behind and thrive through fog and rain. Males perform a spectacular 130-ft courtship dive at 60 mph, producing a high-pitched squeak with their tail feathers at the bottom. Their range has expanded from Southern California in the 1930s all the way to British Columbia today — partly aided by the eucalyptus trees planted across SF. Head to the SF Botanical Garden (free for SF residents) at dawn — around 7:30 AM — for the best chance to watch them hover and feed.
Where to see them: SF Botanical Garden, Golden Gate Park — reliable year-round. Dawn (7:30 AM) is best.
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