This hummer is a familiar species in West Coast gardens, where it is present year-round. Monotypic. Length 3.5–4"; bill 16–20 mm.

Tail slightly rounded to double-rounded. Adult male: rose (fresh) to orange-red (worn) gorget and crown. Adult female: throat and underparts spotted and mottled dusky to bronzy green, median throat blotched rose-red. Immature male: resembles adult female but upperparts fresher in February to June, with fine buff tips; throat and crown usually with more scattered rose spots; white tail tips narrower. Complete summer molt produces plumage like adult male by late fall. Immature female: resembles adult female but upperparts fresher in February to June; throat often lacks rose spots.

Costa’s smaller (obvious in direct comparison), and males readily identified (beware occasional hybrids,