Hummingbirds of the United States: A Photo List of All Species
April 26, 2021 · Kathryn Stonich
The Americas are home to 365 species of hummingbirds. Fifteen types of hummingbirds can be found living in the United States, along with nine vagrant species that occasionally wander inside our borders.
Even though hummingbirds might weigh less than your pocket change, don't let their tiny size fool you! These small birds can be feisty and were even considered to be the reincarnations of warriors by the Aztecs. Take Rufous Hummingbirds, for example: They are known to stand their ground against much larger birds and will even chase chipmunks away from their nests.
For the purposes of this list, we've used Partners in Flight (PIF) population and conservation data exclusive to the United States and Canada, which do not reflect global numbers for many of these species, along with data from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Our taxonomic list includes all regularly occurring types of hummingbirds in the continental United States and Canada.
Rivoli's Hummingbird
U.S. Population Estimate: <5,000 Population Trend: Unknown Habitat: Pine-oak forest Threats: Habitat loss, possibly climate change Note: At 420 to 1,200 beats per minute, the Rivoli's Hummingbird has one of the highest vertebrate heartrates on record.
Blue-throated Mountain-gem
U.S. Population Estimate: <2,000 Population Trend: Unknown Habitat: Pine-oak forest Threats: Habitat loss, invasive species Note: The Blue-throated Mountain-gem is the largest nesting hummingbird in the U.S. and Canada; it weighs about three times more than the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
Lucifer Hummingbird
U.S. Population Estimate: <5,000 Population Trend: Decreasing Habitat: Desert scrub Threats: Habitat loss, possibly climate change Conservation Status: PIF Yellow Watchlist Note: Male Lucifer Hummingbirds visit females during the breeding season, performing courtship displays at the females' nests. This is in contrast to many other hummingbirds that perform courtship displays away from nests.
U.S./Canada Population Estimate: 34 million Population Trend: Increasing Habitat: Eastern forest Threats: Cat predation, glass collisions Note: Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have become accustomed to urbanization and have been known to nest in surprising locations, including loops of extension cords, wires, and chains.
Black-chinned Hummingbird
U.S./Canada Population Estimate: 7.7 million Population Trend: Increasing Habitat: Western forest Threats: Cat predation, glass collisions Note: The Black-chinned Hummingbird's eggs are smaller than jellybeans!
U.S./Canada Population Estimate: 8.2 million Population Trend: Increasing Habitat: Chaparral shrubland Threats: Cat predation, glass collisions Note: The breeding range for the Anna's Hummingbird was originally exclusive to northern Baja California and southern California; however, this bird's range has expanded thanks to the planting of exotic flowering trees. It now nests north to southern British Columbia.
U.S. Population Estimate: 1.6 million Population Trend: Decreasing Habitat: Desert scrub Threats: Habitat loss, cat predation Note: They breed in the Southwest, but Costa's Hummingbirds have been spotted several times in the Pacific Northwest and have even ventured as far as Alaska and British Columbia.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
U.S. Population Estimate: 7.6 million Population Trend: Decreasing Habitat: Western forest Threats: Cat predation, possibly climate change Note: Like many hummingbirds of mountainous areas, the Broad-tailed Hummingbird can enter torpor, a slowed metabolic state, on cold nights in order to maintain a body temperature of roughly 54° Fahrenheit.
U.S./Canada Population Estimate: 19 million Population Trend: Decreasing Habitat: Western forest Threats: Habitat loss, possibly climate change Conservation Status: PIF Yellow Watchlist Note: The Rufous Hummingbird breeds as far north as southeastern Alaska — the northernmost breeding range of any hummingbird.
U.S. Population Estimate: 1.7 million Population Trend: Decreasing Habitat: Chaparral shrubland Threats: Habitat loss, cat predation, possibly climate change Conservation Status: PIF Yellow Watchlist Note: Even though the Allen's Hummingbird only breeds in a narrow strip along coastal Oregon and California, there are two subspecies; Selasphorus sasin sasin and Selasphorus sasinsedentarius. S. s. sasin winters in Mexico, while S. s. sedentarius (as its name suggests) remains in the U.S.
U.S./Canada Population Estimate: 4.5 million Population Trend: Decreasing Habitat: Western forest Threats: Cat predation, glass collisions Note: The Calliope Hummingbird is the smallest type of hummingbird in the United States and Canada. It weighs roughly the same as a ping pong ball.
U.S. Population Estimate: 200,000 Population Trend: Unknown Habitat: Dry forest Threats: Cat predation, glass collisions Note: During courtship, male Broad-billed Hummingbirds fly in a pendulum-like arc to impress females.
Buff-bellied Hummingbird
U.S. Population Estimate: 100,000 Population Trend: Unknown Habitat: Dry forest Threats: Cat predation, glass collisions, possibly habitat loss in breeding areas Note: Even though their U.S. breeding ground is in South Texas, Buff-bellied Hummingbirds regularly venture toward the northeast, a behavior unique to the species.
U.S. Population Estimate: <200 Population Trend: Unknown Habitat: Dry forest Threats: Habitat loss, cat predation, possibly climate change Note: The Violet-crowned Hummingbird was first spotted nesting in the U.S. in 1959.
White-eared Hummingbird
U.S. Population Estimate: <200 Population Trend: Unknown Habitat: Pine-oak forest Threats: Habitat loss, cat predation Note: White-eared Hummingbirds have been beloved summer visitors to Arizona since the 1890s. They will sometimes remain near well-maintained feeders for weeks at a time.
Vagrants
A number of hummingbird species can be spotted in the United States and Canada on occasion, outside of their normal range in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. These vagrants can be exciting to see; however, their presence could possibly be linked to climate change.
The following list is a taxonomic catalog of vagrant types of hummingbirds that have been spotted in the United States.
Mexican Violetear
U.S./Canada Population Estimate: N/A Global Population Trend: Stable Habitat: Montane forest clearings Threats: Cat predation, glass collisions Note: The Mexican Violetear is known to move nomadically. They have been recorded more than 90 times in Texas and have even been observed as far north as Canada.
Green-breasted Mango
U.S./Canada Population Estimate: N/A Global Population Trend: Stable Habitat: Forest edge and open areas with scattered tall trees Threats: Cat predation, glass collisions Note: There have been at least 20 sightings of the Green-breasted Mango in Texas. This species has been known to venture as far north as Wisconsin.
Plain-capped Starthroat
U.S./Canada Population Estimate: N/A Global Population Trend: Stable Habitat: Arid to semiarid forest and forest edge, thorn forest, and semi-open areas with scattered trees Threats: Cat predation, glass collisions Note: The Plain-capped Starthroat can appear quite dull; this bird's brilliantly colored throat feathers are only visible under the right light conditions.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
U.S./Canada Population Estimate: N/A Global Population Trend: Stable Habitat: Humid evergreen and pine-oak forest in mountainous areas Threats: Cat predation, glass collisions, possible habitat loss Note: The first recorded sighting of an Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem in the United States occurred in Texas in 2016.
Bahama Woodstar
U.S./Canada Population Estimate: N/A Global Population Trend: Stable Habitat: Wooded and scrubby habitats, including gardens Threats: Glass collisions, cat predation Note: The Bahama Woodstar does not usually migrate; however, it has been observed in southeastern Florida.
Bumblebee Hummingbird
U.S./Canada Population Estimate: N/A GlobalPopulation Trend: Stable Habitat: Humid evergreen forests in mountains; favors shrubby clearings with banks of flowers Threats: Possible habitat loss, glass collisions, cat predation Note: The Bumblebee Hummingbird is the second-smallest bird in the world, after Cuba's Bee Hummingbird.
Xantus's Hummingbird
U.S./Canada Population Estimate: N/A Global Population Trend: Stable Habitat: Scrubby woodland, pine-oak woods in mountains, desert scrub Threats: Possible habitat loss, glass collisions, cat predation Note: Xantus's Hummingbird breeds in the southern portion of Mexico's Baja Peninsula, but has been spotted along the Pacific Coast far north as British Columbia.
Berylline Hummingbird
U.S./Canada Population Estimate: N/A Global Population Trend: Stable Habitat: Mountain forests Threats: Habitat loss Note: Berylline Hummingbirds were first spotted in the U.S. in 1964. They have since become consistent summer visitors to the mountains of southeastern Arizona, and have even been observed nesting there several times.
Cinnamon Hummingbird
U.S./Canada Population Estimate: N/A Global Population Trend: Stable Habitat: Dry, tropical lowlands Threats: Habitat loss, possibly climate change Note: Like types of hummingbirds, the Cinnamon Hummingbird is known to be aggressive near feeding areas and will defend its territory.
How can I help?
We all can do our part to protect North America's hummingbirds.
American Bird Conservancy and our Joint Venture partners have improved conservation management on 6.4 million acres of U.S. bird habitat — an area larger than the state of Maryland — over the last ten years. This is a monumental undertaking, requiring the support of many, and you can help by making a gift today.
Policies enacted by Congress and federal agencies, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have a huge impact on America's birds. You can help shape these rules for the better by telling lawmakers to prioritize birds, bird habitat, and bird-friendly measures. To get started, visit ABC's Action Center.
Finally, don't overlook the impact you can have at home. Living a bird-friendly life can have an immediate impact on the birds around you. Doing so can be as easy as adding native plants to your garden, avoiding pesticides, and keeping cats indoors. To learn more, visit our Bird-Friendly Life page.
Kathryn Stonich teaches English for the Community College of Baltimore County and Bryant & Stratton College online. She is an avid backyard birder and advocate for pigeon and dove rescue.
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