Hummingbirds are tiny, vibrant birds native to the Americas, renowned for their iridescent plumage and rapid wingbeats, which create a humming sound. Measuring 3–5 inches, they are among the smallest birds, with agile, hovering flight that allows precise movement. Their dazzling colors, often metallic greens or reds, shift with light, making them a spectacle in sunlight.
They inhabit diverse environments, from forests and meadows to deserts and urban gardens, across North, Central, and South America. Many migrate long distances, some crossing hundreds of miles nonstop, relying on high-energy food sources. Their adaptability to varied habitats, including high altitudes, showcases their resilience and ecological versatility.
Their diet primarily consists of nectar from tubular flowers, which they sip using long, specialized bills and tongues. They also consume small insects for protein, especially during breeding. Their high metabolism requires frequent feeding, often consuming half their body weight in nectar daily to fuel their energetic lifestyle.
Hummingbirds are solitary but fiercely territorial, defending feeding areas with acrobatic displays and vocalizations. Males often perform elaborate courtship dives, producing unique sounds with their wings or tails. Their agility allows them to hover, fly backward, or dart swiftly, making them one of nature’s most dynamic fliers.
Nesting involves tiny, cup-shaped structures built by females from plant fibers, spider silk, and lichen, often camouflaged on branches. They typically lay two pea-sized eggs, incubated for about two weeks. Chicks fledge quickly, within 2–3 weeks, reflecting their rapid life cycle tailored to seasonal resources.
Hummingbird Species
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is a small, 3-inch bird with an iridescent red gorget (males) and emerald-green back. Common in eastern North America, it breeds in forests, gardens, and meadows from southern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, migrating to Central America for winter. Known for its incredible 600-mile nonstop flight across the Gulf, it feeds on nectar and insects, often dominating feeders.
Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna)
Anna’s Hummingbird, about 4 inches long, has a rose-pink gorget (males) and emerald-green back. A year-round resident along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to Baja California, it thrives in gardens, urban areas, and coastal scrub. Males sing a scratchy song and perform dramatic dive displays, while their non-migratory nature makes them common at winter feeders.
Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri)
This 3.5-inch bird features a black throat with an iridescent purple band (males) and a green back. Found in western U.S. deserts, urban parks, and mountain forests, it breeds from Texas to the Pacific Coast, migrating to Mexico. Highly adaptable, it feeds on nectar and insects, with males producing a soft whistle during displays.
Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)
The Rufous Hummingbird, a 3.5-inch fiery-orange bird (males), breeds from Alaska to Oregon, migrating to Mexico via the Rockies. Feisty and territorial, it frequents mountain meadows and feeders, feeding on nectar and insects. Its long migration (up to 4,000 miles) and aggressive behavior make it a standout.
Allen’s Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin)
A 3.5-inch bird with a bronze-green back and orange-red gorget (males), Allen’s Hummingbird breeds in coastal California and southern Oregon, with some populations migrating to Mexico. Similar to the Rufous, it prefers scrub and chaparral, feeding on nectar and insects. Males perform buzzing dive displays, distinguishable by subtle tail feather differences.
Calliope Hummingbird (Selasphorus calliope)
North America’s smallest bird at 3.25 inches, the Calliope has a magenta-streaked gorget (males) and green back. Breeding in high mountain meadows from the Rockies to the Sierra Nevada, it migrates to Mexico. Its delicate size and U-shaped courtship dives make it a charming species at high-altitude feeders.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus)
This 4-inch hummingbird has a rose-red gorget (males) and green back, breeding in high mountain meadows of the Rockies, from Montana to Mexico. Its wings produce a loud, metallic trill during courtship. Feeding on nectar and insects, it’s common in Colorado and nests at elevations up to 10,000 feet.
Costa’s Hummingbird (Calypte costae)
A 3.5-inch desert specialist, Costa’s Hummingbird has a vibrant purple gorget and crown (males) and green back. Found in Sonoran and Mojave deserts of California and Arizona, it breeds in scrub and chaparral, migrating to Mexico. Its long, pointed gorget and nectar-feeding habits make it photogenic at desert feeders.
Broad-billed Hummingbird (Cynanthus latirostris)
This 4-inch bird has a brilliant blue-green gorget (males) and red bill, primarily found in southeastern Arizona and southwest New Mexico, breeding in desert canyons and riparian areas. Migrating to Mexico, it feeds on nectar and insects. Its vivid colors and preference for arid habitats distinguish it.
Violet-crowned Hummingbird (Amazilia violiceps)
A 4.5-inch bird with an iridescent violet crown and white underparts, this species is a rare visitor to southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico from Mexico. It favors oak woodlands and canyons, feeding on nectar and insects. Its striking crown and red-orange bill make it a sought-after sighting.
Blue-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis clemenciae)
At 5 inches, this large hummingbird has a blue gorget (males) and grayish-green back. Found in mountain canyons of southeast Arizona and southwest Texas, it breeds in pine-oak forests, migrating to Mexico. Its size and loud, chirping calls set it apart at feeders and flowers.
Magnificent Hummingbird (Eugenes fulgens)
A 5-inch hummingbird with a green throat (males) and purple crown, it breeds in pine-oak forests of southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico, migrating to Mexico. Feeding on nectar and insects, it’s often seen in mountain canyons. Its large size and vibrant colors make it a standout.
Lucifer Hummingbird (Calothorax lucifer)
This 3.5-inch bird has a curved bill and magenta gorget (males) with a green back. Rare in southeast Arizona and southwest Texas, it breeds in desert scrub and canyons, migrating to Mexico. Its long, forked gorget and preference for agave nectar make it unique.
White-eared Hummingbird (Basilinna leucotis)
A 3.5-inch bird with a white ear stripe and green throat (males), it’s a rare visitor to southeast Arizona from Mexico. Found in pine-oak forests and canyons, it feeds on nectar and insects. Its bold facial stripe and energetic behavior are distinctive at high-altitude feeders.
Buff-bellied Hummingbird (Amazilia yucatanensis)
This 4-inch hummingbird has a green throat and buffy belly, breeding in south Texas and wintering along the Gulf Coast to Mexico. It favors woodlands and gardens, feeding on nectar and insects. Its reddish bill and occasional winter presence in the U.S. make it notable.
Green Violet-ear (Colibri thalassinus)
A 4.5-inch bird with a shimmering green body and violet ear patch, this species is a rare vagrant to Texas and the Southwest from Central America. It prefers humid forests but visits gardens and feeders. Its bold colors and rarity make it a prized sighting for birdwatchers.
Berylline Hummingbird (Saucerottia beryllina)
A 4-inch bird with a shimmering green throat and chestnut wing patches, the Berylline Hummingbird is a rare visitor to southeast Arizona and southwest Texas from Mexico. It favors oak woodlands and canyons, feeding on nectar and insects. Its vibrant green gorget and occasional U.S. sightings make it a prized find for birdwatchers.
Cinnamon Hummingbird (Amazilia rutila)
This 4-inch hummingbird has a cinnamon-brown underbelly and green back, with a red bill. A rare vagrant to southern Texas from Mexico and Central America, it inhabits dry forests and gardens. Feeding on nectar and small insects, its warm coloration and sporadic appearances excite birders in the U.S.
Plain-capped Starthroat (Heliomaster constantii)
A 5-inch hummingbird with a long, straight bill and faint throat patch, the Plain-capped Starthroat is a rare visitor to southeast Arizona from Mexico. It prefers arid scrub and open woodlands, feeding on nectar and insects. Its lack of a vibrant gorget and occasional U.S. sightings distinguish it.
Xantus’s Hummingbird (Basilinna xantusii)
This 3.5-inch bird has a green throat, white eye stripe, and cinnamon belly, found primarily in Baja California but rarely sighted in southern California. It inhabits scrub and coastal forests, feeding on nectar and insects.
Green-breasted Mango (Anthracothorax prevostii)
A 4.5-inch hummingbird with a green throat (males) and curved bill, the Green-breasted Mango is a rare vagrant to south Texas from Central America. It favors forest edges and gardens, feeding on nectar and insects.
Antillean Crested Hummingbird (Orthorhyncus cristatus)
This 3.5-inch bird has a short bill and a green crest (males), occasionally spotted in southern Florida as a vagrant from the Caribbean. It prefers gardens and forest edges, feeding on nectar and small insects.
Bahama Woodstar (Nesophlox evelynae)
A 3.5-inch hummingbird with a green back and magenta gorget (males), the Bahama Woodstar is a rare vagrant to southern Florida from the Bahamas. It inhabits woodlands and gardens, feeding on nectar and insects.
Cuban Emerald (Riccordia ricordii)
This 4-inch bird has a brilliant green body and forked tail, with males showing an iridescent throat. A rare vagrant to southern Florida from Cuba, it favors gardens and coastal scrub, feeding on nectar and insects.
Mexican Violetear (Colibri thalassinus)
Formerly called Green Violet-ear, this 4.5-inch hummingbird has a violet ear patch and green body, rarely seen in Texas and the Southwest from Mexico. It prefers humid forests and gardens, feeding on nectar and insects.
Rivoli’s Hummingbird (Eugenes viridiceps)
A 5-inch hummingbird with a green throat and purple crown (males), Rivoli’s Hummingbird (formerly Magnificent) is a rare visitor to southeast Arizona from Mexico. Found in pine-oak forests, it feeds on nectar and insects.
Azure-crowned Hummingbird (Saucerottia cyanocephala)
This 4-inch bird has a blue crown and green throat, a rare vagrant to south Texas from Central America. It inhabits forest edges and gardens, feeding on nectar and insects.
Bumblebee Hummingbird (Selasphorus heloisa)
A tiny 3-inch bird with a green back and magenta gorget (males), the Bumblebee Hummingbird is a rare vagrant to Arizona from Mexico. It favors highland forests and meadows, feeding on nectar and insects.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis amethystinus)
This 4.5-inch hummingbird has a purple throat and green body, rarely seen in southeast Arizona from Mexico. It prefers montane forests, feeding on nectar and insects.
White-throated Hummingbird (Leucochloris albicollis)
A 4-inch bird with a white throat and green back, this species is an extremely rare vagrant to Texas from South America. It inhabits forest edges and gardens, feeding on nectar and insects.
Green-throated Carib (Eulampis holosericeus)
This 4.5-inch hummingbird has a green throat and blackish belly, a rare vagrant to southern Florida from the Caribbean. It favors coastal forests and gardens, feeding on nectar and insects.
Puerto Rican Emerald (Chlorostilbon maugaeus)
A 3.5-inch bird with a green body and short tail, this species is a rare vagrant to Florida from Puerto Rico. It inhabits gardens and forest edges, feeding on nectar and insects.
Inagua Woodstar (Nesophlox lyrura)
This 3.5-inch hummingbird has a green back and magenta gorget (males), rarely sighted in southern Florida from the Bahamas. It prefers scrub and gardens, feeding on nectar and insects.