8 Most Common Hummingbird Species

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Archilochus colubris
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern (Population increasing)

Males have a gorget (throat patch) of iridescent ruby red bordered narrowly with velvety black on the upper margin and a forked black tail with a faint violet sheen. The red iridescence is highly directional and appears dull black from many angles. They are smaller than females and have slightly shorter bills.

Females have a notched tail with outer feathers banded in green, black, and white and a white throat that may be plain or lightly marked with dusky streaks or stipples.

Juvenile males resemble adult females, though usually with heavier throat markings.

SOURCE: https://en.wikipedia.org
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Anna’s Hummingbird 

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Calypte anna
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern

Males have an iridescent crimson-red derived from magenta to a reddish-pink crown and gorget, which can look dull brown or gray without direct sunlight and a dark, slightly forked tail.

Females also have iridescent red gorgets, though they are usually smaller and less brilliant than the males'.

Females and juvenile males have a dull green crown, a gray throat with or without some red iridescence, a gray chest and belly, and a dark, rounded tail with white tips on the outer feathers.

SOURCE: https://en.wikipedia.org
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Rufous Hummingbird 

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Selasphorus rufus
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern (Population decreasing)

Males have white breast, rufous face, flanks and tail and an iridescent orange-red throat patch or gorget. Some have some green on back and/or crown.

Females have green, white, some iridescent orange feathers in the center of the throat, and a dark tail with white tips and rufous base.
Females are slightly larger than males.

SOURCE: https://en.wikipedia.org
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Black-chinned Hummingbird 

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Archilochus alexandri
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern (Population increasing)

Males have a black face and chin, a glossy purple throat band and a dark forked tail.

Females have a dark rounded tail with white tips and no throat patch; they are similar to female ruby-throated hummingbirds.

Juveniles are similar to adult females, but with buff margins on the dorsal feathers. Juvenile males may also possess purple feathers on their throats.

SOURCE: https://en.wikipedia.org
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Calliope Hummingbird 

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Selasphorus calliope
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern (Population stable)

Calliope hummingbirds have glossy green on the back and crown with white underparts.

Males have wine-red streaks on the gorget, green flanks and a dark tail.

Females and immatures have a pinkish wash on the flanks, dark streaks on the throat and a dark tail with white tips.

SOURCE: https://en.wikipedia.org
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Costa’s Hummingbird 

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Calypte costae
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern (Population stable)

Males have mainly green back and flanks, a small black tail and wings, and patches of white below their gorgeted throat and tail. Its most distinguishing feature is its vibrant purple cap and throat with the throat feathers flaring out and back behind its head.

Females are not as distinct as the males, having grayish-green above with a white underbelly.

SOURCE: https://en.wikipedia.org
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Broad-tailed Hummingbird 

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Selasphorus platycercus
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern (Population stable)

Adults show an iridescent green back, white eye-ring and a rounded black tail projecting beyond their wing tips.

Males have a bright rose-red gorget, and a white eye-ring.

Females are paler in coloration with cinnamon flanks and spotted cheeks that are absent in males.

SOURCE: https://en.wikipedia.org
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Allen’s Hummingbird 

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Selasphorus sasin
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern (Population decreasing)

Males have green back and forehead, with rust-colored (rufous) flanks, rump, and tail. The throat is an iridescent orange-red.

Females and immatures are similarly colored, but lack the iridescent throat patch, instead having a series of speckles on their throats.

Females are mostly green, featuring rufous color only on the tail, which also has white tips.

SOURCE: https://en.wikipedia.org
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