Hummingbird Identification

Quick Reference List for Northern American Hummingbirds 

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds

THROAT: Male - Red, Female - Plain.

BILL: Black, Straight.

TAIL: Male - Slight fork, Female - White tips.

RANGE: East.

OTHER: The only hummingbird widely seen in the east.

Broad-Tailed Hummingbird

Broad-Tailed Hummingbirds

THROAT: Male - Red, Female - Streaked.

BILL: black, straight.

TAIL: Rufous patches on sides.

RANGE: Interior West.

OTHER: White chin, females show buff flanks, wings make loud metallic trill in flight.

 Rufous Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbirds

THROAT: Male - Orange-red, Female - Splotched or spotted black.

BILL: Straight.

TAIL: Male - Forked, Female - White tips.

RANGE: West, Southeast in winter.

OTHER: They have faint wing trill, very aggressive at feeders, most males have orange upperparts.

Allen's Hummingbird

Allen's Hummingbirds

THROAT: Male - Orange, Female - Splotched black.

BILL: Straight.

TAIL: Orange.

RANGE: Pacific Coast.

OTHER: They generally show a green back and orange flanks.

Costa's Hummingbird

Costa's Hummingbirds

THROAT: Male - Pinkish-purple, Female - Plain.

BILL: Black, straight.

TAIL: Straight across.

RANGE: Southwest, Pacific Coast.

OTHER: The males show purple-pink on the forehead and crown.

Black-Chinned Hummingbird

Black-Chinned Hummingbird

THROAT: Male - Black and purple, Female - Plain.

BILL: Black, straight.

TAIL: Slightly forked.

RANGE: Widespread in West.

OTHER: They have active tail movement while feeding, white-collar contrasts with the male's throat.

Violet-Crowned Hummingbird

Violet-Crowned Hummingbird

THROAT: Plain white.

BILL: Red with black tip, straight.

TAIL: Slightly curved when spread.

RANGE: Southwest / rare.

OTHER: The genders are similar, both show a blue-purple crown.

Calliope Hummingbird

Calliope Hummingbird

THROAT: Male - Pink-magenta streaks, Female - faintly streaked.

BILL: Black, Straight.

TAIL: Male - Black, Female - White tips.

RANGE: Pacific Northwest, Interior West.

OTHER: The smallest of the North American hummingbirds.

Lucifer Hummingbird

Lucifer Hummingbird

THROAT: Male - Pink-purple, Female - plain.

BILL: Black, decurved.

TAIL: Forked.

RANGE: Southwest / rare.

OTHER: The females show buff underparts.

Anna's Hummingbird

Anna's Hummingbird

THROAT: Male - Pink-red, Female - Streaked or splotched.

BILL: Black, Straight.

TAIL: Male - Forked, Female - Slight white corners.

RANGE: Year-round Pacific Coast, Southwest.

OTHER: The tail is held still while feeding, males show pink-red forehead and crown.

Plain-Capped Starthroat

Plain-Capped Starthroat

THROAT: Red-brown.

BILL: Black, straight, exceptionally long.

TAIL: Slightly ridged.

RANGE: Southern Arizona / rare.

OTHER: They have white rump patch and white malar streak.

Magnificent Hummingbird

Magnificent Hummingbird

THROAT: Male - Green-black or turquoise, Female - slightly streaked.

BILL: Black, straight, exceptionally long.

TAIL: Straight.

RANGE: Southwest / rare.

OTHER: The males show a purple forehead and crown.

Blue-Throated Hummingbird

Blue-Throated Hummingbird

THROAT: Male - Blue, Female - Gray.

BILL: Black, straight.

TAIL: Broad white corners.

RANGE: Southwest / rare.

OTHER: They are exceptionally large in size, dull underparts, white stripe noticeable on the face.

Broad-Billed Hummingbird

Broad-Billed Hummingbird

THROAT: Male - Blue-green, Female - Gray.

BILL: Red base, black tip, thick base, straight.

TAIL: Slightly forked.

RANGE: Southern Arizona.

OTHER: They flip and wag their tail when hovering.

Berylline Hummingbird

Berylline Hummingbird

THROAT: Apple green.

BILL: Black above, reddish below, straight.

TAIL: Rusty red.

RANGE: Southwestern Arizona / rare.

OTHER: Rust color is prominent in tail and wings.

Buff-Bellied Hummingbird

Buff-Bellied Hummingbird

THROAT: Green-black.

BILL: Red with black tip, slightly decurved.

TAIL: Rufous, rounded.

RANGE: South Texas.

OTHER: The genders are similar, both show pale buff underparts.

White-Eared Hummingbird

White-Eared Hummingbird

THROAT: Male - Blue-green, Female - Streaked or spotted.

BILL: Red base, black tip, straight.

TAIL: Bronze-green, Male - Forked, Female - Straight.

RANGE: Southwest / rare.

OTHER: They have broad white ear stripe.

Green Violet-Ear

Green Violet-Ear

THROAT: Bright green.

BILL: Black, straight.

TAIL: Blue-green with dark band near tip.

RANGE: Texas / rare.

OTHER: The genders are similar, both show a blue-purple ear patch.

Green-Breasted Mango

Green-Breasted Mango

THROAT: Male - Green, Female - White with black central stripe.

BILL: Black, decurved.

TAIL: Male - Reddish purple, Female - White tips.

RANGE: South Texas / rare.

OTHER: They are large-sized and have an overall dark coloration.

Xantus's Hummingbird

Xantus's Hummingbird

THROAT: Male - Black-green, Female - Buff.

BILL: Red with black tip, straight.

TAIL: Rufous-brown.

RANGE: Southern California / rare.

OTHER: They have broad bill base, white ear stripe, rich buff underparts.

 

SOURCE: https://www.thespruce.com

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