Top 10 Different Species Of Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are beautiful birds with more than 300 species on the planet. Dozens of them reside in the US and Canada, while others are widespread across different continents. The good news is that you can attract hummingbirds to your home by placing feeders in your yard.

Besides that, you may also be wondering how to identify the hummingbirds that visit your garden. Luckily, you don't have to worry anymore. Here are the top ten species of hummingbirds that are widespread.

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

This species is prevalent in North America and found in the US during the summers. Another thing to note is that this is the only hummingbird regularly observed in the east. The males have vibrant red gorget and white throat collars for excellent contrast.

Meanwhile, females have a plainer look with a green upper body and white underparts. The top feature of this shade is that it has a striking appearance. So you can quickly identify female ruby-throated hummingbirds. This species also visit nectar feeders in gardens and parks more frequently.

Anna’s Hummingbird

Anna's hummingbird is one of the most beautiful species of the hummingbird family. It is also the largest hummingbird you will find in California and a notable species on the Pacific coast. The top thing to note about this type is that it is named after a noblewoman.

Male members of this species have pink/red heads and throats. Meanwhile, the neck color varies depending on the light. Female Anna's don't have bright color patches. Instead, they have a green crown, tails, and backs with the gray abdomen and chest region.

Broad-Tailed Hummingbird

The broad-tailed hummingbird has a reddish-brown patch on its tail. This is the key identifying feature of this species. Besides that, females also have this patch of shade on their flanks. They also have some reddish-brown streaking on their throats.

Male broad-tailed hummingbirds also produce a zinging sound when flying. The top thing about this noise is that it becomes prominent with time and differs from the familiar thrumming sound that hummingbirds make. This species also prefers open habitats such as meadows.

Rufous Hummingbird

This hummingbird is prevalent across the Pacific coast and found in many regions of the US. For instance, you can observe this bird in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and other states. The top feature of this hummingbird is its striking orange iridescence on the throat.

The birds also have an orange plumage that you can use for identification. Females have lesser striking features but contain a rufous color over their green and gray bodies. They also have some spotting on the throat. A vital feature of this species is that it is highly territorial.

Costa’s Hummingbird

Costa’s hummingbird is found throughout the year in California and southwestern Arizona. However, you will also find some summer breeders in the far east and north regions. The best thing about this species is that its male members have a striking appearance.

The males have a vibrant pink or purple head and gorget. The shade also reaches the sensitive parts of the throat. Females lack this rich color but have a green upper body with white underparts. Their flanks also have some green color. This species prefers open and arid regions.

Blue-Throated Mountain Gem

The blue-throated mountain gem is the largest hummingbird species in northern Mexico. It weighs about 9 grams which is equivalent to three penny stacks. The best part about this hummingbird is that male members have a striking deep call. Typically, they make the sound when flying.

Besides that, another striking feature of this species is the blue iridescent on the throat. The color is vibrant and noticeable from a great distance. However, you should note that the presence of this hummingbird is limited in the US.

Allen’s Hummingbird

Many people confuse this species with the rufous hummingbird due to the orange plumage. However, they have many other differences that you can use for identification. For instance, Allen’s hummingbirds have a greener head and more orange shade on the flanks.

These birds are found in the open woods and suburban areas of various states. The good news is that this species is attracted to nectar feeders easily. It also appears in the coastal Californian region during the summer. So you can observe members of this species if you live in this area.

Black-Chinned Hummingbird

This is one of the prevalent western species of hummingbirds. You can find the populations in Texas, California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The males have a vibrant purple patch at the bottom of the black throat. However, the purple shade is only noticeable in a specific light.

Meanwhile, females have green and white bodies, but some also have purple streaking on the throat. Of course, the color is fainter than in males. All members of this species also have incredibly long bills. They also visit yards with feeders more often than other hummingbirds.

Violet-Crowned Hummingbird

This species is rare in the US but may appear in southeastern Arizona during the summers. The top feature of this bird is that it has a white body, plain throat, and grayish-green upper parts. Meanwhile, the purple/blue crown is the identifying feature of this species.

A key thing to note is that male and female members of this species appear similar. However, the colors in the females may look duller. Another identifying feature of this bird is its long red bill with a black tip.

Berylline Hummingbird

Berylline hummingbird can be easily identified because of the green iridescence on its head and throat. Meanwhile, the chest has dark rufous wings. Besides that, the bottom of the bill is red, while the top is black.

This species is mainly found in oak forests, and it frequently visits areas with water streams. The birds are solitary and aggressively behave when intruders enter their habitats.

Final Words

This is everything you need to know about the different species of hummingbirds. Most of them are common in the US and Pacific coast. So you may have observed many of these birds before.