Lesson 3: YOUR VERY OWN HUMMINGBIRDS
In this lesson, you will learn which hummingbirds to expect in your part of the country, how fast baby hummingbirds leave the nest, and what to do if you find an injured bird.
WHICH HUMMINGBIRDS SHOULD YOU EXPECT?
Below is a list of North American hummingbirds by State and the areas they frequent. Your field guide textbook will help you identify which birds are visiting your yard.
Females, like the one in this photo, can be especially difficult to identify since many of them have white fronts and green backs. Their distinguishing characteristics can be very minute compared to the males. (Copyright Melanie Votaw)
The majority of the vagrant species that wander north from Central and South America appear in the southern states, but species from the North American west are more and more showing up in the east as habitat is lost, leaving the birds with fewer places to feed.
Alabama – Ruby-throated hummingbird from mid-March to October.
Alaska – Rufous hummingbird from early May to October.
Arizona – (Note that many of these species are restricted to southeastern Arizona.) Broad-billed hummingbird from late March to September; White-eared hummingbird in summer; Cinnamon hummingbird (rare) in summer; Berylline hummingbird (rare) in summer; Violet-crowned hummingbird (rare) in summer; Blue-throated hummingbird from April to October; Magnificent hummingbird from late March to late October; Lucifer hummingbird (rare) from early April to October; Black-chinned hummingbird from March to October; Anna's hummingbird from January to June; Costa's hummingbird in spring; Calliope hummingbird from July to September and sometimes in April; Broad-tailed hummingbird from March to September; Rufous hummingbird from July to October and sometimes in winter and spring; Allen's hummingbird (rare) in July. Check with your local Audubon Society to find out which species are in your specific area.
Arkansas – Ruby-throated hummingbird from April to October.
California – Anna's hummingbird year-round. Other species seen throughout the state are Allen’s hummingbird, Black-chinned hummingbird, Calliope hummingbird, Costa’s hummingbird, and Rufous hummingbird. Check with your local Audubon Society to find out which species are in your specific area.
Colorado – Broad-tailed hummingbird, Rufous hummingbird, and black-chinned hummingbird from late April to September.
Connecticut – Ruby-throated hummingbird from early May to September.
Delaware – Ruby-throated hummingbird from early May to September.
Florida – Ruby-throated hummingbird from March to October. Vagrants from Central and South America are sometimes seen.
Georgia – Ruby-throated hummingbird from March to October.
Idaho – Black-chinned hummingbird, Broad-tailed hummingbird, Rufous hummingbird, and Calliope hummingbird from mid-May to September.
Illinois – Ruby-throated hummingbird from April to September.
Indiana – Ruby-throated hummingbird from April to September.
Iowa - Ruby-throated hummingbird from late April to September.
Kansas - Ruby-throated hummingbird from April to September.
Kentucky - Ruby-throated hummingbird from April to September.
Louisiana - Ruby-throated hummingbird from mid-March to October. Southern Louisiana may sometimes see western species that have lost their way.
Maine - Ruby-throated hummingbird from May to September.
Maryland - Ruby-throated hummingbird from April to September.
Massachusetts - Ruby-throated hummingbird from May to September.
Michigan - Ruby-throated hummingbird from May to September.
Minnesota - Ruby-throated hummingbird from May to September.
Mississippi - Ruby-throated hummingbird from March to October.
Missouri - Ruby-throated hummingbird from April to September.
Montana – Calliope hummingbird, Rufous hummingbird, Black-chinned hummingbird from mid-May to September.
Nebraska - Ruby-throated hummingbird from May to September (mostly in the eastern part of the state.)
Nevada –Broad-billed hummingbird, Magnificent hummingbird, Black-chinned hummingbird, Anna's hummingbird, Costa's hummingbird, Calliope hummingbird, Broad-tailed hummingbird, Rufous hummingbird, Allen's hummingbird from March to September. Check with your local Audubon Society to find out which species can be seen in your particular area.
New Hampshire - Ruby-throated hummingbird from May to September.
New Jersey - Ruby-throated hummingbird from April to September.
New Mexico – Blue-throated hummingbird, Magnificent hummingbird, Ruby-throated hummingbird, Black-chinned hummingbird, Anna’s hummingbird, Costa’s hummingbird, Calliope hummingbird, Broad-tailed hummingbird, Rufous hummingbird, Allen’s hummingbird, Broad-billed hummingbird. Some vagrant species have been reported, such as White-eared hummingbird, Berylline hummingbird, Cinnamon hummingbird, and Violet-crowned hummingbird. Check with your local Audubon Society to find out which species can be seen in your particular area.
New York - Ruby-throated hummingbird from mid-April to October.
North Carolina - Ruby-throated hummingbird from April to October.
North Dakota - Ruby-throated hummingbird from June to August.
Ohio - Ruby-throated hummingbird from April to September.
Oklahoma – Ruby-throated hummingbird from April to October. Black-chinned hummingbird, Broad-tailed hummingbird, and Rufous hummingbird from October to December.
Oregon – Anna's hummingbird year-round; Rufous hummingbird, Calliope hummingbird, Black-chinned hummingbird from late February to September.
Pennsylvania - Ruby-throated hummingbird from April to October.
Rhode Island - Ruby-throated hummingbird from April to September.
South Carolina - Ruby-throated hummingbird from March to October.
South Dakota - Ruby-throated hummingbird from May to September.
Tennessee - Ruby-throated hummingbird from April to October.
Texas – Buff-bellied hummingbird; Blue-throated hummingbird; Magnificent hummingbird; Lucifer hummingbird; Ruby-throated hummingbird; Black-chinned hummingbird; Rufous hummingbird; Anna's hummingbird; Calliope hummingbird; Broad-tailed hummingbird; Violet-crowned hummingbird; Costa's hummingbird; Berylline hummingbird; Allen's hummingbird; Broad-billed hummingbird. Vagrants from Central and South America are sometimes seen. Check with your local Audubon Society to find out which species are in your specific area.
Utah – Broad-billed hummingbird, Magnificent hummingbird, Black-chinned hummingbird, Anna's hummingbird, Costa's hummingbird, Calliope hummingbird, Broad-tailed hummingbird, Rufous hummingbird from April to September.
Vermont – Ruby-throated hummingbird from April to September.
Virginia - Ruby-throated hummingbird from April to September.
Washington – Anna's hummingbird year-round; Rufous hummingbird, Calliope hummingbird, and Black-chinned hummingbird from March to August.
West Virginia - Ruby-throated hummingbird from April to September.
Wisconsin - Ruby-throated hummingbird from April to September.
Wyoming – Magnificent hummingbird, Ruby-throated hummingbird, Black-chinned hummingbird, Anna’s hummingbird, Calliope hummingbird, Broad-tailed hummingbird, Rufous hummingbird from May to September.
In Canada, depending upon the location, the following hummingbirds are seen: Rufous hummingbird, Ruby-throated hummingbird, Black-chinned hummingbird, and Calliope hummingbird.
If you see a solid white hummingbird, this is a very rare occurrence. First, get your camera! Then, call your local Audubon Society chapter immediately, as they will be very excited to have an albino hummingbird in their midst!
