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Types of Hummingbirds in North America: A Guide

A Broad-billed Hummingbird
A Broad-billed Hummingbird. Image by Matthew Studebaker via Flickr and website.

Hummingbird travel hotspots have become all the rave lately- and for good reason. These tiny birds accomplish incredible feats that few other birds on Earth are capable of. Not to mention, theyā€™re quite the sight for sore eyes. Many people are fascinated by hummingbirds and are eager to know the tiny creatures better. So, without further ado, letā€™s chat hummingbirds.Ā 

Types of Hummingbirds in North America

Hummingbirds are frequently spotted in backyards, temperate meadows, rainforests, scrublands, and pine and oak woodlands. North America has over 300 species of hummingbirds, many migrating great distances within the region. Some common types of North American hummingbirds are:

  • Ruby-Throated hummingbird
  • Annaā€™s hummingbird
  • Black-Chinned
  • CalliopeĀ 
  • Broad-Tailed
  • Allens
  • White-Eared
  • Rufous
  • Broad-Billed
  • Buff-Bellied
  • Violet-Crowned
  • Lucifer Hummingbird
  • Blue-Throated
  • Costaā€™s
  • Rivoliā€™s

There are additionally vagrant hummingbirds that visit North America during their migration. Examples include the Mexican Violetear, Green-Breasted Mango, Plain-Capped Star Throat, Amethyst-Throated Mountain-Gem, Bumblebee Hummingbird, and Cinnamon Hummingbird.

Conservation of All Types of Hummingbirds

Allen's Hummingbird.
An Allen’s Hummingbird. Image by Jerry Ting via Flickr.

These tiny birds are major players in the health of the ecosystems they inhabit. Hummingbird conservation is crucial not only for their intrinsic worth but also for the health of the planet. They are pollinators who have co-evolved with numerous plants which now depend on them for the survival of their species. Hummingbirds regulate insect populations by snacking both on the ground and in mid-air. They are also indicators of an ecosystem’s health and help us measure the rate and impact of climate change. 

Yet even with their fan base in place, hummingbird populations are declining. Roughly nine percent of all types of hummingbird species are considered endangered, with six North American hummingbirds listed as species of concern.Ā 

Threats to Hummingbirds Include:

  • breeding threats such as habitat destruction
  • climate change
  • decline in biodiversity is eliminating or reducing key paired nectar plants
  • disconnection of mutualism due to climate change impacting nectar availability and bloom dates
  • massive declines in terrestrial insect populations due to pesticide use, monocropping, urbanization, habitat destruction, and pollution
  • exposure to poisons and pollutants, including pesticides and contaminated water sources

To save hummingbirds, we must focus on:

  • habitat protection and restoration
  • community engagement and education
  • researching and monitoring
  • conservation breeding and reintroduction
  • policy and advocacy
  • native planting
  • supporting conservation initiatives via donation or volunteer hours
  • reducing light pollution to prevent disorienting migrating birds

Our Favourite Types of Hummingbird

Identifying hummingbirds amplifies the joy of spotting them in nature. Letā€™s take a look at a few of our favorites.

Anna's Hummingbird
An Anna’s Hummingbird. Image by Eric Zhou via Flickr.

Annaā€™s Hummingbird

Itā€™s certainly no easy choice, but if we had to choose our favorite local hummingbird, we would select Annaā€™s Hummingbird for its dazzling pink, red, and yellow plumage. It resides in the Western United States, primarily California. Annaā€™s hummingbird feasts on nectar, spiders, and insects such as midges and whiteflies. Like all hummingbirds, it is a pollinator and is paired with Eucalyptus, Manzanita, and Fuchsia. Annaā€™s hummingbird eats more insects than any other North American hummingbird and is known to sing during courtship. 

Blue-Throated Hummingbird

The Blue-Throated Hummingbird habituates montane forests, canyons, and riparian woodlands, mainly in Southeastern Arizona and Southwestern Texas. It is easily identified by its pair of white stripes on its face and gray underparts. The males additionally boast a dazzling sapphire gorget. Their singing and flight performance can also help identify this species during mating season. 

Calliope Hummingbird

The Calliope Hummingbird is the smallest long-distant migratory bird in the world and, unfortunately, a bird of conservation concern. It frequents mountain meadows, forest edges, and shrubby areas. This hummingbird feeds on nectar, flying insects, and tree sap. It is identified by its green body and square tail. The male additionally has a vibrant, colorful throat patch.Ā 

A Calliope Hummingbird
A Calliope Hummingbird. Image by Jerry Ting via Flickr.

Allenā€™s Hummingbird

The Allenā€™s Hummingbird is tricky because it is actually two species- one migratory and one sedentary. It is, however, easy to distinguish from other hummingbird types due to the buzzing sound created by the furious flapping of its outer wings. This sounds similar to the sound of a bumble bee. It typically creates this sound when defending its territory or impressing a female. The Allenā€™s Hummingbird can also be identified by its rust-colored plumage and compact body shape. 

Broad-billed Hummingbird

As implied by its name, the Broad-billed Hummingbird is best identified by its long, pointed red bill with a dash of black at the tip. Its plumage is metallic green and yellow in both males and females, while the male has a blue throat and the female has a white eye stripe. This hummingbird is unique as it is attracted to the sound of diurnal owls, a predator of small birds. The Broad-Billed Hummingbird will go on the defense and dive at the owl, a practice known as mobbing when done in groups.Ā 

Hummingbird Facts

Hummingbirds have more than just their good looks to get by on! There are countless interesting hummingbird facts. Here are a few to get you started. 

A Blue-throated Hummingbird
A Blue-throated Hummingbird. Image by Matthew Studebaker via Flickr and website.

-Hummingbirds can fly at speeds as high as 30 mph.

-Nectar is its primary food source. It also eats insects and tree sap, especially during breeding season.

-Hummingbirds are mostly independent animals and do not form strong social bonds. 

-Hummingbirds can enter a state of torpor where they slow their metabolism and lower body temperature to adapt to changing environmental conditions

-It can fly backward (the only bird capable of doing this), rotate 180 degrees in a figure eight pattern 80 times per second, hover in place, and change direction quickly with pristine control.

-All types of hummingbirds are exclusive to the western hemisphere.

-The smallest bird in the world is the Bee Hummingbird. It is 2.25 inches in length and weighs 1.6 grams.

-Hummingbirds are the largest group of birds in the world with roughly 360 species.

-Sedona, Arizona holds a famous hummingbird festival celebrating these vibrant, fascinating creatures.

– It has adapted to a variety of climates, including desert, woodland, and tropical.

-Its wings beat sixty to eighty times per second.

-Hummingbirds cannot walk; they only scooch sideways or hop.

-It existed in Europe thirty million years ago, according to fossil findings. We donā€™t know why hummingbirds disappeared from this region.

-It eats twice its body weight daily.

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