OTHER HUMMINGBIRD SPECIES

Within the Trochilidae (Hummingbird Family), there are currently (as of 14 July 2021) 361 species and 113 genera recognized by the International Ornithological Congress (IOC), subject to change as new species are discovered or DNA work reveals new relationships among existing species. (NOTE: "Genera" is the plural of "genus"; the word "species" is both singular and plural.) Hummingbirds occur ONLY in the Western Hemisphere, with almost half the species (163) living in the "equatorial belt" between 10 degrees north and south of the equator.

Within the continental United States, there are 16 species of breeding hummingbirds, with another half-dozen or so Mexican or Caribbean species that have been spotted in the U.S. There are no hummingbirds in Hawaii, of course, but four--perhaps five--species have been reported from Alaska.

There are occasional reports of hummingbirds in Europe, but these would have to be cage birds that have escaped captivity; it is physically impossible for a hummingbird to make it across the Atlantic Ocean under its own power. It's likely many out-of-range sightings are actually Hummingbird Moths--diurnal insects that mimic hummingbird behavior so convincingly that many people think they are "baby hummingbirds." (Note that hummingbirds are fully grown when they leave the nest; in other words, baby hummingbirds can't fly.)

Not all hummingbirds have the word "hummingbird" in their names; there are sabrewings, jacobins, woodnymphs, and many others with poetic or historical epithets. Some hummers are named for a dominant color, as in Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Black-chinned Hummingbird, or Green-breasted Mango. The Bee Hummingbird is the tiniest of all birds and among the smallest of warm-blooded vertebrates; an adult male weighs about 1.95g--less than the weight of two paper clips!--and its nest is only 3cm across. By comparison, a typical adult female Ruby-throated Hummingbird weighs 3-5g and her nest is twice as broad as that of the Bee Hummingbird.

Listed below are all the hummingbirds that regularly appear in North America and/or Mexico; many of these also occur in parts of Central America and into South America either as breeding birds or migrants. (A few other hummingbird species may show up as rare vagrants.)

We have Hummingbird Checklists by Country for all countries and islands of the Western Hemisphere in which hummingbirds occur. Locations NOT listed do not have hummingbirds, even in migration. there are also lists Hummingbird Checklists by State (U.S.)

Hummingbirds listed below in RED breed in the continental U.S.; those in GREEN may appear in the U.S.--some only rarely--as non-breeding birds. Based on Johnsgard 1997, in part; taxonomy is after Clements 5th edition, updated 2004.

• RED = 16 hummingbird species that breed in the continental United States
• GREEN = 5 hummingbird species that have appeared in the continental United States but do not breed there
• BLACK = 27 hummingbird species that may occur in Mexico but not in the continental United States

1. Long-tailed Hermit, Phaethornis superciliosis --Mexico, Central & South America
2. Little Hermit, Phaethornis longuemareus --Mexico, Central & South America
3. Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, Campylopterus curvipennis --Mexico & Central America
4. Violet Sabrewing, Campylopterus hemileucurus --Mexico & Central America--PHOTOS
5. White-necked Jacobin, Florisuga mellivora --Mexico, Central & South America
6. Green Violet-ear, Colibri thalassinus --Mexico, Central & South America--PHOTOS
7. Green-breasted Mango, Anthracothorax prevostii --Mexico & Central America--PHOTOS
8. Black-throated Mango, Anthracothorax nigricollis
9. Emerald-chinned Hummingbird, Abeillia abeillei --Mexico & Central America
10. Rufous-crested Coquette, Lophornis delattrei --Mexico, Central & South America
11. Black-crested Coquette, Lophornis helenae --Mexico & Central America
12. Fork-Tailed Emerald, including Golden-crowned, Colzumel's, and Canivet's subspecies, Chlorostilbon canivetii --Mexico, Central & South America
13. Cuban Emerald, Chlorostilbon ricordii --Cuba & Bahamas--PHOTOS
14. Dusky Hummingbird, Cynanthus sordidus --Mexico
15. Broad-billed Hummingbird, Cynanthus latirostris -U.S. (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas) & Mexico--PHOTOS
16. Crowned Woodnymph, Thalurania ridgwayi --Mexico, Central & South America--PHOTOS
17. Xantus' Hummingbird, Hylocharis xantusii --Mexico--PHOTOS
18. White-eared Hummingbird, Hylocharis lucotis --U.S. (Arizona), Mexico & Central America--PHOTOS
19. Blue-throated Goldentail, Hylocharis eliciae --Mexico & Central America
20. White-bellied Emerald, Amazilia candida --Mexico & Central America
21. Azure-crowned Hummingbird, Amazilia cyanocephala --Mexico & Central America
22. Berylline Hummingbird, Amazilia beryllina --U.S. (Arizona), Mexico & Central America
23. Cinnamon Hummingbird, Amazilia rutila --Mexico & Central America
24. Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Amazilia yucatanensis --U.S. (Texas), Mexico & Central America (Belize only)--PHOTOS
25. Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Amazilia tzacatl --Mexico, Central & South America
26. Violet-crowned Hummingbird, Amazilia violiceps --U.S. (Arizona & New Mexico) & Mexico--PHOTOS
27. Green-fronted Hummingbird, Amazilia viridifrons --Mexico
28. Stripe-tailed Hummingbird, Eupherusa eximia --Mexico & Central America
29. Blue-throated Mountain-gem, Lampornis clemenciae --U.S. (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas) & Mexico--PHOTOS
30. Amethyst-throated Hummingbird, Lampornis amethystinus --Mexico & Central America
31. Garnet-throated Hummingbird, Lamprolaima rhami --Mexico & Central America
32. Magnificent (Rivoli's) Hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens --U.S. (Arizona & New Mexico) & Mexico--PHOTOS
33. Plain-capped Starthroat, Heliomaster constantii --Mexico & Central America--PHOTOS
34. Long-billed Starthroat, Heliomaster longirostris --Mexico, Central & South America
35. Mexican Sheartail, Tilmatura eliza --Mexico
36. Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird, Tilmatura dupontii --Mexico & Central America
37. Lucifer Hummingbird, Calothorax lucifer --U.S. (Texas, Arizona, New Mexico) & Mexico--PHOTOS
38. Beautiful Hummingbird, Calothorax pulcher --Mexico
39. Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris --Eastern U.S. & southern Canada, winters in Mexico & Central America--PHOTOS
40. Black-chinned Hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri --Western U.S. & Mexico--PHOTOS
41. Anna's Hummingbird, Calypte anna (formerly Archilochus anna) --Western coastal U.S. & Mexico--PHOTOS
42. Costa's Hummingbird, Calypte costae --Western coastal U.S. & Mexico--PHOTOS
43. Bahama Woodstar, Calliphlox evelynae --Bahamas
44. Calliope Hummingbird, Stellula calliope --Western U.S. & Canada; Mexico--PHOTOS
45. Bumblebee Hummingbird, Selasphorus heliosa --Mexico & Central America
46. Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus --Western U.S., Mexico & Central America--PHOTOS
47. Rufous Hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus --Western U.S. & Canada; Mexico--PHOTOS
48. Allen's Hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin --Western coastal U.S. & Mexico--PHOTOS
    

Back to Hummingbird Miscellany

Up to Top of Page

Operation RubyThroat is a registered trademark of Bill Hilton Jr. and Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History in York, South Carolina USA, phone (803) 684-5852. Contents of the overall project and this website--including photos--may NOT be duplicated, modified, or used in any way except with the express written permission of the author. To obtain permission or for further assistance on accessing this website, contact Webmaster.