Hummingbirds of the USA Guide
Population Trend: Decreasing.
Habitat: Desert scrub.
Threats: Habitat loss, cat predation.
Note: They breed in the Southwest, but Costa’s Hummingbirds have been spotted several times in the Pacific Northwest and have even ventured as far as Alaska and British Columbia.
Population Trend: Unknown.
Habitat: Pine-oak forest.
Threats: Habitat loss, cat predation.
Note: White-eared Hummingbirds have been beloved summer visitors to Arizona since the 1890s. They will sometimes remain near well-maintained feeders for weeks at a time.
Population Trend: Increasing.
Habitat: Eastern forest.
Threats: Cat predation, glass collisions.
Note: Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have become accustomed to urbanization and have been known to nest in surprising locations, including loops of extension cords, wires, and chains.
Population Trend: Increasing.
Habitat: Chaparral shrubland.
Threats: Cat predation, glass collisions.
Note: The breeding range for the Anna’s Hummingbird was originally exclusive to northern Baja California and southern California; however, this bird’s range has expanded thanks to the planting of exotic flowering trees. It now nests north to southern British Columbia.
Global Population Trend: Stable.
Habitat: Scrubby woodland, pine-oak woods in mountains, desert scrub.
Threats: Possible habitat loss, glass collisions, cat predation.
Note: Xantus’s Hummingbird breeds in the southern portion of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, but has been spotted along the Pacific Coast far north as British Columbia.
Population Trend: Decreasing.
Habitat: Western forest.
Threats: Habitat loss, possibly climate change.
Note: The Rufous Hummingbird breeds as far north as southeastern Alaska — the northernmost breeding range of any hummingbird.
Population Trend: Unknown.
Habitat: Pine-oak forest.
Threats: Habitat loss, possibly climate change.
Note: At 420 to 1,200 beats per minute, the Rivoli’s Hummingbird has one of the highest vertebrate heartrates on record.
Population Trend: Unknown.
Habitat: Dry forest.
Threats: Cat predation, glass collisions, possibly habitat loss in breeding areas.
Note: Even though their U.S. breeding ground is in South Texas, Buff-bellied Hummingbirds regularly venture toward the northeast, a behavior unique to the species.
Global Population Trend: Stable.
Habitat: Mountain forests.
Threats: Habitat loss.
Note: Berylline Hummingbirds were first spotted in the U.S. in 1964. They have since become consistent summer visitors to the mountains of southeastern Arizona, and have even been observed nesting there several times.
Population Trend: Decreasing.
Habitat: Western forest.
Threats: Cat predation, glass collisions.
Note: The Calliope Hummingbird is the smallest type of hummingbird in the United States and Canada. It weighs roughly the same as a ping pong ball.
Population Trend: Unknown.
Habitat: Pine-oak forest.
Threats: Habitat loss, invasive species.
Note: The Blue-throated Mountain-gem is the largest nesting hummingbird in the U.S. and Canada; it weighs about three times more than the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
Population Trend: Increasing.
Habitat: Western forest.
Threats: Cat predation, glass collisions
Note: The Black-chinned. Hummingbird’s eggs are smaller than jellybeans!
Population Trend: Decreasing.
Habitat: Chaparral shrubland.
Threats: Habitat loss, cat predation, possibly climate change.
Note: Even though the Allen’s Hummingbird only breeds in a narrow strip along coastal Oregon and California, there are two subspecies; Selasphorus sasin sasin and Selasphorus sasin sedentarius. S. s. sasin winters in Mexico, while S. s. sedentarius (as its name suggests) remains in the U.S.
Population Trend: Decreasing.
Habitat: Desert scrub.
Threats: Habitat loss, possibly climate change.
Note: Male Lucifer Hummingbirds visit females during the breeding season, performing courtship displays at the females’ nests. This is in contrast to many other hummingbirds that perform courtship displays away from nests.
Population Trend: Unknown.
Habitat: Dry forest.
Threats: Habitat loss, cat predation, possibly climate change.
Note: The Violet-crowned Hummingbird was first spotted nesting in the U.S. in 1959.
Population Trend: Unknown.
Habitat: Dry forest.
Threats: Cat predation, glass collisions.
Note: During courtship, male Broad-billed Hummingbirds fly in a pendulum-like arc to impress females.