Types Of Hummingbirds In Arizona

Do you reside in Arizona and you wish to know how to distinguish the types of hummingbirds in your area? Then let’s get right into this.

Arizona State is known for its very hot summer climate and mild winter. This is mostly due to the semiarid desert climate.

Arizona has 31 different state parks and they have 3 different national parks. Grand Canyon is the most popular national park in Arizona. These parks are home to diverse species of birds including hummingbirds.

So, in this article, we will be looking at the types of hummingbirds species you can find in Arizona. So let’s begin.

Hummingbirds In Arizona Identification

Hummingbirds are incredibly fast and small. These amazing birds never cease to fascinate us with their dash of speed, hovering skills, feeding multiple times from nectar solutions, and so many interesting activities.

So, it really helps when you can identify the types of hummingbirds you may find in your state. This is why we will be looking at the types of hummingbirds in Arizona.

So, the best spots to witness some very rare hummingbird species in Arizona include Miller Canyon, Ramsey Canyon Preserve, Cave Creek Canyon, and the Paton Center.

We have about 16 species of hummingbirds found in Arizona. They include:

Rufous hummingbird.
Anna’s hummingbird.
Allen’s hummingbird.
Black-chinned hummingbird.
Broad-billed hummingbird.
Broad-tailed hummingbird.
Blue-throated hummingbird.
Calliope hummingbird.
Berylline hummingbird.
Costa’s hummingbird.
Green-violetear hummingbird.
Rivoli’s hummingbird.
Lucifer hummingbird.
Ruby-throated hummingbird.
Violet-crowned hummingbird.
White-eared hummingbird.

So, let’s take a look at some information on Arizona’s hummingbird species

Arizona Hummingbird Species

Southeast Arizona is the best place to witness the types of hummingbirds. Also, we have 3 categories of hummingbird species in Arizona. They are:

Native or all-year-round hummingbirds: these native species of hummingbird live all through the year in Arizona. They include Anna’s hummingbird, Costa’s hummingbird, and Black-chinned hummingbird.
Seasonal hummingbirds: these are seasonal species of Arizona that follow a migratory pattern. The seasonal species include Rufous hummingbird, Blue-throated hummingbirds, Broad-billed hummingbirds, Broad-tailed hummingbirds, Calliope hummingbirds, Rivoli’s hummingbirds, and White-eared hummingbirds.
Vagrant or rare hummingbirds: these are species that may be seen on rare occasions in Arizona. They include Allen’s hummingbird, Calliope’s hummingbird, Berylline hummingbird, Green-violetears hummingbird, Lucifer hummingbird, Ruby-throated hummingbird, and Violet-crowned hummingbird.

So, here are the details of hummingbird’s species found in Arizona:

1. Anna’s hummingbird

Anna’s hummingbirds found in Arizona are a tiny bird that weighs around 2.4 to 4.5 grams. The male Anna’s hummingbird posses a colorful iridescent magenta gorget and crown. The female Anna’s hummingbird appears pale green and they are less conspicuous.

So, they are also regular visitors to gardens as well as many parks in Arizona.

2. Black-chinned hummingbird

Black-chinned male hummers have their gorget royal purple. Sometimes, they might appear all black unless the right type of light flashes on their feather. The female looks pale and her back appears green. They tend to breed in the east of Cascade mountain in Arizona.

3. Blue-throated hummingbird

From the name Blue-throated, the male has this iridescent blue gorget. However, the male gorget may look grey or black in poor light conditions. So, the female Blue-throated on the other hand has a grey gorget.

This species is common during spring and summer in Huachuca and Chiricahua Mountains southeastern Arizona. They have mostly been seen in Ramsey Canyon and Cave Creek Canyon.

4. Broad-billed hummingbird

As the name implies, the Broad-billed hummingbird species has a short and broadbill that is red in color. The male is identified by glossy green on their chest above and a deep blue throat. The female on the other hand isn’t as brightly colored as the male and her throat, belly, and chest are light to medium grey.

5. Broad-tailed hummingbird

Broad-tailed is a medium-sized seasonal migrating hummingbird that nests in south Arizona. The male can be identified by their iridescent rose-red throat. Also, they have their chest feathers to be white and their back is metallic green.

The female Broad-tailed are often pale below.

Read more about How To Feed A Baby Hummingbird

6. Calliope’s hummingbird

Calliope’s hummers are regularly sighted in Arizona during fall. However, they can as well be seen during spring migration.

7. Costa’s hummingbird

Costa’s hummers may be sighted in southern Arizona in winter around Tucson, Phoenix, and Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. Also, they tend to inhabit desert scrub and grassland where you can find desert plants such as ocotillos.

8. Allen’s hummingbird

These are rare or accidental visitors to Arizona. Sighted mostly in southeastern Arizona (Patagonia, Madera Canyon, Miller Canyon).

9. Berylline hummingbird

Berylline hummingbirds are common in Mexico. However, there have been some recordings in Arizona during their breeding season. But their recordings in Arizona are not so many.

10. Rivoli’s hummingbird

Rivoli’s hummingbirds have undergone different name changing and some of their names are Magnificent hummingbird and Refulgent hummingbird. They are common in mountainous areas in eastern and southeastern Arizona.

11. Violet-crowned hummingbird

From the named Violet-crowned, this hummingbird species have its head colored bright violet feather. So, they can be seen in southeastern Arizona on the Madrean Sky Island.

12. White-eared hummingbird

The White-eared hummers don’t have ear tufts. What they have is white stripes on the side of their face. So, they are sighted mostly in Ramsey Canyon in southeastern Arizona.

13. Lucifer hummingbird

Identify the males by an iridescent royal purple gorget flaring down on the two sides of their throat. Their breast is white. They also have a green crown and backs and a slightly curved bill.

Lucifer female hummingbirds also have their bill curved. Their crown is green and they have dark chocolate dorsal wings.

14. Green-Violetear hummingbird

This hummingbird species are mostly resident in Mexico and Central America. However, they have been a few accidental visits or spotting in Arizona.

15. Rufous hummingbird

Rufous hummingbirds are seasonal hummers to Arizona. Identified the males by bright-copper orange on their back. But you may find some Rufous male having a greenback.

Identify the females with a green crown back, and neck. They also have a white breast and belly. You may notice some female Rufous having a red or orange spot on their throat.

16. Ruby-throated hummingbird

Ruby-throated is also pretty rare in Arizona. They mainly reside in the Midwest and on the east coast. There have only been few recordings of this species in Arizona.