Hummingbird Central



Hummingbird Look-A-Likes

Hummingbird Species in the United States and Canada

How many hummingbird species are there?

The hummingbird family is very large, with over 330 species and 115 genera, mostly south of the U.S. Hummingbirds are found only in the Western Hemisphere, with almost half the species living in the "equatorial belt" between 10 degrees north and south of the equator.

Fewer than two dozen species venture into the U.S. and Canada, and only a few species remain year-round. On this website we feature the 18 most common hummingbird species found in the United States and Canada.

Many hummingbirds look alike ... how do I tell the difference?

Hummingbirds are among the smallest of all birds, with most species measuring in the 3"-5" range. They feature long slender needlelike bills adapted for reaching deep into tubular flowers.

But many hummingbirds look alike, and sometimes juveniles and females are really difficult to differentiate. Shown below are side-by-side comparison charts of several common species that feature similar markings and coloration.

Comparison of the Broad-tailed, Ruby-throated and Black-chinned hummingbirds

Comparison of the Rufous and Allen's hummingbirds

Comparison of the Costa's, Lucifer and Black-chinned hummingbirds

Comparison of the Calliope and Anna's hummingbirds found in the Western US and Canada

Comparison of the Rivoli's, Green-breasted Mango and Mexican Violetear hummingbirds



Need More Detailed Identification Information and Photos?

This is a list of the 18 most common hummingbird species found in North America and featured on this website, with identification details, ranges, characteristics and photographs:

Common Name
Scientific Name
Allen’s Selasphorus sasin
Anna’s Calypte anna
Berylline Amazilia beryllina
Black-chinned Archilochus alexandri
Blue-throated Lampornis clemenciae
Broad-billed Cynanthus latirostris
Broad-tailed Selasphorus platycercus
Buff-bellied Amazilia yucatanensis
Calliope Stellula calliope
Costa’s Calypte costae
Green-breasted Mango Anthracothorax prevostii
Lucifer Calothorax lucifer
Mexican Violetear Colibri thalassinus
Rivoli's Eugenes fulgens
Ruby-throated Archilochus colubris
Rufous Selasphorus rufus
Violet-crowned Amazilia violiceps
White-eared Hylocharis leucotis