North American Hummingbird Species

North America is a continent bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the west and south by the Pacific Ocean, and to the southeast by South America and the Caribbean Sea. Regarding hummingbirds it encompasses, the United States, the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America.

The Western Hummingbird Partnership states:

"Hummingbirds live only in the western hemisphere, where they are the second most diverse family of birds (approximately 340 species). Their diversity is well represented among North American bird families with 57 species:

  • 40% are endemic to North America,
  • 14% are substantially shared among the nations,
  • 30% are migratory, and
  • 14% are of high conservation concern (Berlanga et al., 2010).

There are indications that at least some hummingbird populations are declining. Partners in Flight (PIF) had identified three of the 13 neotropical migrants that breed in the USA and Canada and over-winter in Mexico as Watch List Species: Costa's, Calliope, and Rufous, and a fourth: Lucifer, as a Stewardship Species (Rich et al 2004).

The USFWS 2008 Birds of Conservation Concern (Pages 47-52) also listed Costa's, Calliope, Lucifer, and Rufous as well as Allen's, Blue-throated, and Buff-bellied; seven species in total nationally".

Scientific Name English Common Name Taxon Sequence
Glaucis hirsutus Rufous-breasted Hermit 821
Phaeochroa cuvierii Scaly-breasted Hummingbird 830
Campylopterus curvipennis Wedge-tailed Sabrewing 831
Campylopterus excellens Long-tailed Sabrewing 832
Campylopterus rufus Rufous Sabrewing 833
Campylopterus hemileucurus Violet Sabrewing 834
Florisuga mellivora White-necked Jacobin 835
Colibri thalassinus Green Violet-ear 837.3
Anthracothorax prevostii Green-breasted Mango 838
Abeillia abeillei Emerald-chinned Hummingbird 849
Lophornis brachylophus Short-crested Coquette 850
Lophornis helenae Black-crested Coquette 852
Chlorostilbon auriceps Golden-crowned Emerald 855
Chlorostilbon forficatus Cozumel Emerald 856
Chlorostilbon canivetii Canivet's Emerald 857
Cynanthus sordidus Dusky Hummingbird 863
Cynanthus latirostris Broad-billed Hummingbird 864
Thalurania ridgwayi Mexican Woodnymph 866
Hylocharis eliciae Blue-throated Goldentail 873
Hylocharis leucotis White-eared Hummingbird 874
Hylocharis xantusii Xantus's Hummingbird 875
Amazilia candida White-bellied Emerald 879
Amazilia cyanocephala Azure-crowned Hummingbird 884
Amazilia beryllina Berylline Hummingbird 885
Amazilia cyanura Blue-tailed Hummingbird 886
Amazilia yucatanensis Buff-bellied Hummingbird 890
Amazilia rutila Cinnamon Hummingbird 891
Amazilia violiceps Violet-crowned Hummingbird 892
Amazilia viridifrons Green-fronted Hummingbird 893
Eupherusa eximia Stripe-tailed Hummingbird 894
Eupherusa cyanophrys Blue-capped Hummingbird 895
Eupherusa poliocerca White-tailed Hummingbird 896
Lampornis viridipallens Green-throated Mountain-gem 903
Lampornis amethystinus Amethyst-throated Hummingbird 905
Lampornis clemenciae Blue-throated Hummingbird 906
Lamprolaima rhami Garnet-throated Hummingbird 910
Eugenes fulgens Rivoli's Hummingbird 912
Heliothryx barroti Purple-crowned Fairy 914
Heliomaster longirostris Long-billed Starthroat 915
Heliomaster constantii Plain-capped Starthroat 916
Doricha enicura Slender Sheartail 920
Doricha eliza Mexican Sheartail 921
Tilmatura dupontii Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird 922
Calothorax lucifer Lucifer Hummingbird 923
Calothorax pulcher Beautiful Sheartail 924
Archilochus colubris Ruby-throated Hummingbird 925
Archilochus alexandri Black-chinned Hummingbird 926
Calypte anna Anna's Hummingbird 929
Calypte costae Costa's Hummingbird 930
Stellula calliope Calliope Hummingbird 931
Atthis heloisa Bumblebee Hummingbird 932
Atthis ellioti Wine-throated Hummingbird 933
Selasphorus platycercus Broad-tailed Hummingbird 934
Selasphorus rufus Rufous Hummingbird 935
Selasphorus sasin Allen's Hummingbird 936