Hummingbirds are exciting birds to see. They have distinct colors and incredible flight patterns. They’re an exciting bird to watch for because so many of them happily visit backyard feeders.
Hummingbirds have their usual ranges, but most of these birds are wanderers. They’ll travel far, far outside their range, searching for food.
People visiting or who live in Louisiana are lucky. While the ruby-throated hummingbird is the most common in Louisiana, you can also see many other striking species, including several that rarely visit any other American state.
Ready to start flying?
Here is the list of species of hummingbirds in Louisiana:
- Black-Chinned Hummingbird
- Ruby Throated Hummingbird
- Buff-bellied Hummingbird
- Broad-Billed Hummingbird
- Rufous Hummingbird
- Calliope Hummingbird
- Allen’s Hummingbird
- Anna’s Hummingbird
- Blue-throated Mountaingem
- Rivoli’s Hummingbird
- Mexican Violetear
- Lucifer Sheartail
- Broad-Tailed Hummingbird
- Green Breasted Mango
14 Types of Hummingbirds in Louisiana
Hummingbirds visit every part of North America, but Louisiana is lucky enough to see some species that usually only live in Mexico. Here are the 14 species to watch for:
1. Black-Chinned Hummingbird
- Scientific name: Archilochus alexandri
- Size: 3.5 inches long
- Weight: 0.1-.02 ounces
- Wingspan: 4.3 inches
Black-chinned hummingbirds get their name from the male birds’ black throats with an iridescent purple base. Females have pale throats, along with white tips on their outer tail feathers.
Some hummingbirds stand out because of their brilliant coloring, but black-chinned ones are just a bit more subdued. They only have a thin strip of iridescent purple on the chin, but otherwise, they’re dull metallic Creek with a dull grayish-white best. Females have pale throats, and males have black throats. Both have black bills.
These petite birds are frequent visitors to hummingbird feeders, where they dart in and out, taking deep sips. They also sit on top of telephone wires and treetops to survey their territory. If a wandering hummingbird tries to enter their territory, the original bird will chase them off. Males can even dive up to 100 feet at a time to defend their territory and show off to females during breeding time.
They live anywhere they can find a safe spot to nest, which makes them generalists. They might live in a forest, a desert, or in urban shrubs. Recent surveys show that their range has been shrinking, with populations in Louisiana to Wyoming becoming threatened.
Breeding season starts in the early spring, and they build their nests in April and May, with a second nesting period in July. The males court the females with dramatic diving displays, and they breed throughout western North America. They’ll also visit the Gulf Coast during the winter. They nest in the spring and are one of the more common hummingbirds to find in their native range.
These are frequent visitors to feeders, and they’ll snag any insects they find nearby, including ants that hang out on your feeder. They also eat the sap from flowers.
Hang a feeder in your yard to increase your chances of seeing them, and plant their favorite foods, including tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca), scarlet larkspur (Delphinium cardinale), and desert ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens).
When Do They Arrive In and Leave Louisiana?
Black-chinned hummingbirds visit the southern half of Louisiana during the fall and early spring during the breeding season. You can see them in the northern part of the state as well, but it’s less common.
2. Ruby Throated Hummingbird
- Scientific name: Archilochus colubris
- Size: 2.8-3.5 inches long
- Weight: 0.1-.02 ounces
- Wingspan: 3.1-4.3 inches
Say “hello” to the most common – by far – hummingbird in all of Louisiana. In fact, this is the only breeding hummingbird in the eastern part of North America, and the only non-migratory hummingbird in the state.
The male birds are easy to identify by their bright red throats. If you notice a bird that looks somewhat like a ruby-throated, but the throat looks dark red, it’s likely just because the feathers aren’t in good light. Wait until the sunlight hits them, and you’ll see that shining bright throat.
Otherwise, these birds are emerald or golden-green on their backs and grayish-white on the underside. The beaks are black.
These bold birds are frequent visitors to feeders and if you have the chance to watch their antics, take it. They are incredibly agile. They can stop instantly in the air, hover up, down, side-to-side, and backward. Not only do they feed at feeders and in tubular flowers, but they’ll snatch insects out of the air or from webs, as well.
These generalists live in parks, gardens, backyards, meadows, fields, forests, and woodlands.
They fly away in the fall to winter in Central America and they actually fly across the Gulf of Mexico in one single flight without stopping. Very impressive!
When Do They Arrive In and Leave Louisiana?
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the only non-migratory hummingbirds in Louisiana.
You can see them most often during the breeding season in all of Louisiana, which takes place from March to July, but they might be found any time of year.
3. Buff Bellied Hummingbird
- Scientific name: Amazilia yucatanensis
- Size: 3.9-4.3 inches long
- Weight: 0.14-0.18 ounces
- Wingspan: 5.75 inches
Buff-bellied hummingbirds don’t live in Louisiana. They primarily live along the Gulf Coast, with permanent colonies in Mexico and parts of South America, and migrant breeding populations in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Every so often, they’ll venture up to Louisiana.
These birds have bright red bills with black tips and buff bellies, which sets them apart from other hummingbirds. When the sun hits their throats, you can see the bright blue-green feathers glisten and shine.
It mostly lives in desert landscapes and will visit suburban yards, especially if there is a feeder present. It uses its long tongue to lap sap out of flowers and feeders, but it’s also known to snatch insects out of the air when it gets the chance.
Because it’s larger than many other hummingbirds, it can use its size to drive off competition. You’ll often see it chasing away other hummingbirds.
This bird only breeds in Louisiana, and it’s actively nesting and raising its young from March until August.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave Louisiana?
These birds start arriving in the fall and stick around through May. They’re one of the most commonly seen species in the winter next to the rufous.
4. Broad-Billed Hummingbird
- Scientific name: Cynanthus latirostris
- Size: 3.5 inches long
- Weight: 0.1 ounces
- Wingspan: 4.3 inches
The broad-billed hummingbird makes Mexico and a few parts of the Southern US such as Arizona and New Mexico its home. It stays year-round in Mexico, but ventures further north during the breeding season.
This bird has a long, narrow, straight bill and a tail with a notch at the center, which helps you tell it apart from other species. They also stand out because of their shimmering green bodies and blue throats on the males. The bills are red with a black tip.
They eat insects as well as nectar from flowers and feeders.
These birds create their nests in mountain canyons and then head to higher elevations to forage after raising their young. The males court the females with a swooping display that has been compared to the swinging of a hypnotist’s watch.
There are five sub-species but only the magicus sub-species lives in the US.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave Louisiana?
Broad-billed hummingbirds only visit Louisiana in the winter and they’re a rare, accidental species. But you might see them any time of year if you keep an eye out.
5. Rufous Hummingbird
- Scientific name: Selasphorus rufus
- Size: 2.8-3.5 inches long
- Weight: 0.1-.02 ounces
- Wingspan: 4.3 inches
Rufous means “reddish,” and that’s what these birds are. When the sunlight hits them, they glow like a lump of burning coal, with a reddish back and a vivid red throat. The females have a little bit of green on their tails and flanks, plus a little spot of orange on their throats.
Even though these birds might just be visiting an area as they migrate, they’re fierce defenders of the area they are in. They will tirelessly chase off any hummingbird that dares come near. They’ll even chase off bigger birds of other species and they’ll dive-bomb humans who come too close to their feeder or nest.
Like ruby-throated hummingbirds, they’re incredibly agile and will feed from feeders and tubular flowers, as well as snatch insects from the air or spider webs. They live in backyards, forests, meadows, and parks.
In the spring, they leave for their breeding grounds on the west coast, where they stay from April to July.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave Louisiana?
These hummingbirds aren’t super common in Louisiana, but they are the most frequently seen species in the winter. Look for them from August until April.
6. Calliope Hummingbird
- Scientific name: Selasphorus calliope
- Size: 2.8-3.9 inches long
- Weight: 0.07-0.1 ounces
- Wingspan: 4.3 inches
Calliope hummingbirds are very rare in Louisiana, but you might get lucky and see one of these non-natives to the state. They’re far more common in the Pacific Northwest, California, parts of the west, and Canada.
They breed in western Canada, Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and parts of Utah and they spend the non-breeding season in Mexico.
The males of these beautiful birds have magenta feathers on their throats and both females and males have iridescent green feathers on their backs. The male courts the female by diving in an acrobatic u-shape while making a buzzing sound with his tail feathers. They breed from April to June.
While they will eat from feeders, they tend to be a bit timider than some other hummingbirds. They aren’t afraid of other birds, though. They’re even known to chase away red-tailed hawks.
They’ll eat the sap from flowers, but they’re also fond of the sap on trees left by sapsuckers and they’ll also eat insects and spiders.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave Louisiana?
These tiny birds, the smallest hummingbirds in North America, might arrive in the early fall and stick around through April. While they aren’t common, they’re regularly seen, especially in the southeast part of the state.
7. Allen’s Hummingbird
- Scientific name: Selasphorus sasin
- Size: 3.5 inches long
- Weight: 0.1 ounces
- Wingspan: 4.3 inches
With its bold, copper-orange throat and sides and green back, it’s easy to spot these cheerful-looking hummingbirds. They love to flit from flower to feeder and they snatch insects from the air as they fly.
They live in the chaparral of coastal regions from California to Southern Oregon, but these petite fliers are hardy travelers. They fly from their breeding ground all the way down to southern Mexico, where they hang out during the non-breeding season. They stay in Southern California year-round, as well.
Once in a while, they’ll venture along the Gulf Coast and may end up as far east as Florida.
They’ll eat at hummingbird feeders but they also love flowers and will dine on insects.
The females nest and raise their young from February to August, though non-migratory birds will nest in California from October through June.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave Louisiana?
Look for this bright bird during the winter in the southern part of Louisiana. They’re not common but they do stop by now and then.
8. Anna’s Hummingbird
- Scientific name: Calypte anna
- Size: 3.9 inches long
- Weight: 0.1-0.2 ounces
- Wingspan: 4.7 inches
If you live along the Pacific coast, then no doubt you’ve seen the stunning Anna’s hummingbird. They’re one of the most common species in the region and they live there all year long. They’ll also travel inland a bit during the breeding season and some will migrate to Mexico during the non-breeding season.
Look for greenish-gray birds with iridescent feathers. Males have reddish-pink chins and heads.
When they’re breeding, the males will swoop down up to 130 feet, making a buzzing noise with their tail feathers in an attempt to impress the females.
These birds are bold and curious and will come right up to humans to check them out. They’ll eat at feeders, snatch insects, and suck the sap of tubular flowers.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave Louisiana?
If you live in Louisiana, it’s the non-breeding season of winter that you might be able to spot them. They’re an accidental visitor that has only been spotted rarely now and then.
9. Blue-Throated Mountaingem
- Scientific name: Lampornis clemenciae
- Size: 4.3-5.5 inches long
- Weight: 0.27 ounces
- Wingspan: 7 inches
This is the biggest hummingbird in North America. You can easily identify them simply because they’re larger than any other species of hummingbird, but they also have lovely coloring. Look for their olive backs, gray bodies, and cobalt necks on the males. Both sexes have white stripes above and below the eyes.
While most of these birds live in Mexico, they’ll venture north into Arizona, New Mexico, and Louisiana. Some colonies even stay in these states year-round, though this is rare. These birds breed from February through September in Mexico.
The nests are made with plant fibers and held together with spider silk.
Not only do they feed on flowers, but they’ll snack on insects, as well. When they feel threatened by a larger bird, these fearless birds will group together and chase off much larger species.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave Louisiana?
While you may see them any time of year, you should look for them during the winter when they aren’t yet breeding. They’re a rare, accidental species.
10. Rivoli’s Hummingbird
- Scientific name: Eugenes fulgens
- Size: 4.3-5.5 inches long
- Weight: 0.2-0.35 ounces
- Wingspan: 7.1 inches
Rivoli’s used to be called “magnificent hummingbirds,” and it’s plain to see why. They’re quite large for a hummingbird and they have unique coloring. The males are black with bold green highlights, violet crowns, and emerald throats. Females are less showy, with green and gray coloring.
These agile hunters will snatch insects out of the air and suck the sap out of tubular flowers. They prefer higher elevations, so you won’t see them as often on the coast, but they’re talented travelers, so you never know when they’ll pop up.
Normally, they live in Mexico, but they will head up to New Mexico, Louisiana, and Arizona during the breeding season.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave Louisiana?
Look for these large hummingbirds during the winter, but you never know when this rare, accidental visitor will stop by.
11. Mexican Violetear
- Scientific name: Colibri thalassinus
- Size: 5.25 inches long
- Weight: 0.21 ounces
- Wingspan: 4.25 inches
Formerly known as the green violet-eared hummingbird, these are large for hummingbirds and can be nearly five-and-a-half inches long. Combined with their bright green bodies and violet streaks on the chest and cheeks, it’s easy to spot them as they flit about pine forests and roadsides.
They will visit birdfeeders, but they like to stay hidden as they eat, so if your feeder is out in the open they might not hang out much.
Their populations are concentrated in the southwest US and all of Mexico down through parts of Central America, but these birds are wanderers. You’ll find them as far north as Canada and occasionally across the midwest and Atlantic Coast. They also visit Louisiana now and then.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave Louisiana?
Look for these pretty hummingbirds in Louisiana all year long. They’re extremely rare and have only been seen in the state a few times.
12. Lucifer Sheartail
- Scientific name: Calothorax lucifer
- Size: 4.0 inches long
- Weight: 0.12 ounces
- Wingspan: 4.5 inches
The Lucifer sheartail looks like a flying jewel, or, at least the males do. They have vibrant purple throats (known as gorgets) with iridescent green wings and backs. Both the males and females have a grayish belly, but the females have cinnamon patches with an iridescent green back. They have narrow, deeply forked tails.
They mostly eat nectar from the flowers of desert plants. These birds are native to Mexico and rarely visit feeders, though they will come by if no other hummingbirds are around. They’re shy like that.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave Louisiana?
You’ll only find this bird in three parts of the US: New Mexico, Louisiana, and Arizona, and only then in the very southern part of these states during the breeding season, which takes place in the early spring through summer.
13. Broad-Tailed Hummingbird
- Scientific name: Selasphorus platycercus
- Size: 3.3-3.8 inches long
- Weight: 0.13 ounces
- Wingspan: 5.25 inches
The broad-tailed hummingbird is easy to confuse with the ruby-throated hummingbird. They look extremely similar.
These birds mostly live throughout the Rocky Mountains in high mountain meadows. Because they live in regions that experience hot days and cold nights, they’ve adapted by slowing their heart rate and lowering their body temperature at night and then ramping back up during the day when the sun rises.
They love to visit feeders or visit pendulous flowers to suck the nectar. Watch out, though. They’re extremely aggressive and will chase off any birds that come into their area.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave Louisiana?
As a regularly occurring but rare hummingbird species, you’ll probably see them in Louisiana during the winter from October to April. They are more common in the south of the state.
14. Green-Breasted Mango
- Scientific name: Cynanthus latirostris
- Size: 3.5 inches long
- Weight: 0.1 ounces
- Wingspan: 4.3 inches
You’d probably never describe a hummingbird as chunky, but the green-breasted mango is relatively bulky. Its coloring somewhat resembles an oil slick, with iridescent black, green, purple, and blue feathers mottled throughout. Females have white tail corners.
These birds live in Mexico and Central America, but they are known to wander about. They’re often seen along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana, but rarely, they will venture even further north into states such as Louisiana, Georgia, and as far as North Carolina and even Wisconsin.
They’ll visit hummingbird feeders and they favor tropical flowers, especially those from large-flowered tropical trees like Inga and Erythrina species.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave Louisiana?
Since they’re an accidental visitor to Louisiana, you never know when they’ll show up, but winter is the most common time.
How to Attract Hummingbirds
To attract hummingbirds to your yard, pick feeders that have a little perch so you can observe them holding still as well as in flight.
Contrary to common belief, the feeder doesn’t have to be red. These birds don’t care about the color, they just want a nice meal. You can grab a beautiful feeder with perches from Bolite. Don’t die the nectar, either. Clear nectar is totally fine.
You can also use pre-made nectar to attract them. Just be sure to change the nectar frequently and wash the feeder out with hot water and soap. When it’s really hot, you should change your feeder daily. During cooler weather, once a week is fine.
Feeders left uncleaned develop a mold that can kill hummingbirds.
You should also plant stuff like firebush, fuchsia, honeysuckle, trumpet vine, and powder puff trees. Hummingbirds love these.
Other Species of Birds in Louisiana:
Woodpeckers in Louisiana
Owls in Louisiana
