Hummingbirds are primarily tropical birds. They like warmer areas and they only visit colder regions during the summer. But warmer states like Arizona are lucky enough to see some of these birds all year long, even when other areas don’t see any hummingbirds at all.
In fact, of the 16 hummingbird species that live in North America, 15 of them have appeared in Arizona. Not all of them are common, but they’ve been seen at least a few times in recent years.
If you want a chance to see them, including the rare ones, hang up a feeder in your yard.
Here is the list of species of hummingbirds in Arizona:
- Anna’s Hummingbird
- Rufous Hummingbird
- Black-Chinned Hummingbird
- Calliope Hummingbird
- Broad-Tailed Hummingbird
- Costa’s Hummingbird
- Allen’s Hummingbird
- Broad-Billed Hummingbird
- Rivoli’s Hummingbird
- Blue-Throated Mountaingem
- Mexican Violetear
- Violet-Crowned Hummingbird
- Lucifer Sheartail
- White-Eared Hummingbird
- Berylline Hummingbird
15 Types of Hummingbirds in Arizona
1. 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 the 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 Arizona?
If you live in Arizona, look for these pretty birds all year long. If you hang up feeders, you’re more likely to see them.
2. 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 to their breeding grounds on the west coast where they stay from April to July.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave Arizona?
These hummingbirds are the most common species in Arizona and hang out year round.
3. 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 black throat with an iridescent purple base that males have. Females, on the other hand, have pale throats, along with white tips on their outer tail feathers.
Some hummingbirds stand out because of their brilliant coloring, but black-chinned 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 and 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 Arizona?
Black-chinned hummingbirds are common in Arizona year-round.
4. 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 common in the Pacific Northwest, Arizona, parts of the west, and Canada.
They breed in western Canada, Arizona, Washington, Arizona, 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 Arizona?
These tiny birds, the smallest hummingbirds in North America, they nest and breed in Arizona. Look for them at any time of the year.
5. 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 very 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 Arizona?
Broad-tailed hummingbirds are often mistaken for ruby-throated hummingbirds in Arizona. Look for them anytime of year.
6. Costa’s Hummingbird
- Scientific name: Calypte costae
- Size: 3.5 inches long
- Weight: 0.1 ounces
- Wingspan: 4.3 inches
These compact little birds appear to have a sort of hunched posture. The adult males have a purple crown and neck, with a green back and sides.
These birds feed on chuparosa and ocotillo, as well as insects and at feeders. They live in desert areas of the American west. You mostly find them in Southern Arizona, Nevada, parts of Utah, and a little bit of New Mexico, but they do migrate so you might see them as far east as Florida and as far north as Alaska.
They breed in the interior of the country but stay on the coast year-round. During the non-breeding season, some might visit coastal Mexico.
These birds are shyer and will avoid feeders if bolder, more aggressive species are there.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave Arizona?
Look for this bright hummingbird on the coast any time of year.
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 Arizona 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 Arizona 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 Arizona from October through June.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave Arizona?
Look for this bright bird during the winter along the coast of Arizona.
8. 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 live in the US.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave Arizona?
Broad-billed hummingbirds can appear in Arizona at any time, but watch for them during the winter when they’re most common.
9. 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, Texas, and Arizona during the breeding season.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave Arizona?
These large hummingbirds are rare in Arizona. They’ve been reported in northern coastal areas and near San Diego. Look for them in the summer.
10. Blue-Throated Mountaingem
- Scientific name: Lampornis clemenciae
- Size: 4.3-5.5 inches long
- Weight: 0.27 ounces
- Wingspan: 7 inches
Say “hello” to the biggest hummingbird in North America. You can quickly 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 Texas. 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 Arizona?
While you may see them any time of year, they’re very rare. They’ve only been reported in a few central areas of southern Arizona.
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 Texas fairly often. In states like New Mexico, Arizona, and California, they are accidental and extremely rare visitors.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave Arizona?
Look for these pretty hummingbirds in Arizona during the breeding season.
12. Violet-Crowned Hummingbird
- Scientific name: Leucolia violiceps
- Size: 4.3 inches long
- Weight: 0.2 ounces
- Wingspan: 5.9 inches
If you guessed that this bird has a violet crown, you’d be right. The top of the males’ heads are violet with purple cheeks and a small white spot behind the eye. Males and females are bronze and green with a white chest. Their bills are orange-red with a black tip.
These birds will nab insects in the air or off of plants, in addition to their usual meal of nectar from flowers.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave Arizona?
These birds live in riparian areas of Mexico but they will rarely venture north to Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona during the breeding season.
13. Lucifer Sheartail
- Scientific name: Calothorax lucifer
- Size: 4 inches long
- Weight: 0.12 ounces
- Wingspan: 4 inches
Lucifer sheartails live in Mexico, but they rarely visit the extreme southern part of Arizona and New Mexico. They can be found in foothills, plains, and scrub forests.
This medium-sized hummingbird has a forked tail, relatively small wings, and an extremely long bill. The males have purple necks and green foreheads, while the females are mostly brown with a curved bill.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave Arizona?
These hummingbirds are rare in the US and you’ll only find them during the breeding season.
14. White-Eared Hummingbird
- Scientific name: Hylocharis leucotis
- Size: 3.75 inches long
- Weight: 0.12 ounces
- Wingspan: 4 inches
These hummingbirds are easy to distinguish from other species because both the males and females have a white ear stripe. The males are emerald green with a purple crown and a blue-green chin. Their bills are red with a black tip. Females, on the other hand, are green with black breasts, and green streaks on their sides.
While they generally stick to their native home in the mountains of Mexico, they will venture north to Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Mississippi. They eat insects and nectar from tubular flowers.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave Arizona?
White-eared hummingbirds might visit Arizona during the breeding season of early spring.
15. Berylline Hummingbird
- Scientific name: Saucerottia beryllina
- Size: 4.3 inches long
- Weight: 0.12 ounces
- Wingspan: 5.9 inches
Flitting through the uplands of Mexico and the southern parts of New Mexico, Arizona and Texas near the border are the beautiful berylline hummingbirds. These aggressive birds love to dine on sugar water at feeders, as well as on the nectar of flowers and flying insects.
They’re primarily emerald green with a rust-colored wing patch and belly. Both sexes have a little red patch on their lower bill, but the females are duller in color.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave Arizona?
These birds rarely breed north of the border in the US, so look for them primarily during the late winter and early spring.
How to Attract Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds are a New World group of birds, meaning they only live in South, Central, and North America. Within North America, there are 16 native species of hummingbirds and a few visiting species.
If you want a sure-fire experience of drawing birds to your yard, try hanging up a hummingbird feeder. Hummingbirds travel far and wide to find good food and they’ll stop by and eat the food in your feeder, giving you an exciting show in the process.
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.
Some experts also recommend that you put your feeders away in regions that get cold during the winter so you don’t accidentally entice tropical birds to stick around during the winter.
You should also plant stuff like firebush, fuchsia, honeysuckle, cardinal flowers, fire pink, wild bergamot, columbine, red buckeye, trumpet vine, and powder puff trees. Hummingbirds love these.
Other Species of Birds in Arizona:
Woodpeckers in Arizona
Owls in Arizona
