Hummingbirds are striking birds with distinct colors and behaviors. They’re fun birds to watch out for because so many of them willingly visit backyard feeders. Hummingbirds have their natural native ranges, but most of these birds are wanderers. They’ll travel far, far outside their range, searching for good food.
While the ruby-throated hummingbird is the most common and the only nesting type in South Carolina, you can also see many other beautiful species, known as vagrant species, that visit now and then.
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. Of those, just two are common in South Carolina, while ten others will rarely visit.
Here is the list of species of hummingbirds in South Carolina:
- Black-Chinned Hummingbird
- Ruby Throated Hummingbird
- Broad-Billed Hummingbird
- Blue-Throated Mountaingem
- Anna’s Hummingbird
- Allen’s Hummingbird
- Broad-Tailed Hummingbird
- Buff-Bellied Hummingbird
- Calliope Hummingbird
- Mexican Violetear
- Rufous Hummingbird
- Green-Breasted Mango
12 Types of Hummingbirds in South Carolina
Hummingbirds visit every part of North America, but South Carolina is fortunate enough to have ten vagrant species that pop in to say hello now and then. Here are the 12 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 black throat with an iridescent purple base that males have. On the other hand, 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 are 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 tiny 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. Males can even dive up to 100 feet at a time to defend their territory and show off to females during breeding time. If a wandering hummingbird tries to enter their territory, the resident bird will chase them off.
They live anywhere they can find a safe nest spot, making 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 in western North America 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 South Carolina?
Black-chinned hummingbirds visit South Carolina during the winter and early spring during the breeding season before heading to their nesting range.
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 South Carolina. 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 South Carolina?
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the only non-migratory hummingbirds in South Carolina.
You can see them most often during the breeding season throughout South Carolina, which takes place from March to July, but they might be found any time of year.
3. 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 South Carolina?
Look for them in the winter.
4. 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, so they shouldn’t be hard to see. 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 places like Arizona, New Mexico, South Carolina, 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 South Carolina?
While you may see them any time of year, you should look for them during the winter when they aren’t yet breeding.
5. 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 South Carolina?
If you live in South Carolina, it’s the non-breeding season of winter that you might be able to spot them.
6. 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 head out 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 South Carolina?
Look for this bright bird during the winter along the coast of South Carolina, and rarely in the interior of the state.
7. 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, thoug. They’re extremely aggressive and will chase off any birds that come into their area.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave South Carolina?
As with most other vagrant hummingbirds, you’ll probably see them in South Carolina during the winter.
8. 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 South Carolina. 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.
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 Texas, and it’s actively nesting and raising its young from March until August.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave South Carolina?
These birds start arriving in the fall and stick around through early winter.
9. 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 South Carolina, 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 more shy 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 South Carolina?
These tiny birds, the smallest hummingbirds in North America, might arrive in the fall and stick around through early winter.
10. 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.
When they pop up in states like South Carolina, it’s known as an “accidental” visit. It doesn’t mean that the bird didn’t know where it was going, though. It’s just a term that birders use to describe a species that visits an area where they aren’t normally seen.
When Do They Arrive In and Leave South Carolina?
There’s no telling when you might see a Mexican violetear, but watch for them primarily during the winter.
11. 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 South Carolina?
These hummingbirds aren’t common in South Carolina. They arrive in the state during the winter and they leave in the spring.
12. 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 Texas, but rarely, they will venture even further north into states such as Louisiana, Georgia, and as far as South 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 South Carolina?
Since they’re an accidental visitor to South Carolina, 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 bird species in South Carolina:
Woodpeckers in SC
Owls in SC
