Are hummingbirds in all 50 states?

Hummingbirds are some of the most fascinating birds found in nature. Known for their incredibly fast wing beats, hummingbirds are able to hover in midair and fly backwards – feats no other birds can accomplish. Their small size and dazzling iridescent colors also make hummingbirds a delight to observe. With over 300 different species found throughout the Americas, hummingbirds are ubiquitous in many habitats from tropical rainforests to high mountain meadows. But are these tiny birds found in every one of the 50 United States? The short answer is no, hummingbirds are not found in all 50 US states. However, they are found in a majority of states and some species have tremendously broad ranges stretching thousands of miles. Read on to learn more about the range and distribution of hummingbirds across the United States.

Hummingbird Range and Distribution in the US

Hummingbirds are New World birds, meaning they are found exclusively in the Western Hemisphere. Of the 328 recognized hummingbird species, only 8 regularly breed in the United States. These include Anna’s hummingbird, ruby-throated hummingbird, black-chinned hummingbird, broad-tailed hummingbird, rufous hummingbird, calliope hummingbird, broad-billed hummingbird, and magenta-throated woodstar. The ranges of these species vary greatly, with some like the ruby-throated hummingbird breeding in Eastern states and others like the magenta-throated woodstar limited to just a couple Southwest desert states.

Here is a breakdown of the general hummingbird species and range for different regions of the United States:

Northeastern States:

– Ruby-throated hummingbird – breeds in all Northeastern states from Maine to New York and south to Virginia

Southeastern States:

– Ruby-throated hummingbird – breeds in all Southeastern states from Virginia to Florida and west to Louisiana
– Rufous hummingbird – rare winter visitor along Gulf Coast

Midwestern States:

– Ruby-throated hummingbird – breeds in Midwest up to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois
– Rufous hummingbird – migrates through Midwest in spring and fall
– Calliope hummingbird – rare migrant in western Midwest

South Central States:

– Ruby-throated hummingbird – eastern Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas
– Black-chinned hummingbird – breeds in western Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming
– Broad-tailed hummingbird – breeds in New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming
– Rufous hummingbird – migrates through Texas, Oklahoma

Western States:

– Anna’s hummingbird – year-round resident along Pacific Coast and Southwest
– Costa’s hummingbird – year-round resident in Southwest deserts
– Rufous hummingbird – breeds in Pacific Northwest, winters in Southwest
– Calliope hummingbird – breeds in mountain states
– Broad-tailed hummingbird – breeds in mountain states
– Magnificent hummingbird – southwestern Arizona and New Mexico

This covers the major hummingbird species found in different regions, but there are a few other vagrant species that may rarely appear in certain states far from their typical range. Next we’ll take a detailed look at which states specifically have regular native breeding hummingbirds.

Which States Have Breeding Hummingbirds?

When we look specifically at which US states have regular, native breeding hummingbirds, we find that hummingbirds nest in a majority of states but they are absent as breeders from some Northern and central states.

Here is a list of the US states that have breeding hummingbirds and the common species:

States with breeding hummingbirds:

– Alabama – ruby-throated
– Alaska – rufous
– Arizona – Costa’s, Anna’s, broad-tailed, black-chinned, magnificent, blue-throated, lucifer, rufous
– Arkansas – ruby-throated
– California – Anna’s, Costa’s, rufous, calliope, broad-tailed, black-chinned
– Colorado – broad-tailed, rufous, calliope
– Connecticut – ruby-throated
– Delaware – ruby-throated
– Florida – ruby-throated
– Georgia – ruby-throated
– Idaho – rufous, calliope, broad-tailed, black-chinned
– Indiana – ruby-throated
– Kansas – ruby-throated
– Kentucky – ruby-throated
– Louisiana – ruby-throated
– Maine – ruby-throated
– Maryland – ruby-throated
– Massachusetts – ruby-throated
– Michigan – ruby-throated
– Minnesota – ruby-throated, calliope
– Mississippi – ruby-throated
– Missouri – ruby-throated
– Montana – rufous, calliope, broad-tailed, black-chinned
– Nebraska – ruby-throated
– Nevada – broad-tailed, black-chinned, Anna’s, Costa’s
– New Hampshire – ruby-throated
– New Mexico – broad-tailed, magnificent, Lucifer, blue-throated, rufous, calliope, Anna’s, black-chinned
– New York – ruby-throated
– North Carolina – ruby-throated
– North Dakota – ruby-throated
– Ohio – ruby-throated
– Oklahoma – ruby-throated, black-chinned
– Oregon – rufous, Anna’s, broad-tailed, black-chinned, calliope
– Pennsylvania – ruby-throated
– Rhode Island – ruby-throated
– South Carolina – ruby-throated
– South Dakota – ruby-throated
– Tennessee – ruby-throated
– Texas – ruby-throated, black-chinned, buff-bellied, broad-billed, Anna’s
– Utah – broad-tailed, black-chinned, calliope, rufous
– Vermont – ruby-throated
– Virginia – ruby-throated
– Washington – rufous, Anna’s, black-chinned, calliope
– West Virginia – ruby-throated
– Wisconsin – ruby-throated
– Wyoming – broad-tailed, rufous, calliope

States without breeding hummingbirds:

– Hawaii – no native hummingbirds
– Illinois – no breeding, occasional rare migrant
– Iowa – no breeding, rare migrant
– New Jersey – no breeding, occasional migrant

This summary shows that a majority of US states, 46 out of 50, have regular native breeding hummingbird species. The four states without breeding hummingbirds are clustered in the Northeastern US and Upper Midwest, largely due to being beyond the northern limit of where hummingbirds can reliably nest and find enough food during the short summer season. However, even these states occasionally see wandering vagrant hummingbirds during migration or winter.

Next let’s look at a table summarizing the common breeding hummingbirds across the United States.

Table of Common Breeding Hummingbirds by State

This table summarizes the most widespread breeding hummingbird species found in each state. The ruby-throated hummingbird stands out as the predominant species of the Eastern US. In the West, Anna’s, Costa’s, broad-tailed, rufous, and black-chinned hummingbirds make up the common breeding species. New Mexico is the only state with 8 regular breeding hummingbirds. Overall, the diversity increases as you move west, with hotspots like Arizona and New Mexico having up to a dozen species either breeding or occurring regularly.

Do Hummingbirds Live in Hawaii?

Hawaii is the only state that does not have any native breeding hummingbird species. There are no hummingbirds naturally found anywhere in Hawaii or on other Pacific islands. Hummingbirds evolved in the Americas and were never able to colonize remote Pacific islands. However, a few vagrant hummingbird species from North America have shown up in Hawaii over the years, likely after being blown severely off course during migration over the ocean. Species like the rufous hummingbird and Allen’s hummingbird have been sighted multiple times in Hawaii but there are no established populations. So in essence, Hawaii has no native hummingbirds but once in a great while a lost vagrant hummingbird ends up in the state after an epic journey across the Pacific.

Conclusion

In summary, while hummingbirds are found in the majority of US states, they are not quite ubiquitous across every single state. The main limitations are the harsh winters and short summers of the extreme Northern states and isolation from the mainland of tropical Hawaii. However, hummingbirds have adapted to an incredibly diverse array of habitats and climates, ranging from sweltering deserts to high mountain peaks. Their ability to fly great distances along migration routes and disperse to new areas has allowed them to thrive across most of North and Central America. Continued habitat conservation will hopefully ensure hummingbirds remain a vibrant part of ecosystems and culture across the United States for generations to come. Whether it’s the dazzling ruby-throated hummingbird gracing Eastern gardens or the feisty rufous hummingbird defending mountain meadows out West, hummingbirds provide fascination and joy to people across most of the fifty states.