Hummingbirds are found naturally only in the Americas. There are over 300 different species of hummingbirds, with the vast majority native to South America. Hummingbirds are found in a diverse range of habitats from rainforests to deserts, but they are most abundant and diverse in tropical regions.
Where are hummingbirds found in North America?
There are around 25 species of hummingbirds that live in North America north of Mexico. The most widespread species is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird which breeds across much of eastern North America and migrates to Central America for the winter. Anna’s Hummingbird and Allen’s Hummingbird are common along the Pacific Coast and some stay year-round rather than migrating. Other species such as Rufous Hummingbird and Calliope Hummingbird breed in the northwest and migrate south for winter.
Hummingbirds are found in summer across much of the United States and southern Canada in a variety of habitats including meadows, woodlands, scrub, orchards, parks and gardens. They migrate south in winter, with birds from eastern North America travelling to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean while western birds may migrate as far south as central Mexico.
Where are hummingbirds found in Central America?
Central America hosts around 150 different species of hummingbirds, many of which are endemic to small regions. Costa Rica alone is home to over 50 types of hummingbirds. Verdant tropical forests provide ideal habitat for hummingbirds in Central America. Some species are restricted to higher elevation cloud forests while others prefer lower elevation rainforests or semi-arid regions.
Central America provides important wintering grounds for millions of hummingbirds migrating from North America each year. Abundant flowers and feeding sites enable the birds to survive the winter before returning north to breed. Some southern Central American species such as the Violet-crowned Woodnymph may migrate locally to follow blooming flowers.
Where are hummingbirds found in South America?
South America has the highest diversity of hummingbirds anywhere in the world, with over 140 breeding species in Colombia alone. Tropical forests and woodlands provide optimal hummingbird habitat across much of South America. Hummingbirds can be found even in relatively arid desert and scrub regions through much of coastal Peru and Chile where flowering cacti provide abundant food.
Various Andean hummingbirds are adapted to high altitudes and cold temperatures. They breed in Andean meadows and paramo up to elevations of over 4500m. Other South American species inhabit tropical lowland rainforests in the Amazon basin and along the eastern Atlantic coast.
Among the most spectacular South American hummingbirds are the Sword-billed Hummingbird of the Andes with its unusually long bill adapted for certain flowers, and the Colorful Tufted Coquette of eastern Brazil. The Marvellous Spatuletail hummingbird of Peru has elaborate tail feathers that end in colorful rackets.
What habitats do hummingbirds occupy?
Hummingbirds occupy an extremely diverse range of habitats across the Americas including:
- Tropical rainforests
- Cloud forests
- Mangroves
- Scrub and chaparral
- Temperate broadleaf and pine forests
- Meadows and grasslands
- Alpine tundra and meadows
- Subalpine paramo
- Desert scrub
- Orchards and gardens
Key requirements for hummingbird habitats are sufficient flowers providing nectar, suitable sites for nesting, and habitat structure for perching and roosting. Hummingbirds are highly adaptable and can occupy urban areas as long as flowering plants are available.
How does elevation affect hummingbird distribution?
Elevation is a key factor influencing hummingbird distribution and community composition throughout their range. Key impacts of elevation include:
- Temperature decreases at higher elevation, limiting hummingbirds at extreme high elevations.
- Different flower species occur at varying elevations, influencing hummingbird communities.
- Forest composition changes from tropical broadleaf forest to cloud forest to elfin forest at very high elevations.
- Highest hummingbird diversity often occurs at intermediate elevations around 500-2000m.
- Some specialized high elevation hummingbird species occur above 3000m.
As a result of these effects, hummingbird communities change substantially between lowland tropical forest and higher elevation mountain sites. However, hummingbirds can occupy an incredible elevational range from sea level up to over 4500m in the Andes.
How does hummingbird distribution vary across latitude?
Latitude also greatly impacts the distribution and diversity of hummingbirds. Key trends include:
- The highest diversity occurs in equatorial regions, especially lowland tropical rainforests.
- Diversity declines steadily at higher latitudes further north and south of the equator.
- More seasonal flowering patterns at higher latitudes impact hummingbird diversity.
- Harsher winters and seasonal migrations limit range boundaries at higher latitudes.
As a result, there are around 150 hummingbird species in equatorial Colombia compared to only around 5 species as far north as Canada. The southerly range limit is approximately central Chile and Argentina where just a few species persist.
Effects of climate factors
Climate factors including temperature, rainfall patterns and seasonality have a major influence on hummingbird distribution and diversity:
- Rainfall – Hummingbirds are generally scarce in dry areas lacking flowers. However, some can occupy deserts with flowering cacti.
- Temperature – Most hummingbirds cannot survive extreme sub-zero temperatures limiting their poleward range in winter.
- Seasonality – Less seasonal tropical regions support more resident hummingbird species while migration increases in seasonal climates.
These key climate factors interact to produce the highest hummingbird species diversity in warm, aseasonal wet tropical forests and lower diversity in highly seasonal and colder habitats.
Effects of habitat disturbance
Habitat change can greatly alter hummingbird distribution patterns. Key impacts include:
- Deforestation reducing forest cover and nesting sites
- Urbanization creating fragmented local habitats
- Climate change shifting flowering patterns and ranges
- Invasive plant spread altering native nectar availability
Hummingbirds may decline severely in deforested regions lacking sufficient flowers or nest sites. Providing artificial feeders and gardens with suitable flowers can allow urban hummingbird populations to persist.
Migration patterns
Most northern hemisphere hummingbirds migrate south in winter while tropical species tend to be resident year-round. Key migration patterns include:
- Ruby-throated Hummingbirds breeding in eastern North America fly across the Gulf of Mexico to Mexico and Central America.
- Rufous Hummingbirds nesting in northwest North America migrate down the Pacific Coast to winter in Mexico.
- Allen’s and Anna’s Hummingbirds can be resident along the California coast but migrate inland and to Mexico/Arizona.
- Costa Rican Violet-tailed Sylphs may move locally between highlands and lowlands following flower resources.
Southward migration allows breeding range expansion in summer while tropical wintering habitat provides sufficient food for northern migrants. Some altitudinal migration also occurs such as Andean hillstar hummingbirds moving downslope in winter.
What threats do hummingbirds face?
Major threats to hummingbird populations and distribution include:
- Habitat loss from deforestation of tropical forests for agriculture, ranching, logging and development
- Climate change altering flower patterns, impacting migration and enabling disease spread
- Invasive species disrupting native plant communities and food sources
- Pesticide use reducing insect prey populations for food
- Uncontrolled capture for the pet trade
However, hummingbirds remain widespread and common across much of their range due to their ability to occupy diverse habitats if sufficient flowers are available.
Key regional highlights
Notable hummingbird diversity hotspots and key species include:
Colombia and Ecuador
- Over 140 species in Colombia
- Gorgeted Puffleg – Critically endangered species endemic to southwest Colombia
- Esmeraldas Woodstar – Endangered Ecuador endemic
- Purple-bibbed Whitetip – Widespread lowland rainforest canopy species
Peru
- Marvellous Spatuletail – Elaborate tailed species of north Peru
- Koepcke’s Hermit – Endangered species known from only a few remote sites
- Long-tailed Sylph – Widespread across Peruvian cloud forests
Bolivia
- Red-tailed Comet – Endemic to Bolivia and Argentina
- Dusky Starfrontlet – Polylepis woodland specialist
- Giant Hummingbird – World’s largest hummingbird at over 20cm long
Brazil and Paraguay
- Swallow-tailed Hummingbird – Most easterly distributed hummingbird
- Black Jacobin – Widespread pollinator of brushland flowers
- Planalto Hermit – Endangered highland Atlantic Forest endemic
Conclusion
In summary, hummingbirds are found only in the Americas in a diverse range of habitats from tropical lowlands to high mountain peaks. The highest diversity occurs in equatorial South America, especially Andean regions and lowland rainforests. North America hosts breeding hummingbirds in summer across much of the continent, but most migrate to tropical regions in winter. Habitat disturbance, climate change and invasive species threaten some hummingbird populations, but many remain widespread and abundant in both natural and urban areas where sufficient flowers exist.
