8 Hummingbirds Found in Wisconsin: (Pictures and Sounds)

This article identifies and describes Wisconsin hummingbirds, where in Wisconsin they are seen, and whether they are year-round, seasonal, or rare vagrant residents.

Wisconsin, known as The Badger State, have 8 species of hummingbirds found in this state.

Which species of Wisconsin hummingbirds are found in the state?

Ruby-throated, Rufous, Anna’s, Allen’s, Green-breasted Mango, Broad-billed, Mexican Violetear, and Buff-bellied hummingbirds are the 8 species documented as seen in Wisconsin listed in order of frequency seen.

Sighting Maps:

These 8 species of hummingbirds are documented as being seen in Wisconsin by sighting maps, listed in the order of frequently seen:

• Ruby-throated (Archilochus colubris)
• Rufous (Selasphorus rufus)
• Anna’s (Calypte anna)
• Allen’s (Selasphorus sasin)
• Green-breasted Mango (Anthracothorax prevostii)
• Broad-billed (Cynanthus latirostris)
• Mexican Violetear (Colibri thalassinus)
• Buff-bellied (Amazilia yucatanensis)

These 8 hummingbirds species found in Wisconsin are further classified into three groups:
Year-round residents, Seasonal, and Rare/Vagrant visitors.

Hummingbird:	Year-Round, Seasonal, Rare/Vagrant
Ruby-throated	Seasonal
Rufous	Rare/Vagrant
Anna’s	Rare/Vagrant
Allen’s	Rare/Vagrant
Green-breasted Mango	Rare/Vagrant
Broad-billed	Rare/Vagrant
Mexican Violetear	Rare/Vagrant
Buff-bellied	Rare/Vagrant

For more information on Wisconsin hummingbirds:
See my article:
Hummingbird Migration in Wisconsin

Read on to find out more about each of these hummingbird species as well as where and when they can be found in Wisconsin.

Year-Round Wisconsin Hummingbirds:

There are no hummingbirds classified as year-round residents in Wisconsin.
This hummingbird classification is defined as hummingbirds that are year-round residents residing in Wisconsin 365 days a year and do not migrate.

Contrary to popular belief, hummingbirds can withstand far lower temperatures than most people would expect.

Some banded hummingbirds have been observed at temperatures as low as -9 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill of -36 degrees Fahrenheit, according to eBird.org.

See my article:
3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded

Hummingbirds that are too old or injured to migrate will be the only hummingbirds seen in Wisconsin in the winter.

Seasonal Wisconsin Hummingbirds:

The Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only classified seasonal Wisconsin hummingbird.
Hummingbirds that fit within this category are those that temporality pass through Wisconsin as part of their migratory pattern during spring and fall migration.

Hummingbirds move south to spend the winter in Mexico and Central America in the fall, after migrating north in the spring to reproduce.

Some seasonal hummingbirds will remain in Wisconsin for the entire winter by choice, injury, or old age.

Read on to find out more about each of these hummingbird species as well as where and when they can be found in Wisconsin.

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD – (Archilochus colubris)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Archilochus
Species: A. colubris

Ruby-throated hummingbirds main residence is mostly in the Midwest and on the east coast of the United States, therefore they are the most commonly seen hummingbird in Wisconsin.

According to eBird.org, the Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only one that breeds and nests in Wisconsin; all other hummingbirds seen in Wisconsin are just passing through to their nesting destination.

Sightings map documents the Ruby-throated hummingbird is seen in every area of Wisconsin.

For more pictures and information on Ruby-throated hummingbirds.

Note: All Ruby-throated photos below taken in Marquette County, Wisconsin

Rare/Vagrant Hummingbirds In Wisconsin:

Rufous, Anna’s, Allen’s, Green-breasted Mango, Broad-billed, Mexican Violetear, and Buff-bellied hummingbirds are the 7 Wisconsin hummingbirds classified as rare or vagrant listed in order of frequency seen.

This hummingbird classification is defined as hummingbirds residing in a group outside of their normal geographic range.

Not only do these species of hummingbirds have a wide variety of specific geographic ranges, but they are also known to sometimes interbreed with each other creating hybrids.

Read on to find out more about each of these hummingbird species in Wisconsin.

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD – (Selasphorus rufus)

Conservation Status: Near threatened
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Selasphorus
Species: S. rufous

Rufous hummingbirds are located in western North America and are a migrating species.
They are a rare/vagrant visitor to Wisconsin and are seen mainly in the Western United States.

They are the second most commonly seen hummingbird in Wisconsin, behind the Ruby-throated hummingbird, even though there is a vast difference in sighting numbers between the two species.

Sightings map show the Rufous hummingbirds have documented Wisconsin sightings in the areas of Ashland, Rhinelander, Eau Claire, Stevens Point, Green Bay, Appleton, Wisconsin Dells, Madison, Janesville, and Kenosha.

For more pictures and information on Rufous hummingbirds.

ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD – (Calypte anna) 

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Calypte
Species: C. anna

The Anna’s hummingbirds are seen from Alaska and southern Canada to Washington, Oregon, California, Baja, and into the southwestern regions of Arizona and neighboring states.
They are primarily found on the west coast of North America and are rare/vagrant visitors to Wisconsin.

Sightings map show Anna’s hummingbirds have documented sightings in Wisconsin in areas of Appleton, Madison, and Milwaukee.

For more pictures and information on Anna’s hummingbirds.

ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD – (Selasphorus sasin)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Selasphorus
Species: S. sasin

Allen’s hummingbirds commonly reside and nest along the West Coast of the United States and winter in Mexico.
However, some continue their migration and wander farther north into Wisconsin, south into Texas and continue their journey as far as Florida being noted as rare migrants.

Sightings map document the Allen’s hummingbird to have documented rare sightings in southern Wisconsin, south of Madison.

For more pictures and information on Allen’s hummingbirds.

GREEN-BREASTED MANGO – (Anthracothorax prevostii)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Anthracothorax
Species: A. prevostii

The Green-breasted Mango hummingbird is seen on the eastern shores of Colombia, Venezuela, Central America, and central and southern Mexico.
They are extremely rare visitors to Wisconsin.

Sightings map show Green-breasted Mango hummingbirds have documented sightings in Wisconsin, north of Rockford. 

For more pictures and information on Green-breasted Mango hummingbirds.

BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD –
(Cynanthus latirostris)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Cynanthus
Species: C. latirostris

Broad-billed hummingbirds are native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, and down into Central America.
They do travel frequently to the United States near the southern Mexican border, however, most of their population stays year-round in Mexico and Central America.

They are extremely rare to see in Wisconsin.

Sightings map shows the Broad-billed hummingbirds have documented Wisconsin sightings in the areas of Appleton, north east of Madison, and Milwaukee.

For more pictures and information on Broad-billed hummingbirds.

MEXICAN VIOLETEAR
(aka GREEN VIOLETEAR) HUMMINGBIRD – (Colibri thalassinus)  

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Colibri
Species: C. thalassinus

The Mexican Violetear (Violet-ear) or the Green-Violetear hummingbird are usually found in Mexico, Central America, and northern South America, making them an extremely rare/accidental visitor to Wisconsin. 

Sightings map document the Mexican-Violetear hummingbirds to have documented Wisconsin sightings north of Rockford.

For more pictures and information on Mexican Violetear hummingbirds.

BUFF-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD – (Amazilia yucatanensis)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Amazilia
Species: A. yucatanensis

Buff-bellied hummingbirds are primarily found in Mexico and Central America.
They are frequently observed along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico in the southern United States and are an extremely rare/accidental visitor to Wisconsin. 

Sightings map documents only 1 rare sighting of the Buff-bellied hummingbird in Wisconsin, north of Milwaukee.

For more pictures and information on Buff-bellied hummingbirds.

Keep your eyes peeled and observe and enjoy the multiple types of hummingbirds found in Wisconsin!

See my article:
Hummingbird Migration in Wisconsin

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions

Happy Hummingbird Watching!