Hummingbirds Found in Arizona: (Pictures and Sounds)

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

Which species of Arizona hummingbirds are found in the state?

Anna’s, Broad-billed, Black-chinned, Costa’s, Broad-tailed, Rivoli’s, Rufous, Violet-crowned, Blue-throated Mt-gem, Calliope, Lucifer, Berylline, White-eared, Plain-capped Starthroat, Allen’s, Ruby-throated, and Cinnamon hummingbirds are the 17 species documented as seen in Arizona, listed in order of frequency seen.

Sighting Maps:

These 17 species of hummingbirds are documented as being seen in Arizona by sighting maps, listed in the order of frequently seen:

• Anna’s – (Calypte anna)
• Broad-billed – (Cynanthus latirostris)
• Black-chinned – (Archilochus alexandri)
• Costa’s – (Calypte costae)
• Broad-tailed – (Selsaphoris platycercus)
• Rivoli’s – (Eugenes fulgens)
• Rufous – (Selasphorus rufus)
• Violet-crowned – (Ramosomyia violiceps)
• Blue-throated Mt-gem –
  (Lampornis clemenciae)
• Calliope – (Selasphorus calliope)
• Lucifer – (Calothorax lucifer)
• Berylline – (Saucerottia beryllina)
• White-eared – (Basilinna leucotis)
• Plain-capped Starthroat –
  (Heliomaster constantii)
• Allen’s – (Selasphorus sasin)
• Ruby-throated – (Archilochus colubris)
• Cinnamon – (Amazilia rutila)

These 17 hummingbird species found in Arizona are further classified into three groups:
Year-round residents, Seasonal, and Rare/Vagrant visitors.

Hummingbird:	Year-Round, Seasonal, Rare/Vagrant
Anna’s	Year-Round
Costa’s	Year-Round
Broad-billed	Seasonal
Black-chinned	Seasonal
Broad-tailed	Seasonal
Rivoli’s	Seasonal
Rufous	Seasonal
Violet-crowned	Seasonal
Blue-throated Mt-gem	Seasonal
Calliope	Seasonal
Lucifer	Seasonal
Berylline	Seasonal
White-eared	Seasonal
Plain-capped Starthroat	Seasonal
Allen’s	Rare/Vagrant
Ruby-throated	Rare/Vagrant
Cinnamon	Rare/Vagrant

The people of Arizona who love hummingbirds know to visit Ramsey Canyon Preserve, also known as the “Hummingbird Headquarters” of the United States.

RCP is located in southeastern Arizona close to the border of Mexico.
This grand diverse ecosystem is home to an array of plant and animal habitats.
The Rivioli’s and Anna’s hummingbirds are commonly seen here.

Arizona, known as The Copper State or The Grand Canyon State, is home to two species of hummingbirds out of the seventeen species listed for this state, the Anna’s and Costa’s hummingbird.

The climate of Arizona is semi-arid to semi-arid tropical and is an environment that sustains large vegetational forests with minimal rainfall.
It is a step up from a desert climate.
Plants that live in these regions include grasses, small shrubs with thorny branches or succulents that retain water.

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

Year-Round Arizona Hummingbirds:

The Anna’s and Costa’s hummingbirds are classified as year-round residents in Arizona.
This hummingbird classification is defined as hummingbirds that are year-round residents residing in Arizona 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

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

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 Pacific West Coast of North America.

Anna’s hummingbirds are the number one hummingbird seen year-round, overwinter and breed in Arizona.

According to United States Department of Agriculture Arizona (USDA), the Anna’s hummingbird is the earliest bird to breed and nest in Arizona.

See the current sighting map of Anna’s hummingbirds in Arizona.

For more pictures and information on Anna’s hummingbirds.

All three Anna’s photos above, taken in
Hassayampa River Preserve, Arizona.

COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD – (Calypte costae)

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

Costa’s hummingbirds are predominantly a southwestern bird found in the corners of California, Nevada, Arizona, and Mexico; they are the fourth most commonly seen hummingbird in the state, however are considered a year-round resident to Arizona.

Costa’s hummingbirds are the second hummingbird seen year-round, overwinter and breed in Arizona.

Breeding map for Costa’s hummingbirds that breed and nest in Arizona, reported by ebird.org

See the current sighting map of Costa’s hummingbirds in Arizona.

For more pictures and information on Costa’s hummingbirds.

Taken: Surprise, Arizona

Taken: Arizona

Taken: Surprise, Arizona

Taken: Surprise, Arizona

Photo: Madera Canyon, Arizona

Taken: Surprise, Arizona

Taken: Surprise, Arizona

Taken: Surprise, Arizona

Seasonal Arizona Hummingbirds:

The Broad-billed, Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, Rivoli’s, Rufous, Violet-crowned, Blue-throated Mt-gem, Calliope, Lucifer, Berylline, White-eared, and Plain-capped Starthroat hummingbirds are the 12 classified seasonal Arizona hummingbirds.

Hummingbirds that fit within this category are those that temporality pass through Arizona 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 Arizona 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 Arizona.

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 travel frequently to the United States close to the southern Mexican border and are a seasonal hummingbird to Arizona.

Arriving in late March, Broad-billed hummingbirds usually migrate south by October.
They are seen in southeastern Arizona in Sierra Vista, Patagonia, Madera Canyon, and Tucson.

Breeding map for Broad-billed hummingbirds that breed and nest in Arizona, reported by ebird.org

See the current sighting map of Broad-billed hummingbirds in Arizona.

For more pictures and information on Broad-billed hummingbirds.

Taken: Madera Canyon, Arizona

Taken: Madera Canyon, Arizona

Taken: Madera Canyon, Arizona

BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD – (Archilochus alexandri)

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

The Black-chinned hummingbird is a migratory bird that breeds as far north as Canada, the western United States, and as south as Mexico.
They are a seasonal breeding visitor to Arizona.

Breeding map for Black-chinned hummingbirds that breed and nest in Arizona, reported by ebird.org

See the current sighting map of the Black-chinned hummingbird in Arizona.

For more pictures and information on Black-chinned hummingbirds.

Taken: Hassayampa River Preserve, Arizona

Taken: Madera Canyon, Arizona

Taken: Hassayampa River Preserve, Arizona

Taken: Sedona, Arizona

BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD – (Selsaphoris platycercus)

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

The Broad-tailed hummingbird travels frequently to the United States near the southern Mexican border.
They usually reside in Mexico and as far south as Guatemala during the winter, however, travel north to breed in Arizona.

Breeding map for Broad-tailed hummingbirds that breed and nest in Arizona, reported by ebird.org

See the current sighting map of Broad-tailed hummingbirds in Arizona.

For more pictures and information on Broad-tailed hummingbirds.

Taken: Ramsey Canyon Inn B & B, Arizona

RIVOLI’S HUMMINGBIRD aka MAGNIFICENT – (Eugenes fulgens)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Eugenes
Species: E. fulgens

The Rivoli’s hummingbird (pronounced: rivo-lee), previously known as the Magnificent hummingbird, primarily inhabits mountainous regions of the southwestern United States (southern Arizona and New Mexico) through Mexico and all the way down to Nicaragua in Central America.

The Rivoli’s is a seasonal hummingbird to Arizona although occasionally overwinter in the state.

Breeding map for Rivoli’s hummingbirds that breed and nest in Arizona, reported by ebird.org

See the current sighting map of Rivoli’s hummingbirds in Arizona.

For more pictures and information on Rivoli’s hummingbirds.

Taken: Ramsey Canyon Inn B & B, Arizona

Taken: Madera Canyon, Arizona

Taken: Madera Canyon, Arizona

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 seasonal species.
They breed in the north from southern Alaska and most travel through Arizona in July through September all the way south to winter in Mexico.

See my article:
Hummingbird Migration in Arizona

The Rufous is a seasonal hummingbird to Arizona although occasionally overwinter in the state.

See the current sighting map of Rufous hummingbirds in Arizona.

For more pictures and information on Rufous hummingbirds.

Taken: Hassayampa River Preserve, Arizona

VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD – (Amazilia voliceps)

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

The Violet-crowned hummingbird lives primarily in Mexico and parts of Central America, extending into parts of Guatemala and Honduras.
Some populations also extend into the southern United States of Arizona, New Mexico, and California.

In the United States, Violet-crowned hummingbirds are found in southeastern Arizona, particularly in riparian areas such as those along the San Pedro and Santa Cruz Rivers. 

Violet-crowned hummingbirds are seen breeding and occasionally overwintering in Arizona.

Breeding map for Violet-crowned hummingbirds that breed and nest in Arizona, reported by ebird.org

See the current sighting map of Violet-crowned hummingbirds in Arizona.

Taken: Ramsey Canyon Preserve, Arizona

Taken: Arizona

BLUE-THROATED MOUNTAIN-GEM HUMMINGBIRD
aka BLUE-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD – (Lampornis clemenciae)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Lampornis
Species: L. clemenciae

The Blue-throated Mountain-gem aka Blue-throated hummingbird, primarily resides in Mexico and Central America.
Their range extends into parts of Guatemala and Honduras and are seasonal visitors to Arizona.

They are also seen in the southwestern United States in clusters along the southern border near Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, particularly in mountainous areas with pine-oak forests or riparian woodlands.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture Arizona (UDSA), the Blue-throated Mt-gem hummingbird nests in southeastern Arizona in the Huachuca, Santa Rita, and Chiricahua Mountains.
They are known to have three broods per year; one in late April, second in early June and the third in late July.

See the current sighting map of Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbirds in Arizona.

For more pictures and information on Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbirds.

Taken: Portal, Arizona

Taken: Portal, Arizona

CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD – (Selasphorus calliope)

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

Calliope hummingbirds are located in western North America and are a seasonal migrating species to Arizona.
They pass through in spring and fall, mainly in the mountains with higher elevations. They are a late summer migrant, leaving Arizona by September. The rest of the time they winter in Mexico.

See the current sighting map of the Calliope hummingbird in Arizona.

For more pictures and information on Calliope hummingbirds.

LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD – (Calothorax lucifer)

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

Lucifer hummingbirds are primarily found in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America. 

They are occasionally seen in southwestern Texas, southern New Mexico, and southeastern Arizona during the summer months to breed.

Breeding map for Lucifer hummingbirds that breed and nest in Arizona, reported by ebird.org

According to the United States Department of Agriculture Arizona (UDSA), the Lucifer hummingbird nests and is a rare breeder to southern Arizona in the Santa Rita, Chiricahua, and Swisshelm Mountains.

See the current sighting map of Lucifer hummingbirds in Arizona.

For more pictures and information on Lucifer hummingbirds.

Taken: Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary, Arizona

Taken: Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary, Arizona

BERYLLINE HUMMINGBIRD – (Amazilia beryllina)

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

The Berylline hummingbird (pronounced: berra-line) is a striking species of hummingbird found primarily in Mexico and as far south as Honduras.
They are a seasonal hummingbird to Arizona.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture Arizona (UDSA), the Berylline hummingbird is a rare breeder to southeastern Arizona.
They commonly nest during the monsoon season from late June to mid-August.

The Berylline hummingbird can occasionally overwinter in Arizona reported by ebird.org

See the current sighting map of Berylline hummingbirds in Arizona.

For more pictures and information on Berylline hummingbirds.

WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD – (Basilinna leucotis)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Basilinna
Species: B. leucotis

The White-eared hummingbird resides from Nicaragua in Central America all the way up to northern Mexico.
They occasionally breed in the southwestern United States in New Mexico and Texas.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture Arizona (UDSA), the White-eared hummingbird are irregular summer visitors that breed in southeastern Arizona in the Huachuca and Chiricahua Mountains.

Breeding map for White-eared hummingbirds that breed and nest in Arizona, reported by ebird.org

See the current sighting map of White-eared hummingbirds in Arizona.

For more pictures and information on White-eared hummingbirds.

Taken: Miller Canyon, Arizona

PLAIN-CAPPED STARTHROAT HUMMINGBIRD –
(Heliomaster constantii)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Heliomaster
Species: H. constantii

The Plain-capped Starthroat is a species of hummingbird native to Mexico and Central America including Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, with some populations extending into the southern United States.

Plain-capped Starthroat hummingbirds are a seasonal bird and are occasionally seen in the United States during the summer months and in southern parts of Arizona.

See the current sighting map of Plain-capped Starthroat hummingbirds in Arizona.

For more pictures and information on Plain-capped Starthroat hummingbirds.

Rare/Vagrant Hummingbirds In Arizona:

Allen’s, Ruby-throated, and Cinnamon hummingbirds are the 3 Arizona 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 as well as where and when they can be found in Arizona.

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, therefore, they are rare/vagrant migratory visitors to Arizona.

See the current sighting map of Allen’s hummingbirds in Arizona.

For more pictures and information on Allen’s hummingbirds.

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 are extremely rare/vagrants to Arizona since their main residence is mostly in the Midwest and on the east coast.

See the current sighting map of Ruby-throated hummingbirds in Arizona.

For more pictures and information on Ruby-throated hummingbirds.

CINNAMON HUMMINGBIRD – (Amazilia rutila)

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

The Cinnamon hummingbird is native to Central America and parts of Mexico.
Its range extends from southern Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.
They are occasionally seen in the southwestern United States border of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

See the current sighting map of Cinnamon hummingbirds in Arizona.

For more pictures and information on Cinnamon hummingbirds.

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

Leucistic Hummingbirds in Arizona

Leucistic hummingbirds are a form of albinism producing less pigment in color and displaying patchy or irregular colorations of grey, brown, tan or beige than pure albino hummingbirds.

Unlike true albino hummingbirds, which lack all melanin and have pink eyes, leucistic individuals display varying degrees of white plumage with black eyes.

Rare leucistic hummingbirds sightings are infrequent in general, however some are witnessed in Arizona.
Below are some documented sightings.

All three photos were taken in
Tempe, Arizona.

To learn more about the differences between Albino and Leucistic hummingbirds
See my article:
Are There White Hummingbirds?

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions

Happy Hummingbird Watching!

For any ill, injured or distressed hummingbirds in Phoenix, Arizona contact:

Liberty Wildlife
2600 E. Elwood St
Phoenix, Arizona 85040
Phone: (480) 998-5550