Hummingbirds Found in Colorado: (Pictures and Sounds)

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

Which species of Colorado hummingbirds are found in the state?

Broad-tailed, Black-chinned, Rufous, Calliope, Anna’s, Ruby-throated, Rivoli’s, Costa’s, Broad-billed, Blue-throated Mountain-gem, White-eared, and Mexican Violetear hummingbirds, are the 12 species documented as seen in Colorado listed in order of frequency seen.

Sighting Maps:

These 12 species of hummingbirds are documented as being seen in Colorado by sighting maps, listed in the order of frequently seen:

• Broad-tailed – (Selsaphoris platycercus)
• Black-chinned – (Archilochus alexandri)
• Rufous – (Selasphorus rufus)
• Calliope – (Selasphorus calliope)
• Anna’s – (Calypte anna)
• Ruby-throated – (Archilochus colubris)
• Rivoli’s (Magnificent) – (Eugenes fulgens)
• Costa’s – (Calypte costae)
• Broad-billed – (Cynanthus latirostris)
• Blue-throated Mt-Gem – (Lampornis clemenciae)
• White-eared – (Hylocharis leucotis)
• Mexican Violetear – (Colibri thalassinus)

These 12 hummingbird species found in Colorado are further classified into three groups:
Year-round residents, Seasonal visitors, and Rare/Vagrant visitors.

Hummingbird:	Year-Round, Seasonal, Rare/Vagrant
Broad-tailed	Seasonal
Black-chinned	Seasonal
Rufous	Seasonal
Calliope	Seasonal
Anna’s	Rare/Vagrant
Ruby-throated	Rare/Vagrant
Rivoli’s	Rare/Vagrant
Costa’s	Rare/Vagrant
Broad-billed	Rare/Vagrant
Blue-throated Mt-gem	Rare/Vagrant
White-eared	Rare/Vagrant
Mexican Violetear	Rare/Vagrant

Colorado, known as The Centennial State, has two hummingbird species that breeds in Colorado, which is the Broad-tailed and Black-chinned hummingbirds.

For more information on Colorado hummingbirds:
Read my article:
Hummingbird Migration in Colorado

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

Year-Round Colorado Hummingbirds:

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

Colorado winters are too cold and harsh for hummingbirds to survive year-round, therefore they migrate south for the winter.
However, some hummingbirds can choose to overwinter in Colorado even though it is rare.

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

Seasonal Colorado Hummingbirds:

The Broad-tailed, Black-chinned, Rufous, and Calliope hummingbirds are the 4 classified seasonal Colorado hummingbirds.

Hummingbirds that fit within this category are those that temporality pass through Colorado 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 Colorado for the entire winter by choice, injury, or old age, although rare.

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

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, though usually residing in Mexico and as far south as Guatemala during the winter, is a common summer breeding resident and the number one seasonal migrant to Colorado.

Sightings map show Broad-tailed hummingbirds have documented sightings in all areas of Colorado.

For more pictures and information on Broad-tailed hummingbirds.

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 lives across the western United States, Mexico, and Canada.
It is a common summer breeding resident and the second most commonly seen seasonal migrant in Colorado.

Sighting map show Black-chinned hummingbirds have documented sightings in every area of Colorado.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture Colorado (USDA), the Black-chinned hummingbird breeds, nests, and raises their families in Colorado.

For more pictures and information on Black-chinned hummingbirds.

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 that travel through Colorado to their preferred nesting location.
They breed in the north from southern Alaska and most travel all the way south to winter in Mexico.

They are the third most commonly seen seasonal hummingbird in Colorado, however they do not breed in Colorado.

Sightings map show the Rufous hummingbirds have documented sightings in every area of Colorado. 

For more pictures and information on Rufous hummingbirds.

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 migrating seasonal species to Colorado.
They breed in the north from southern Alaska and most travel all the way south to winter in Mexico.

Sightings map show the Calliope hummingbirds have documented sightings in every area of Colorado.

For more pictures and information on Calliope hummingbirds.

Rare/Vagrant Hummingbirds In Colorado:

Anna’s, Ruby-throated, Rivoli’s, Costa’s, Broad-billed, Blue-throated Mt-gem, White-eared, and Mexican Violetear hummingbirds are the 8 Colorado 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 Colorado.

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 year-round residents to Washington, Oregon and California. They live along the western coastline of North America, starting from southern Canada all the way to northern Baja California.
They are a rare visitor to Colorado since they are seen mainly in the Western United States.

Sightings map show Anna’s hummingbirds have documented sightings in Colorado in Fort Collins, Greeley, Boulder, Denver, Aurora, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Trinidad, Durango, and Grand Junction.

For more pictures and information on Anna’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 main residence is mostly in the Midwest and on the east coast of the United States, therefore making them rare/vagrants to Colorado.

Sightings map show the Ruby-throated hummingbirds have documented Colorado sightings along Interstate 76, Fort Collins, Greeley, Boulder, Denver, Aurora, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Burlington, and Lamar.

For more pictures and information on Ruby-throated hummingbirds.

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, making them rare/vagrants to Colorado.

Sightings map document the Rivoli’s hummingbird to have documented Colorado sightings in areas of Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs, Walsenburg, Pagosa Springs, Durango, Grand Mesa, and Grand Junction.

For more pictures and information on Rivoli’s hummingbirds.

COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD – (Calypte costae)

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

The Costa’s hummingbird, though usually residing in Mexico and as far south as Guatemala during the winter, is a rare accidental vagrant hummingbird to Colorado.

Sightings map show Costa’s hummingbirds have documented Colorado sightings in the areas of Pawnee National Grassland, Fort Collins, Denver, Grand Junction, Colorado Springs, and north of Walsenburg.

For more pictures and information on Costa’s 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 travel frequently to the United States close to the southern Mexican border and are rare accidental vagrants to Colorado.

Sightings map shows the Broad-billed hummingbirds have rare documented Colorado sightings south of Lamar and in Grand Junction.

For more pictures and information on Broad-billed hummingbirds.

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.
They are considered an extremely rare accidental vagrant to Colorado.

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

For more pictures and information on Blue-throated Mountain-gem 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, however are an extremely rare accidental vagrant to Colorado. 

Sightings map show the White-eared hummingbirds have rare documented sightings in Durango Colorado, near the New Mexico border. 

For more pictures and information on White-eared 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 Colorado.

Sightings map document the Mexican-violetear hummingbirds to have one documented Colorado sightings in the Durango near the New Mexico border.

For more pictures and information on Mexican Violetear hummingbirds.

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

See my article:
Hummingbird Migration in Colorado

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions

Happy Hummingbird Watching!