Hummingbirds Found in Georgia: (Pictures and Sounds)

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

What species of Georgia hummingbirds are found in the state?

Ruby-throated, Rufous, Calliope, Black-chinned, Buff-bellied, Allen’s, Broad-billed, Broad-tailed, Green-breasted Mango, Anna’s, Rivoli’s, and Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbirds are the 12 species documented as seen in Georgia listed in order of frequency seen.

Sighting Maps:

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

• Ruby-throated (Archilochus colubris)
• Rufous (Selasphorus rufus)
• Calliope (Selasphorus calliope)
• Black-chinned (Archilochus alexandri)
• Buff-bellied (Amazilia yucatanensis)
• Allen’s (Selasphorus sasin)
• Broad-billed (Cynanthus latirostris)
• Broad-tailed (Selasphorus platycercus)
• Green-breasted Mango (Anthracothorax prevostii)
• Anna’s (Calypte anna)
• Rivoli’s (Eugenes fulgens)
• Blue-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis clemenciae)

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

Hummingbirds:	Year-Round, Seasonal, Rare/Vagrant
Ruby-throated	Seasonal
Rufous	Seasonal
Calliope	Rare/Vagrant
Black-chinned	Rare/Vagrant
Buff-bellied	Rare/Vagrant
Allen’s	Rare/Vagrant
Broad-billed	Rare/Vagrant
Broad-tailed	Rare/Vagrant
Green-breasted Mango	Rare/Vagrant
Anna’s	Rare/Vagrant
Rivoli’s	Rare/Vagrant
Blue-throated Mt-gem	Rare/Vagrant

Georgia, known as the Peach State, is located in the southeastern region of the United States, consisting of coastal, farmlands and mountains.
The state of Georgia experiences the traditional four seasons of winter, spring, summer and fall; with extremely hot and muggy long summers and cold and wet winters.

The vast multitude of diversified hummingbird species found in Georgia are sighted during the winter season.

Large groups of migrating hummingbirds are often juveniles. At first glance, they are hard to identify, as young males and females look alike in their early stages and lack distinct markings.

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

Both ornithologists and bird watchers use collective nouns or flock names to describe a large group of hummingbirds of the same species.

• The scientific term for a group of hummingbirds is “charm”.
• Other names include bouquet, glittering, shimmer, tune or hover.

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

Year-Round
Georgia Hummingbirds:

There are no hummingbirds classified as year-round residents in Georgia.
However, some Ruby-throated, Rufous, Calliope, and Black-chinned hummingbirds are occasionally seen in the middle of winter.

This hummingbird classification is defined as hummingbirds that are year-round residents residing in Georgia 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

Some migrating hummingbirds that are too old or injured to migrate can overwinter in Georgia.
All other hummingbird species found in Georgia are migratory and leave for warmer climates in the fall.

Seasonal
Georgia Hummingbirds:

The Ruby-throated and Rufous hummingbirds are the 2 classified seasonal Georgia hummingbirds.

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

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 number one hummingbird seen in Georgia.

According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR) and breeding map reported by ebird.org, Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the only species that breed east of the Mississippi River.
They breed throughout the eastern United States as far west as eastern Texas, Oklahoma and up north to Minnesota.

Some Ruby-throated hummingbirds occasionally choose to overwinter in Georgia, according to ebird.org, however most travel south for the winter.

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

For more pictures and information on Ruby-throated hummingbirds.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds enjoy drinking from Salvias, Cardinals, Trumpet vines, Coral honeysuckle and Friendship Sage.

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 breed in the north from southern Alaska and most travel all the way south to winter in Mexico, making them a seasonal visitor to Georgia.

They are the second most commonly seen hummingbird in Georgia, 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 Georgia sightings in areas of Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Macron, and Valdosta. 

According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR), Rufous hummingbirds are the most commonly seen wintering hummingbird in Georgia.
During one winter there were over 100 Rufous hummingbird documented.
Keep at least one feeder available during the winter to accommodate these hummingbirds.

For more pictures and information on Rufous hummingbirds.

Rare/Vagrant
Hummingbirds In Georgia:

Calliope, Black-chinned, Buff-bellied, Allen’s, Broad-billed, Broad-tailed, Green-breasted Mango, Anna’s, Rivioli’s, and Blue-throated hummingbirds are the 11 Georgia 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 Georgia.

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 species.
Most travel all the way south to winter in Mexico making them rare/vagrants to Georgia.

Some Calliope hummingbirds occasionally choose to overwinter in Georgia according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR), however, most migrate south for the winter.

Sightings map shows Calliope hummingbirds have documented Georgia sightings in Atlanta, Augusta, and Savannah.

For more pictures and information on Calliope 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.
They are a migratory bird that breeds in Washington and travels south to Mexico for the winter, making them rare vagrants to Georgia.

Although rare, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR), some Black-chinned hummingbirds are seen overwintering in Georgia.

Sighting map show Black-chinned hummingbirds have documented Georgia sightings in the areas of Athens, Atlanta, south of Savannah, Brunswick, and Valdosta.

For more pictures and information on Black-chinned 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 found in Mexico and northern Guatemala.
They are observed along the coast of the Gulf of America in the southern United States and are a an extremely rare/vagrant hummingbird to Georgia.

Sightings map show Buff-bellied hummingbirds have documented Georgia sightings in Thomasville and Valdosta.

For more pictures and information on Buff-bellied 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 and southern California, therefore, they are rare migratory visitors to Georgia.

Sightings map document the Allen’s hummingbird to have documented Georgia sightings in Atlanta, Athens, Macron, and Tifton.

For more pictures and information on Allen’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, however due to Georgia’s location in the eastern United States, Broad-billed hummingbirds are extremely rare to the state.

Sightings map shows the Broad-billed hummingbirds have documented Georgia sightings in Macron, north of Albany, and Valdosta.

For more pictures and information on Broad-billed hummingbirds.

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 an extremely rare/vagrant hummingbird to Georgia.

Sightings map show Broad-tailed hummingbirds have documented Georgia sightings in the areas of Atlanta, Macron, and Tifton.

For more pictures and information on Broad-tailed 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 Georgia.

Sightings map show Green-breasted Mango hummingbirds have documented Georgia sightings in Dublin and Thomasville. 

For more pictures and information on Green-breasted Mango 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 year-round residents to Washington, Oregon and California in the Western United States.
They are an extremely rare accidental visitor to Georgia.

Sightings map show Anna’s hummingbirds have rare documented Georgia sightings in Atlanta.

For more pictures and information on Anna’s 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.

They are an extremely rare accidental visitor to Georgia.

Sightings map document the Rivoli’s hummingbird to have documented rare Georgia sightings outside of Atlanta.

For more pictures and information on Rivoli’s 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 also seen in the southwestern United States in clusters along the southern border.
Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbirds are an extremely rare accidental visitor to Georgia.

Sightings map show so far only one Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbird documented Georgia sightings in Elberton.

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

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

Read my article: 
Hummingbird Migration in Georgia

Happy Hummingbird Watching!

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions