Hummingbirds Found in Minnesota: (Pictures and Sounds)

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

Which species of Minnesota hummingbirds are found in the state?

Ruby-throated, Rufous, Anna’s, Calliope, and Broad-billed hummingbirds are the 5 species documented as seen in Minnesota listed in order of frequency seen.

Sighting Maps:

These 5 species of hummingbirds are documented as being seen in Minnesota by sighting maps, listed in the order of frequently seen:

• Ruby-throated (Archilochus colubris)
• Rufous (Selasphorus rufus)
• Anna’s (Calypte anna)
• Calliope (Selasphorus calliope)
• Broad-billed (Cynanthus latirostris)

These 5 hummingbird species found in Minnesota are further classified into three groups:
Year-round residents, Seasonal visitors, and Rare/Vagrant visitors.

Hummingbird:	Year-Round, Seasonal, Rare/Vagrant
Ruby-throated	Seasonal
Rufous	Rare/Vagrant
Anna’s	Rare/Vagrant
Calliope	Rare/Vagrant
Broad-billed	Rare/Vagrant

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

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

Year-Round
Minnesota Hummingbirds:

There are no hummingbirds classified as year-round residents in Minnesota.

This hummingbird classification is defined as hummingbirds that are year-round residents residing in Minnesota 365 days a year and do not migrate.

Minnesota 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 Minnesota even though it is rare, from injured or old age.

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
Minnesota Hummingbirds:

The Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only classified seasonal Minnesota hummingbird.

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

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 Minnesota.

Although Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the number one hummingbird seen in Minnesota, outnumbering all other recorded species, they fall under the seasonal category since they migrate south for the winter.

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

According to Minnesota Conservation Volunteer (MCV), Ruby-throated hummingbirds breed throughout the eastern half of the United States, including all of Minnesota, and into central and eastern Canada.

For more pictures and information on Ruby-throated hummingbirds.

Taken: Two Harbors, Minnesota

Taken: Two Harbors, Minnesota

Taken: Two Harbors, Minnesota

Taken: Two Harbors, Minnesota

Taken: Two Harbors, Minnesota

Photo Taken: Minnesota

Taken: Two Harbors, Minnesota

Photo Taken: Minnesota

Rare/Vagrant
Minnesota Hummingbirds:

Rufous, Anna’s, Calliope, and Broad-billed hummingbirds are the 4 Minnesota 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 Minnesota.

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.
They are a rare visitor to Minnesota since they are seen mainly in the Western United States.

They are the second most commonly seen hummingbird in Minnesota, 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 Minnesota sightings in areas of East Grand Forks, Crookston, Bemidji, Duluth, Minneapolis, St Paul, Rochester, Clearlake, Montgomery, Lakefield, and Elkton.

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 year-round residents to Washington, Oregon and California in the Western United States.
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 Minnesota since they are seen mainly in the Western United States.

Sightings map show Anna’s hummingbirds have documented sightings in Minneapolis Minnesota.

For more pictures and information on Anna’s 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 species.
They breed in the north from southern Alaska and most travel all the way south to winter in Mexico, therefore making them extremely rare visitors to Minnesota.

Sightings map shows Calliope hummingbirds have documented Minnesota sightings in the areas of Duluth and Minneapolis.

For more pictures and information on Calliope 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, making them extremely rare/vagrants to Minnesota.

Sightings map shows the Broad-billed hummingbirds have one documented Minnesota sighting just north of Minneapolis.

For more pictures and information on Broad-billed hummingbirds.

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

See my article:
Hummingbird Migration in Minnesota

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions

Happy Hummingbird Watching!