Hummingbirds Found in North Carolina: (Pictures and Sounds)

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

What species of North Carolina hummingbirds are found in the state?

Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, Calliope, Buff-bellied, Broad-billed, Anna’s, Broad-tailed, Allen’s, Green-breasted Mango, and Mexican Violetear hummingbirds are the 11 species documented as seen in North Carolina listed in order of frequency seen.

Sighting Maps:

These 11 species of hummingbirds are documented as being seen in North Carolina by sighting maps, listed in the order of frequently seen:

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

These 11 hummingbird species found in North Carolina 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
Black-chinned	Rare/Vagrant
Calliope	Rare/Vagrant
Buff-bellied	Rare/Vagrant
Broad-billed	Rare/Vagrant
Anna’s	Rare/Vagrant
Broad-tailed	Rare/Vagrant
Allen’s	Rare/Vagrant
Green-breasted Mango	Rare/Vagrant
Mexican Violetear	Rare/Vagrant

North Carolina, known as The Tar Heel State, is located on the southeastern coast of the United States.
It is surrounded by Virginia to the north, the North Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south and Tennessee to the west.

The state of North Carolina experiences the traditional four seasons of winter, spring, summer and fall.
This sub-tropical climate consists of cold and wet winters, hot and humid summers, and heavy rainfall in the mountains.

Local residents and seasonal tourists alike are attracted to the diverse habitats of the
Appalachian Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park along with many other locations to watch, enjoy and connect with hummingbirds and nature.

Read my article: 
North Carolina Hummingbird Migration

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

Year-Round
North Carolina Hummingbirds:

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

This hummingbird classification is defined as hummingbirds that are year-round residents residing in North Carolina 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 occasional Ruby-throated, Rufous, and Black-chinned hummingbirds are seen and documented overwintering in the middle of winter in North Carolina along with those that are too old or injured to migrate.

All other hummingbird species found in North Carolina are migratory and leave for warmer climates in the fall.

Seasonal
North Carolina Hummingbirds:

The Ruby-throated and Rufous hummingbirds are the two classified seasonal North Carolina hummingbirds.

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

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 North Carolina.

Blue Ridge Parkway is 469 miles extending north along US 250 from Rockfish Gap, Virginia to the south along US 441 in Swain County, North Carolina.
According to the Blue Ridge Parkway Birds Species Checklist (BRPBSC), Ruby-throated hummingbirds are seen during spring and fall migration.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers 522,427 acres and is evenly divided between North Carolina and Tennessee. It is 384 miles driving and provides 850 miles of backcountry trails. The Appalachian Trail runs approximately 70 miles through the park.
According to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Birds Checklist (GSMNP), Ruby-throated hummingbirds are a fairly common summer and fall resident.

According to North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (NCMNS), the Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only hummingbird that breeds in the eastern United States, including North Carolina.

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

Some Ruby-throated hummingbirds choose to overwinter all along the East Coast in North Carolina, although rare, according to ebird.org

For more pictures and information on Ruby-throated 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.
They are a seasonal hummingbird to North Carolina, even though they are mainly a west coast migrant, breeding north from southern Alaska and most travel all the way south to winter in Mexico.

Blue Ridge Parkway is 469 miles extending north along US 250 from Rockfish Gap, Virginia to the south along US 441 in Swain County, North Carolina.
According to the Blue Ridge Parkway Birds Species Checklist (BRPBSC), Rufous hummingbirds are seen during spring and fall migration.

According to the Carolina Bird Club, the Rufous hummingbird is considered the second most sighted hummingbird in North Carolina 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 scattered sightings in every area of North Carolina. 

Some Rufous hummingbirds choose to overwinter in North Carolina, although rare, according to ebird.org

For more pictures and information on Rufous hummingbirds.

Rare/Vagrant
North Carolina Hummingbirds:

Black-chinned, Calliope, Buff-belied, Broad-billed, Anna’s, Broad-tailed, Allen’s, Green-breasted Mango, and Mexican Violetear hummingbirds are the 9 North Carolina 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.

According to North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (NCMNS) , the Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbird is identified as a North Carolina vagrant hummingbird, even though ebird.org does not sight them on the sightings map.
Therefore, I did not add a Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbird profile to the rare/vagrant list of hummingbirds seen in North Carolina.

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

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 travels south to winter in Mexico, therefore they are extremely rare/ vagrants to North Carolina.

According to the Carolina Bird Club, Black-chinned hummingbirds can overwinter in North Carolina, although rare, and are more frequently seen near the coast.

Sighting map show Black-chinned hummingbirds have documented North Carolina sightings in Greensboro, Durham, Raleigh, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Wilmington, and scattered sighting along the coast.

For more pictures and information on Black-chinned 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.
Most travel all the way south to winter in Mexico making them extremely rare/ vagrants to North Carolina.

Sightings map shows Calliope hummingbirds have documented North Carolina sightings in the areas of Greensboro, Dirham, Charlotte, and Wilmington,

For more pictures and information on Calliope 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 have also been frequently observed along the coast of the Gulf of America in the southern United States, which includes Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.

Buff-bellied hummingbirds are extremely rare vagrants to North Carolina and are seen migrating south during the fall, winter and spring.

Sightings map show Buff-bellied hummingbirds have rare documented North Carolina sightings in area in between Winston-Salem and Greensboro, and north of Morehead City on the coast.

For more pictures and information on Buff-bellied 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 North Carolina’s location in the eastern United States, Broad-billed hummingbirds are extremely rare accidental vagrants to the state.

Sightings map shows the Broad-billed hummingbirds have rare documented North Carolina sightings in the areas of New Bern and Kitty Hawk near the coast.

For more pictures and information on Broad-billed 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 Pacific West Coast of North America and are extremely rare accidental vagrants to North Carolina.

Sightings map show Anna’s hummingbirds have rare documented North Carolina sightings in Charlotte, New Bern, and Buxton, an unincorporated community located on Hatteras Island in Dare County.

For more pictures and information on Anna’s 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 is primarily found in the mountainous regions of western North America and migrates south to winter in Mexico and Guatemala.
They are extremely rare accidental vagrants to North Carolina.

Sightings map show Broad-tailed hummingbirds have rare documented North Carolina sightings in the areas of Greensboro and south of Charlotte.

For more pictures and information on Broad-tailed 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, therefore, they are extremely rare accidental vagrants to North Carolina.

Sightings map document the Allen’s hummingbird to have rare documented North Carolina sightings in the area south of Winston-Salem, Charlotte, north of Morehead City, and in Manteo on the coast.

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 accidental visitors to North Carolina.

Sightings map show Green-breasted Mango hummingbirds have rare documented North Carolina sightings north of Charlotte.

For more pictures and information on Green-breasted Mango 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 North Carolina. 

Sightings map document the Mexican-Violetear hummingbirds to have extremely rare North Carolina sightings in Asheville and south west of Boone.

For more pictures and information on Mexican Violetear hummingbirds.

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

Read my article: 
North Carolina Hummingbird Migration

Happy Hummingbird Watching!

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions