Hummingbirds Found in North Dakota: (Pictures and Sounds)

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

Which species of North Dakota hummingbirds are found in the state?

Ruby-throated, Rufous, Anna’s, Calliope, Broad-tailed, and Black-chinned hummingbirds are the 6 species documented as seen in North Dakota listed in order of frequency seen.

Sighting Maps:

These 6 species of hummingbirds are documented as being seen in North Dakota 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-tailed –
  (Selsaphoris platycercus)
• Black-chinned –
  (Archilochus alexandri)

These 6 hummingbird species found in North Dakota 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-tailed	Rare/Vagrant
Black-chinned	Rare/Vagrant

North Dakota, known as the Peace Garden State, has one out of the six hummingbird species that breeds in the state, which is the Ruby-throated hummingbird.

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

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

Year-Round North Dakota Hummingbirds:

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

North Dakota 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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota Hummingbirds:

The Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only classified seasonal North Dakota hummingbird.
Hummingbirds that fit within this category are those that temporality pass through North Dakota 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 Dakota 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 Dakota.

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 Dakota.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture North Dakota (USDA), the Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only hummingbird that breeds and nests in North Dakota.

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

For more pictures and information on Ruby-throated hummingbirds.

Rare/Vagrant Hummingbirds In North Dakota:

Rufous, Anna’s, Calliope, Broad-tailed, and Black-chinned hummingbirds are the 5 North Dakota 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 North Dakota.

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 an extremely rare visitor to North Dakota since they are seen mainly in the Western United States.

They are the second most commonly seen hummingbird in North Dakota, 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 sightings in North Dakota in the middle east of Interstate 29 (I-29), Mayville, Jamestown, Steele, Mandan, Dickinson, Stanley, and Tioga.

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.
They live along the western coastline of North America, starting from southern Canada all the way to northern Baja California.
They are an extremely rare visitor to North Dakota since they are seen mainly in the Western United States.

Sightings map show Anna’s hummingbirds have rare documented sightings in North Dakota in Bismarck.

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. They are extremely rare vagrants to North Dakota.

Sightings map shows Calliope hummingbirds have documented North Dakota sightings north of Jamestown, Edgeley, Bismarck, and Dickinson.

For more pictures and information on Calliope 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 North Dakota.

Sightings map show Broad-tailed hummingbirds have documented North Dakota sightings in the areas between Steele and Tappen, Bismarck, Rock Haven, Sunny, Harmon, Baldwin and Ross.

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 is a migratory bird that breeds as far north as Canada, the western United States, and as south as Mexico.
They are extremely rare visitors to North Dakota.

Sighting map show Black-chinned hummingbirds have rare documented North Dakota sighting in the area of Stanley.

For more pictures and information on Black-chinned hummingbirds.

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

See my article:
Hummingbird Migration in North Dakota

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions

Happy Hummingbird Watching!