Hummingbirds Found in Ohio: (Pictures and Sounds)

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

Which species of Ohio hummingbirds are found in the state?

Ruby-throated, Rufous, Allen’s, Anna’s, Calliope, Black-chinned, Broad-billed, and Mexican Violetear hummingbirds are the 8 species documented as seen in Ohio listed in order of frequency seen.

Sighting Maps:

These 8 species of hummingbirds are documented as being seen in Ohio by sighting maps, listed in the order of frequently seen:

These 8 hummingbirds species found in Ohio are further classified into three groups:
Year-round residents, Seasonal, and Rare/Vagrant visitors.

Hummingbird:Year-Round, Seasonal, Rare/Vagrant
Ruby-throatedSeasonal
RufousRare/Vagrant
Allen’sRare/Vagrant
Anna’sRare/Vagrant
CalliopeRare/Vagrant
Black-chinnedRare/Vagrant
Broad-billedRare/Vagrant
Mexican VioletearRare/Vagrant


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

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

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

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

Some rare Rufous hummingbirds are seen in Ohio during winter, but most migrate south for the winter.
Other hummingbirds that are too old or injured to migrate can also overwinter.

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

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

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

Due to their preference, an ailment, or advanced age, certain seasonal hummingbirds may spend the whole winter in the state.

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

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 Ohio.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the only bird that breed and nest in Ohio.

See the current sighting map of Ruby-throated hummingbirds in Ohio.

For more pictures and information on Ruby-throated hummingbirds.

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Photo by: Rekha Pawar
Juvenile Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Photo by: Rekha Pawar
Baby Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Photo by: Rekha Pawar

Note: All three photos above were taken in Mansfield, Ohio

Rufous, Allen’s, Anna’s, Calliope, Black-chinned, Broad-billed, and Mexican Violetear hummingbirds are the 7 Ohio 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 in Ohio.

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 rare/vagrant visitor to Ohio and are seen mainly in the Western United States.

Some Rufous hummingbirds are seen in Ohio during winter (although rare), as most migrate south for the winter.

They are the second most commonly seen hummingbird in Ohio, behind the Ruby-throated hummingbird, even though there is a vast difference in sighting numbers between the two species.

See the current sighting map of Rufous hummingbirds in Ohio.

For more pictures and information on Rufous hummingbirds.

Male Rufous Hummingbird
Photo by: Kevin Walsh
Juvenile Male Rufous Hummingbird
Photo by: Rekha Pawar

Note: His throat feathers are slowly coming in, displaying a few dots of color near his neckline and showing the first stages of adolescence.

Juvenile Male Rufous Hummingbird
Photo by: Rekha Pawar
Juvenile Male Rufous Hummingbird
Photo by: Rekha Pawar

Preening flight feathers is an important daily routine to maintain hygiene and to keep the feathers flexible, strong, in alignment, and parasite-free.

Note: Last three photos were taken in Mansfield, Ohio

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, making them rare/vagrants to Ohio.

See the current sighting map of Allen’s hummingbirds in Ohio.

For more pictures and information on Allen’s hummingbirds.

Male Allen’s Hummingbird
Photo by: IntheWildwithRick

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 west coast of North America and are rare/vagrants to Ohio.

See the current sighting map of Anna’s hummingbirds in Ohio.

For more pictures and information on Anna’s hummingbirds.

Adult Male Anna’s Hummingbird
Photo by: Kevin Walsh

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 visitors to Ohio.

The breeding range of Calliope hummingbirds include the mountainous regions of western North America, primarily in the Rocky Mountains, the Cascades, and the Sierra Nevada.

See the current sighting map of the Calliope hummingbird in Ohio.

For more pictures and information on Calliope hummingbirds.

Adult Male Calliope Hummingbird
Photo by: Bob Free

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 rare/vagrant visitors to Ohio.

See the current sighting map of the Black-chinned hummingbird in Ohio.

For more pictures and information on Black-chinned hummingbirds.

Male-Black-Chinned-ID
Male Black-Chinned Hummingbird
Photo by: sony_alpha_male

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 accidently visitors to Ohio.

See the current sighting map of Broad-billed hummingbirds in Ohio.

For more pictures and information on Broad-billed hummingbirds.

Male and female Broad-billed hummingbirds
Photo by: hummingbirdbysuprise

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 Ohio.

See the current sighting map of Mexican Violetear hummingbirds in Ohio.

For more pictures and information on Mexican Violetear hummingbirds.

Male Mexican Violetear
Photo by: Ernesto Perez

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

Read my article:
Hummingbird Migration in Ohio

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions

Happy Hummingbird Watching!

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