Hummingbirds Found in South Dakota: (Pictures and Sounds)

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

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

Ruby-throated, Broad-tailed, Rufous, Anna’s, Calliope, Black-chinned, Costa’s, and Rivoli’s hummingbirds are the 8 species documented as seen in South Dakota listed in order of frequency seen.

Sighting Maps:

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

• Ruby-throated – (Archilochus colubris)
• Broad-tailed – (Selsaphoris platycercus)
• Rufous – (Selasphorus rufus)
• Anna’s – (Calypte anna)
• Calliope – (Selasphorus calliope)
• Black-chinned – (Archilochus alexandri)
• Costa’s – (Calypte costae)
• Rivoli’s – (Eugenes fulgens)

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

Hummingbird:	Year-Round, Seasonal, Rare/Vagrant
Ruby-throated	Seasonal
Broad-tailed	Rare/Vagrant
Rufous	Rare/Vagrant
Anna’s	Rare/Vagrant
Calliope	Rare/Vagrant
Black-chinned	Rare/Vagrant
Costa’s	Rare/Vagrant
Rivoli’s	Rare/Vagrant

South Dakota, known as The Mount Rushmore State, has only one hummingbird species that breeds in South Dakota, which is the Ruby-throated hummingbird.

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

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

Year-Round South Dakota Hummingbirds:

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

South 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 South 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 South Dakota Hummingbirds:

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

Sightings map documents the Ruby-throated hummingbird are heavily seen in Eastern South Dakota.

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

For more pictures and information on Ruby-throated hummingbirds.

Rare/Vagrant Hummingbirds In South Dakota:

Broad-tailed, Rufous, Anna’s, Calliope, Black-chinned, Costa’s, and Rivoli’s hummingbirds are the 7 South 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 South Dakota.

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 a rare/vagrant hummingbird to South Dakota.

Broad-tailed hummingbirds are the second most commonly seen hummingbird in South Dakota, behind the Ruby-throated hummingbird, even though there is a vast difference in sighting numbers between the two species.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture South Dakota (USDA), Broad-tailed hummingbirds can be witnessed, although rare in recent years, in the Black Hills of western South Dakota as a rare migrant.

Sightings map show Broad-tailed hummingbirds have documented sightings in the south western corner of South Dakota, especially in the areas of Sturgis and Rapid City, where both are located within the Black Hills mountain range.

For more pictures and information on Broad-tailed 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 a migrating species that breed as far north from southern Alaska all the way to wintering as far south in Mexico.

They travel north through South Dakota to their preferred nesting location and are a rare visitor to South Dakota since they are seen mainly in the Western United States.

Sightings map show the Rufous hummingbirds have documented sightings in South Dakota in areas of Pierre, Winner, and in the south west area of Spearfish, Sturgis, Rapid City, Keystone, Custer, Hot Springs, and Edgemont. 

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 a rare accidental visitor to South Dakota since they are seen mainly in the Western United States.

Sightings map show Anna’s hummingbirds have documented sightings in South Dakota areas of Watertown, Pierre, Sturgis, Rapid City, and Lake Andres.

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 to South Dakota.

Sightings map shows Calliope hummingbirds have rare documented South Dakota sightings in the areas of Pierre, Belle Fourche, Spearfish, Sturgis, Rapid City, Keystone, and Custer.

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 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 South Dakota.

Sighting map show Black-chinned hummingbirds have documented South Dakota sightings in the south western areas of Sturgis, Deadwood, and Rapid City.

For more pictures and information on Black-chinned hummingbirds.

COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD – (Calypte costae)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Calypte
Species: C. costae

The Costa’s hummingbird, though usually residing in Mexico and as far south as Guatemala during the winter, is a rare accidental vagrant hummingbird to South Dakota.

Sightings map show Costa’s hummingbirds have rare documented South Dakota sightings in the areas of Sturgis and Rapid City.

For more pictures and information on Costa’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 extremely rare to South Dakota.

Sightings map document the Rivoli’s hummingbird to have rare documented South Dakota sightings in Brookings.

For more pictures and information on Rivoli’s hummingbirds.

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

See my article:
Hummingbird Migration in South Dakota

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions

Happy Hummingbird Watching!