Hummingbirds Found in Wyoming: (Pictures and Sounds)

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

Which species of Wyoming hummingbirds are found in the state?

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

Sighting Maps:

These 6 species of hummingbirds are documented as being seen in Wyoming by sighting maps, listed in the order of frequently seen:

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

These 6 hummingbird species found in Wyoming are further classified into three groups:
Year-round residents, Seasonal visitors, and Rare/Vagrant visitors.

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

While it is easy to assume all hummingbirds are the same when we see them only as a jewel-toned flash of color as they jet around our hanging flowers and porches; they have different temperaments, varied nesting habits, diverse coloring and reside in multiple geographical ranges. 

Read my article:
Hummingbird Migration in Wyoming

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

Year-Round Wyoming Hummingbirds:

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

Wyoming 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 Wyoming 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 Wyoming Hummingbirds:

The Broad-tailed, Rufous, and Calliope hummingbirds are the 3 classified seasonal Wyoming hummingbirds.
Hummingbirds that fit within this category are those that temporality pass through Wyoming 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 Wyoming 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 Wyoming.

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 the number one hummingbird seen in Wyoming.
They are a common summer breeding resident.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture Wyoming (USDA), the Broad-tailed hummingbird breeds, nests, and raise their families in Wyoming.
They are a common summer breeding resident.

Sightings map show the Broad-tailed hummingbirds have documented sightings in every area of Wyoming. 

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 seasonal hummingbird that is located in western North America.
They travel through Wyoming to their preferred nesting location and during fall migration most will fly all the way south to winter in Mexico.

They are a seasonal visitor and the second most commonly seen hummingbird in Wyoming.

Sightings map show the Rufous hummingbirds have documented sightings in every area of Wyoming. 

For more pictures and information on Rufous 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 a seasonal bird to Wyoming.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture Wyoming (USDA), the Calliope hummingbird breeds, nests, and raise their families in Wyoming.
They are a common summer breeding migrant in Wyoming and tend to breed in the higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains.

Sightings map show the Calliope hummingbirds have documented sightings in every area of Wyoming, especially in the Yellowstone National Park, Bridger-Teton National Forest, and Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. 

For more pictures and information on Calliope hummingbirds.

Rare/Vagrant Hummingbirds In Wyoming:

Black-chinned, Anna’s, and Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the 3 Wyoming 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 Wyoming.

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 Wyoming.

Although the Black-chinned hummingbird is not frequently seen in Wyoming, it does breed in the state.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture Wyoming (USDA), Black-chinned hummingbirds breed east of the Cascade mountain range and are a common summer breeding resident to Wyoming.
Their breeding grounds and habitat are closely related to their cousin counterparts, the Ruby-throated hummingbird.

Sighting map show Black-chinned hummingbirds have documented Wyoming sightings in the areas of Sheridan, Cody, Yellowstone National Park, Dubois, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Riverton, Lander, Casper, Rock Springs, Green River, Rawlins, and Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest.

For more pictures and information on Black-chinned 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 Wyoming since they are seen mainly in the Western United States.

Sightings map show Anna’s hummingbirds have rare documented sightings in Wyoming in Buffalo, north of Cody, Bridger Teton National Forest, and Rock Springs.

For more pictures and information on Anna’s hummingbirds.

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 are a very rare/accidental bird to Wyoming since their main residence is mostly in the Midwest and on the east coast of the United States.

Sightings map show the Ruby-throated hummingbirds have rare documented Wyoming sightings in the areas of Sheridan, Highway 16, and Casper.

For more pictures and information on Ruby-throated hummingbirds.

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

See my article:
Hummingbird Migration in Wyoming

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions

Happy Hummingbird Watching!