Mississippi Hummingbirds: 12 Awesome Documented Species

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

Which species of Mississippi hummingbirds are found in the state?

Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, Buff-bellied, Broad-tailed, Calliope, Allen’s, Green-breasted Mango, Anna’s, White-eared, Broad-billed, and Mexican Violetear hummingbirds are the 12 species of hummingbirds documented as seen in Mississippi and listed in order of frequency seen.

Sighting Maps:

These 12 species of hummingbirds are documented as being seen in Mississippi by sighting maps, listed in the order of frequently seen:
(click links to see sighting map)

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

These 12 hummingbirds species found in Mississippi are further classified into three groups:
Year-round residents, Seasonal, and Rare/Vagrant visitors.

Hummingbird:	Year-Round, Seasonal, Rare/Vagrant
Ruby-throated	Seasonal
Rufous	Rare/Vagrant
Black-chinned	Rare/Vagrant
Buff-bellied	Rare/Vagrant
Broad-tailed	Rare/Vagrant
Calliope	Rare/Vagrant
Allen’s	Rare/Vagrant
Green-breasted Mango	Rare/Vagrant
Anna’s	Rare/Vagrant
White-eared	Rare/Vagrant
Broad-billed	Rare/Vagrant
Mexican Violetear	Rare/Vagrant

For more information on Mississippi hummingbirds:
Read my article:
Mississippi 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 Mississippi.

Year-Round
Mississippi Hummingbirds:

There are no hummingbirds classified as year-round residents in Mississippi.
This hummingbird classification is defined as year-round residents residing in Mississippi 365 days a year.

Some hummingbirds seen in Mississippi during the winter, although rare, are hummingbirds that are too old or injured to 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

Seasonal
Mississippi Hummingbirds:

The Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only Mississippi hummingbird classified as a seasonal hummingbird.
Hummingbirds that fit within this category are those that temporarily pass through Mississippi 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 Mississippi for the entire winter by choice, injury, or old age.

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

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 most commonly seen in Mississippi.

According to Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), states that Ruby-throated hummingbirds breed east of the Mississippi River.

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

For more pictures and information on Ruby-throated hummingbirds.

Rare/Vagrant
Mississippi Hummingbirds:

Rufous, Black-chinned, Buff-bellied, Broad-tailed, Calliope, Allen’s, Green-breasted Mango, Anna’s, White-eared, Broad-billed and Mexican Violetear hummingbirds are the 11 Mississippi hummingbirds classified as rare or vagrants.

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 Mississippi.

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 visitor to Mississippi since they are seen mainly in the Western United States.

They are the second most commonly seen hummingbird in Mississippi, 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 Mississippi.

For more pictures and information on Rufous 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, therefore they are rare vagrants to Mississippi.

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

For more pictures and information on Black-chinned 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 primarily found in Mexico and Central America.
They are frequently observed along the coast of the Gulf of America in the southern United States and are extremely rare accidental visitors to Mississippi.

See the current sighting map of Buff-bellied hummingbirds in Mississippi.

For more pictures and information on Buff-bellied 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 accidental visitor to to Mississippi.

See the current sighting map of Broad-tailed hummingbirds in Mississippi.

For more pictures and information on Broad-tailed 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 in Mississippi.

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

For more pictures and information on Calliope 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 visitors to to Mississippi.

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

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 Mississippi.

See the current sighting map of the Green-breasted Mango hummingbird in Mississippi.

For more pictures and information on Green-breasted Mango 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 extremely rare accidental vagrants to Mississippi since they are seen mainly in the Western United States.

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

For more pictures and information on Anna’s hummingbirds.

WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD – (Basilinna leucotis)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Basilinna
Species: B. leucotis

The White-eared hummingbird resides from Nicaragua in Central America all the way up to northern Mexico. 
They occasionally breed in the southwestern United States in New Mexico and Texas, therefore making them extremely rare accidental vagrants in Mississippi.

See the current sighting map of White-eared hummingbirds in Mississippi.

For more pictures and information on White-eared 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 are extremely rare accidental vagrants to Mississippi.

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

For more pictures and information on Broad-billed 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 a rare accidental vagrant to Mississippi.

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

For more pictures and information on Mexican Violetear hummingbirds.

Which Mississippi Hummingbirds Are Most Frequently Seen In The State?

The most frequently seen Mississippi hummingbird is the Ruby-throated hummingbird, followed in a very distant second place by the Rufous hummingbird.

Mississippi hummingbirds listed in order of frequency seen:

Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 96% of all hummingbirds seen in Mississippi are Ruby-throated hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Mississippi hummingbirds seen, 9,662 will be a Ruby-throated hummingbird.

Rufous Hummingbird: 1.64% of all hummingbirds seen in Mississippi are Rufous hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Mississippi hummingbirds seen, 164 will be a Rufous hummingbird.

Black-chinned Hummingbird: 0.45% of all hummingbirds seen in Mississippi are Black-chinned hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Mississippi hummingbirds seen, only 44 will be a Black-chinned hummingbird.

Buff-bellied Hummingbird: 0.43% of all hummingbirds seen in Mississippi are Buff-bellied hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Mississippi hummingbirds seen, only 43 will be a Buff-bellied hummingbird.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird: 0.33% of all hummingbirds seen in Mississippi are Broad-tailed hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Mississippi hummingbirds seen, only 33 will be a Broad-tailed hummingbird.

Calliope Hummingbird: 0.24% of all hummingbirds seen in Mississippi are Calliope hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Mississippi hummingbirds seen, only 24 will be a Calliope hummingbird.

Allen’s Hummingbird: 0.13% of all hummingbirds seen in Mississippi are Allen’s hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Mississippi hummingbirds seen, only 13 will be an Allen’s hummingbird.

Green-breasted Mango Hummingbird: 0.07% of all hummingbirds seen in Mississippi are Green-breasted Mango hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Mississippi hummingbirds seen, only 7 will be a Green-breasted Mango hummingbird.

Anna’s Hummingbird: 0.05% of all hummingbirds seen in Mississippi are Anna’s hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Mississippi hummingbirds seen, only 5 will be an Anna’s hummingbird.

White-eared Hummingbird: 0.01% of all hummingbirds seen in Mississippi are White-eared hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Mississippi hummingbirds seen, only 1 will be a White-eared hummingbird.

Broad-billed Hummingbird:  Out of 20,000 Mississippi hummingbirds seen, only 1 will be a Broad-billed hummingbird.

Mexican Violetear Hummingbird: Out of 20,000 Mississippi hummingbirds seen, only 1 will be a Mexican Violetear hummingbird.

Where In The State Are Mississippi Hummingbirds Seen?

Hummingbirds are seen in Mississippi throughout the state.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are seen throughout the entirety of the state while others are only seen in specific limited areas of Mississippi.

Click the link below to see the current sighting map of where
Mississippi hummingbirds are being seen (eBird.org links)

• Ruby-throated Hummingbird: This is where, in Mississippi, current sightings of this hummingbird are being reported.
• Rufous Hummingbird: This is where, in Mississippi, current sightings of this hummingbird are being reported.
• Black-chinned Hummingbird: This is where, in Mississippi, current sightings of this hummingbird are being reported.
• Buff-bellied Hummingbird: This is where, in Mississippi, current sightings of this hummingbird are being reported.
• Broad-tailed Hummingbird: This is where, in Mississippi, current sightings of this hummingbird are being reported.
• Calliope Hummingbird: This is where, in Mississippi, current sightings of this hummingbird are being reported.
• Allen’s Hummingbird: This is where, in Mississippi, current sightings of this hummingbird are being reported.
• Green-breasted Mango Hummingbird: This is where, in Mississippi, current sightings of this hummingbird are being reported.
• Anna’s Hummingbird: This is where, in Mississippi, current sightings of this hummingbird are being reported.
• White-eared Hummingbird: This is where, in Mississippi, current sightings of this hummingbird are being reported.
• Broad-billed Hummingbird: This is where, in Mississippi, current sightings of this hummingbird are being reported.
• Mexican Violetear Hummingbird: This is where, in Mississippi, current sightings of this hummingbird are being reported.

Read my article:
Mississippi Hummingbird Migration

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions

Happy Hummingbird Watching!