Nebraska Hummingbirds: 8 Awesome Documented Species

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

Which species of Nebraska hummingbirds are found in the state?

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

Sighting Maps:

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

• Ruby-throated (Archilochus colubris)
• Rufous (Selasphorus rufus)
• Broad-tailed (Selasphorus platycercus)
• Calliope (Selasphorus calliope)
• Black-chinned (Archilochus alexandri)
• Anna’s (Calypte anna)
• Costa’s (Calypte costae)
• Broad-billed (Cynanthus latirostris)

These 8 hummingbird species found in Nebraska 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
Broad-tailed	Rare/Vagrant
Calliope	Rare/Vagrant
Black-chinned	Rare/Vagrant
Anna’s	Rare/Vagrant
Costa’s	Rare/Vagrant
Broad-billed	Rare/Vagrant

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

Year-Round
Nebraska Hummingbirds:

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

Feeders are left up all winter by some Nebraska enthusiasts to feed hummingbirds that are too old or injured to migrate.
All other hummingbird species found in Nebraska are migratory and leave for warmer climates in the fall.

Seasonal
Nebraska Hummingbirds:

The Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only classified seasonal Nebraska hummingbird.
This hummingbird classification is defined as hummingbirds in Nebraska temporarily as part of their migratory pattern during spring and fall migration.

Some spend the entire spring, summer, and fall in Nebraska while others migrate and may travel to more northern states during the summer.
Some seasonal hummingbirds will remain in Nebraska 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 Nebraska.

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 Nebraska.

Breeding map for Ruby-throated hummingbirds that breed and nest in Nebraska, reported by ebird.org

According to USDA of Nebraska, Ruby-throated hummingbirds breed and nest in Nebraska.
They are often seen foraging or tending to nests, which they build from plant fibers and spider silk. Their subdued coloration helps them stay camouflaged while nesting.

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

For more pictures and information on Ruby-throated hummingbirds.

Rare/Vagrant
Nebraska Hummingbirds:

Rufous, Broad-tailed, Calliope, Black-chinned, Anna’s, Costa’s, and Broad-billed hummingbirds are the 7 Nebraska hummingbirds classified as rare or vagrant hummingbirds, in order of frequently 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 Nebraska.

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, making them extremely rare vagrants to Nebraska.

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

For more pictures and information on Rufous 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 Nebraska.

Although Broad-tailed hummingbirds are considered rare to the Nebraska, according to ebird.org the Broad-tailed has a very rare documented breeding sighting in the southwest quarter of Nebraska, close to the Wyoming border.

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

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 vagrant hummingbirds to Nebraska.

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

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 lives across the Western United States, Mexico, and Canada.
They travel south to winter in Mexico and are extremely rare vagrant hummingbirds to Nebraska.

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

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 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 Pacific West Coast of North America and are extremely rare visitors to Nebraska.

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

For more pictures and information on Anna’s 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 the Western United States, Mexico and as far south as Guatemala during the winter, is a rare accidental vagrant hummingbird to Nebraska.

See the current sighting map of Costa’s hummingbirds in Nebraska.

For more pictures and information on Costa’s 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 due to Nebraska’s location in the eastern United States, Broad-billed hummingbirds are extremely rare.

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

For more pictures and information on Broad-billed hummingbirds.

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

Which Nebraska Hummingbirds Are Most Frequently Seen In The State?

The most frequently seen Nebraska hummingbird are Ruby-throated hummingbirds.
Rufous hummingbirds are the second most commonly seen, even though there is a vast difference in sighting numbers between the two species.

Nebraska hummingbirds listed in order of frequency seen:

Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 92.8% of all hummingbirds seen in Nebraska are Ruby-throated hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Nebraska hummingbirds seen, 9,281 will be a Ruby-throated hummingbird.

Rufous Hummingbird: 2.30% of all hummingbirds seen in Nebraska are Rufous hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Nebraska hummingbirds seen, only 230 will be a Rufous hummingbird.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird: 2.13% of all hummingbirds seen in Nebraska are Broad-tailed hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Nebraska hummingbirds seen, only 213 will be a Broad-tailed hummingbird.

Calliope Hummingbird: 1.54% of all hummingbirds seen in Nebraska are Calliope hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Nebraska hummingbirds seen, only 154 will be a Calliope hummingbird.

Black-chinned Hummingbird: 0.54% of all hummingbirds seen in Nebraska are Black-chinned hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Nebraska hummingbirds seen, only 54 will be a Black-chinned hummingbird.

Anna’s Hummingbird: 0.55% of all hummingbirds seen in Nebraska are Anna’s hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Nebraska hummingbirds seen, only 55 will be an Anna’s hummingbird.

Costa’s Hummingbird: 0.11% of all hummingbirds seen in Nebraska are Costa’s hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Nebraska hummingbirds seen, only 11 will be a Costa’s hummingbird.

Broad-billed Hummingbird: 0.03% of all hummingbirds seen in Nebraska are Broad-billed hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Nebraska hummingbirds seen, only 3 will be a Broad-billed hummingbird.

Where In The State Are Nebraska Hummingbirds Seen?

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

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

• Ruby-throated Hummingbird: This is where, in Nebraska, current sightings of this hummingbird are being reported.
• Rufous Hummingbird: This is where, in Nebraska, current sightings of this hummingbird are being reported.
• Broad-tailed Hummingbird: This is where, in Nebraska, current sightings of this hummingbird are being reported.
• Calliope Hummingbird: This is where, in Nebraska, current sightings of this hummingbird are being reported.
• Black-chinned Hummingbird: This is where, in Nebraska, current sightings of this hummingbird are being reported.
• Anna’s Hummingbird: This is where, in Nebraska, current sightings of this hummingbird are being reported.
• Costa’s Hummingbird: This is where, in Nebraska, current sightings of this hummingbird are being reported.
• Broad-billed Hummingbird: This is where, in Nebraska, current sightings of this hummingbird are being reported.

Read my article:
Nebraska Hummingbird Migration

Happy Nebraska Hummingbird Watching!

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions