New Mexico Hummingbirds: 17 Awesome Documented Species

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

Which species of New Mexico hummingbirds are found in the state?

Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, Rufous, Calliope, Anna’s, Broad-billed, Rivoli’s, Ruby-throated, Lucifer, Violet-crowned, Costa’s, White-eared, Blue-throated MT-gem, Allen’s, Berylline, Mexican Violetear, and Cinnamon hummingbirds are the 17 species documented as seen in New Mexico listed in order of frequency seen.

Top Google-ranked websites and New Mexico USDA recognize the Plain-capped Starthroat as a New Mexico hummingbird, despite the fact that the Plain-capped hummingbird species is not recorded as being seen in New Mexico on a national hummingbird sighting map.

Sighting Maps:

These 17 species of hummingbirds are documented as being seen in New Mexico by sighting maps, listed in the order of frequently seen:

• Black-chinned (Archilochus alexandri)
• Broad-tailed (Selasphorus platycercus)
• Rufous (Selasphorus rufus)
• Calliope (Selasphorus calliope)
• Anna’s (Calypte anna)
• Broad-billed (Cynanthus latirostris)
• Rivoli’s (Eugenes fulgens)
• Ruby-throated (Archilochus colubris)
• Lucifer (Calothorax lucifer)
• Violet-crowned (Ramosomyia violiceps)
• Costa’s (Calypte costae)
• White-eared (Basilinna leucotis)
• Blue-throated Mt-Gem (Lampornis clemenciae)
• Allen’s (Selasphorus sasin)
• Berylline (Saucerottia beryllina)
• Mexican Violetear (Colibri thalassinus)
• Cinnamon (Amazilia rutila)

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

Hummingbird:	Year-Round, Seasonal, Rare/Vagrant
Black-chinned	Seasonal
Broad-tailed	Seasonal
Rufous	Seasonal
Calliope	Seasonal
Anna’s	Seasonal
Broad-billed	Rare/Vagrant
Rivoli’s	Rare/Vagrant
Ruby-throated	Rare/Vagrant
Lucifer	Rare/Vagrant
Violet-crowned	Rare/Vagrant
Costa’s	Rare/Vagrant
White-eared	Rare/Vagrant
Blue-throated Mt-Gem	Rare/Vagrant
Allen’s	Rare/Vagrant
Berylline	Rare/Vagrant
Mexican Violetear	Rare/Vagrant
Cinnamon	Rare/Vagrant

For more information on New Mexico hummingbirds:
Read my article:
New Mexico 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 New Mexico.

New Mexico Wildlife (NMW) states, New Mexico is among the nation’s hot spots for hummingbird sightings, confirming 17 species are found in the state.

Year-Round New Mexico Hummingbirds:

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

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

However, the Anna’s hummingbirds are not widely considered full year-round residents across all of New Mexico, but they are present year-round in some localized areas, particularly in southern and central parts of the state.

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 Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, and Rufous hummingbirds are seen and documented overwintering in the middle of winter in New Mexico along with those that are too old or injured to migrate.

All other hummingbird species found in New Mexico are migratory and leave for warmer climates in the fall.

Seasonal New Mexico Hummingbirds:

The Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, Rufous, Calliope, and Anna’s hummingbirds are the 5 classified seasonal New Mexico hummingbirds.

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

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, and are the most common seasonal hummingbird seen in New Mexico.
They are a migratory bird that breeds in Washington and travels south to Mexico for the winter.

According to United States Department of Agriculture New Mexico (USDA), the Black-chinned hummingbird breeds and nests in southern New Mexico from mid-to-late April, with a second nesting period occurring in mid-July.

Some Black-chinned hummingbirds choose to overwinter in New Mexico, however most migrate south for the winter.

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

For more pictures and information on Black-chinned 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 travels frequently to the United States near the southern Mexican border.
They usually reside in Mexico and as far south as Guatemala during the winter, however, travel north to breed in New Mexico.

Breeding map for Broad-tailed hummingbirds that breed and nest in New Mexico, reported by ebird.org

They are the second most commonly seen seasonal hummingbird in New Mexico.
Some Broad-tailed hummingbirds choose to overwinter in New Mexico, however most migrate south for the winter.

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

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 located in western North America and are a migrating seasonal species to New Mexico.
They breed in the north from southern Alaska and most travel all the way south to winter in Mexico.

The Rufous is a seasonal hummingbird to New Mexico although occasionally overwinter in the state.

See the current sighting map of Rufous hummingbirds in New Mexico.

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 seasonal migrating species to New Mexico. Most travel all the way south to winter in Mexico.

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 New Mexico.

For more pictures and information on Calliope 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 in the Western United States.
They live along the western coastline of North America, starting from southern Canada all the way to northern Baja California.

Anna’s hummingbirds are seasonal visitors and are the most commonly seen hummingbird to overwinter in southwestern New Mexico.

Breeding map for occasional nesting sights of Anna’s hummingbirds that breed and nest in New Mexico, reported by ebird.org

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

For more pictures and information on Anna’s hummingbirds.

Rare/Vagrant Hummingbirds In New Mexico:

Broad-billed, Rivoli’s, Ruby-throated, Lucifer, Violet-crowned, Costa’s, White-eared, Blue-throated Mt-gem, Allen’s, Berylline, Mexican Violetear, and Cinnamon hummingbirds are the 12 New Mexico hummingbirds classified as rare or vagrant listed in order of frequency seen.

Top Google-ranked websites and New Mexico USDA recognize the Plain-capped Starthroat as a New Mexico hummingbird, despite the fact that the Plain-capped hummingbird species is not recorded as being seen in New Mexico on a national hummingbird sighting map.

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 New Mexico.

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 Broad-billed hummingbirds are rare/vagrant visitors to New Mexico.

According to the USDA of New Mexico and ebird.org breeding map, Broad-billed hummingbirds are seen breeding in southwestern New Mexico, even though they are considered rare/vagrants to the state.

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

For more pictures and information on Broad-billed 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.

The Rivoli’s is a rare/vagrant hummingbird to New Mexico.

Breeding map for Rivoli’s hummingbirds that occasionally breed and nest in New Mexico, reported by ebird.org

See the current sighting map of Rivoli’s hummingbirds in New Mexico.

For more pictures and information on Rivoli’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 main residence is mostly in the Midwest and on the east coast of the United States, therefore they are extremely rare to New Mexico.

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

For more pictures and information on Ruby-throated hummingbirds.

LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD – (Calothorax lucifer)

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

Lucifer hummingbirds are primarily found in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America. 

They are occasionally seen in southwestern Texas, southern New Mexico, and southeastern Arizona during the summer months to breed.

According to the USDA of New Mexico and ebird.org breeding map, Lucifer hummingbirds are occasionally seen breeding in southwestern New Mexico, even though they are considered rare/vagrants to the state.

See the current sighting map of Lucifer hummingbirds in New Mexico.

For more pictures and information on Lucifer hummingbirds.

VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD – (Amazilia voliceps)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Amazilia
Species: A. voliceps

The Violet-crowned hummingbird lives primarily in Mexico and parts of Central America, extending into parts of Guatemala and Honduras.
Some populations also extend into the southern United States of Arizona, New Mexico, and California, however are rare/vagrant migrants to the state of New Mexico.

According to the USDA of New Mexico and ebird.org breeding map, Violet-crowned hummingbirds are occasionally seen breeding in southwestern New Mexico, especially Guadalupe Canyon and Animas Mountains, even though they are considered rare/vagrants to the state.

See the current sighting map of Violet-crowned hummingbirds in New Mexico.

For more pictures and information on Violet-crowned 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 New Mexico.

Breeding map for Costa’s hummingbirds that occasionally breed and nest in south western quarter of New Mexico, reported by ebird.org

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

For more pictures and information on Costa’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, making them extremely rare/vagrants to New Mexico.

According to the USDA of New Mexico and ebird.org breeding map, White-eared hummingbirds are occasionally seen breeding in southwestern New Mexico, even though they are considered rare/vagrants to the state.

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

For more pictures and information on White-eared hummingbirds.

BLUE-THROATED MOUNTAIN-GEM HUMMINGBIRD
aka BLUE-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD – (Lampornis clemenciae)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Lampornis
Species: L. clemenciae

The Blue-throated Mountain-gem aka Blue-throated hummingbird, primarily resides in Mexico and Central America. Their range extends into parts of Guatemala and Honduras.

Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbirds are also seen in the southwestern United States in clusters along the southern border near Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
They are extremely rare in New Mexico.

According to the USDA of New Mexico, Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbirds are occasionally seen breeding in southwestern New Mexico, even though they are considered rare/vagrants to the state.

See the current sighting map of Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbirds in New Mexico.

For more pictures and information on Blue-throated Mountain-gem 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 migratory visitors to New Mexico.

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

For more pictures and information on Allen’s hummingbirds.

BERYLLINE HUMMINGBIRD – (Amazilia beryllina)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Amazilia
Species: A. beryllina

The Berylline hummingbird (pronounced: berra-line) is a striking species of hummingbird found primarily in Mexico and as far south as Honduras.
They are occasionally seen in the southwestern United States in Arizona and New Mexico.
They are extremely rare/accidental vagrants to New Mexico.

See the current sighting map of Berylline hummingbirds in New Mexico.

For more pictures and information on Berylline 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 visitor to New Mexico.

See the current sighting map of Mexican Violetear hummingbirds in New Mexico.

For more pictures and information on Mexican Violetear hummingbirds.

CINNAMON HUMMINGBIRD – (Amazilia rutila)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Amazilia
Species: A. rutila

The Cinnamon hummingbird is native to Central America and parts of Mexico.
Its range extends from southern Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.

They are occasionally seen in the southwestern United States border of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, however are extremely rare to New Mexico.

See the current sighting map of Cinnamon hummingbirds in New Mexico.

For more pictures and information on Cinnamon hummingbirds.

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

Read my article:
New Mexico Hummingbird Migration

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions

Happy Hummingbird Watching!