Oklahoma Hummingbirds: 9 Awesome Documented Species

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

Which species of Oklahoma hummingbirds are found in the state?

Ruby-throated, Black-chinned, Rufous, Broad-billed, Calliope, Mexican Violetear, Costa’s, Broad-tailed, and Anna’s hummingbirds are the 9 species of hummingbirds documented as seen in Oklahoma listed in order of frequency seen.

Sighting Maps:

These 9 species of hummingbirds are documented as being seen in Oklahoma by sighting maps, listed in the order of frequently seen:

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

These 9 hummingbird species found in Oklahoma are further classified into three groups:
Year-round residents, Seasonal visitors, and Rare/Vagrant visitors.

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

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

Year-Round Oklahoma Hummingbirds:

There are no hummingbirds classified as year-round residents in Oklahoma.
The only hummingbirds Oklahomans may see in the middle of winter are those too old or injured to migrate.

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

This hummingbird classification is defined as year-round residents residing in Oklahoma 365 days a year.

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 Oklahoma Hummingbirds:

The Ruby-throated and Black-chinned hummingbirds are the 2 classified seasonal Oklahoma hummingbirds.

Hummingbirds that fit within this category are those that temporarily pass through Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma for the entire winter by choice, injury, or old age, although rare, however most migrate south for the winter.

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

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 Oklahoma.

The Ruby-throated hummingbird breeds and nests in Oklahoma, according to the OKC Audubon Society and ebird.org breeding map.

Sightings map documents the Ruby-throated hummingbird is seen in every area of Oklahoma.

For more pictures and information on Ruby-throated 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 the second most seen seasonal migrant to Oklahoma.

The Black-chinned hummingbird breeds and nests in Oklahoma, according to the OKC Audubon Society and ebird.org breeding map.

Sightings map show the Black-chinned hummingbirds have many documented sightings in Oklahoma covering central, south central, south west, and north west parts of the state. 

For more pictures and information on Black-chinned hummingbirds.

Rare/Vagrant Hummingbirds In Oklahoma:

Rufous, Broad-billed, Calliope, Mexican Violetear, Costa’s, Broad-tailed, and Anna’s hummingbirds are the 7 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma.

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 Oklahoma.

Sightings map show the Rufous hummingbirds have documented Oklahoma sightings in areas of Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Norman, Lawton, and Ardmore.

For more pictures and information on Rufous 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 Oklahoma’s location, Broad-billed hummingbirds are extremely rare accidental vagrants to Oklahoma.

Sightings map shows the Broad-billed hummingbirds have rare documented Oklahoma sightings in the areas of Oklahoma City and in the south western quarter of the state.

For more pictures and information on Broad-billed 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.
Most travel all the way south to winter in Mexico making them extremely rare accidental vagrants to Oklahoma.

Sightings map shows Calliope hummingbirds have documented Oklahoma sightings in the areas of Boise City, Woodward, and Oklahoma City.

For more pictures and information on Calliope 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 Oklahoma. 

Sightings map document the Mexican-Violetear hummingbirds to have rare Oklahoma sightings in the area of Stillwater, Norman, and Lawton.

For more pictures and information on Mexican Violetear 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 making them extremely rare accidental vagrants to Oklahoma.

Sightings map show Costa’s hummingbirds have rare documented Oklahoma sightings in Tulsa.

For more pictures and information on Costa’s 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 a an extremely rare accidental vagrant hummingbird to Oklahoma.

Sightings map show Broad-tailed hummingbirds have rare documented Oklahoma sightings in the areas of Boise City, Felt, and Kenton.

For more pictures and information on Broad-tailed 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, making them extremely rare accidental visitors to Oklahoma.

Sightings map show Anna’s hummingbirds have rare documented Oklahoma sightings in Bartlesville, Tulsa, Muskogee, and Lawton.

For more pictures and information on Anna’s hummingbirds.

Which Oklahoma hummingbirds are most frequently seen in the state?

The most frequently seen Oklahoma hummingbirds are the Ruby-throated hummingbirds, with the Black-chinned being the second most frequently seen Oklahoma hummingbirds.

Oklahoma hummingbirds listed in order of frequency seen:

Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 88% of all hummingbirds seen in Oklahoma are Ruby-throated hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Oklahoma hummingbirds seen, 8,842 will be Ruby-throated hummingbirds.

Black-chinned Hummingbird: 10% of all hummingbirds seen in Oklahoma are Black-chinned hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Oklahoma hummingbirds seen, 1,048 will be Black-chinned hummingbirds.

Rufous Hummingbird: 0.53% of all hummingbirds seen in Oklahoma are Rufous hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Oklahoma hummingbirds seen, only 53 will be Rufous hummingbirds.

Broad-billed Hummingbird: 0.18% of all hummingbirds seen in Oklahoma are Broad-billed hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Oklahoma hummingbirds seen, only 18 will be Broad-billed hummingbirds.

Calliope Hummingbird: 0.15% of all hummingbirds seen in Oklahoma are Calliope hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Oklahoma hummingbirds seen, only 15 will be Calliope hummingbirds.

Mexican Violetear Hummingbird: 0.10% of all hummingbirds seen in Oklahoma are Mexican Violetear hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Oklahoma hummingbirds seen, only 10 will be Mexican Violetear hummingbirds.

Costa’s Hummingbird: 0.05% of all hummingbirds seen in Oklahoma are Costa’s hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Oklahoma hummingbirds seen, only 5 will be Costa’s hummingbirds.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird: 0.04% of all hummingbirds seen in Oklahoma are Broad-tailed hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Oklahoma hummingbirds seen, only 4 will be Broad-tailed hummingbirds.

Anna’s Hummingbird: 0.03% of all hummingbirds seen in Oklahoma are Anna’s hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Oklahoma hummingbirds seen, only 3 will be Anna’s hummingbirds.

Where in the state are Oklahoma hummingbirds seen?

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

Current Sighting Map Oklahoma hummingbirds:
(eBird.org links)

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

Read my article:
Oklahoma Hummingbird Migration

Happy Hummingbird Watching!

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions