Rhode Island Hummingbirds: 3 Awesome Documented Species

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

Which species of Rhode Island hummingbirds are found in the state?

Ruby-throated, Rufous, and Calliope hummingbirds are the 3 species of hummingbirds documented as seen in Rhode Island listed in order of frequency seen.

Sighting Maps:

These 3 species of hummingbirds are documented as being seen in Rhode Island by sighting maps, listed in the order of frequently seen:

• Ruby-throated (Archilochus colubris)
• Rufous (Selasphorus rufus)
• Calliope (Selasphorus calliope)

These 3 hummingbird species found in Rhode Island 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
Calliope	Rare/Vagrant

For more information on Rhode Island hummingbirds:
Read my article:
Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island.

Year-Round
Rhode Island Hummingbirds:

There are no hummingbirds classified as year-round residents in Rhode Island; however, the Rufous hummingbird and those too old or injured to migrate can occasionally overwinter in the state.

This hummingbird classification is defined as year-round residents residing in Rhode Island 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
Rhode Island Hummingbirds:

The Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only classified seasonal Rhode Island hummingbird.
Hummingbirds that fit within this category are those that temporarily pass through Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island.

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 hummingbird in Rhode Island.

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

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

For more pictures and information on Ruby-throated hummingbirds.

Rare/Vagrant
Rhode Island Hummingbirds:

Rufous and Calliope hummingbirds are the 2 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island.

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 Rhode Island.

They are the second most commonly seen hummingbird in Rhode Island, behind the Ruby-throated hummingbird, even though there is a vast difference in sighting numbers between the two species.

The Nature Conservancy Rhode Island (TNCRI) Instagram page, recently suggests that in March of 2025 there was the first documented female Rufous hummingbird overwintering in Rhode Island.

See the current sighting map of Rufous hummingbirds in Rhode Island.

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 travel all the way south to winter in Mexico making extremely rare vagrants in Rhode Island.

See the current sighting map of the Calliope hummingbird in Rhode Island.

For more pictures and information on Calliope hummingbirds.

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

Which Rhode Island hummingbirds are most frequently seen in the state?

The most frequently seen Rhode Island hummingbirds are Ruby-throated hummingbirds that make up 99% of all hummingbirds seen in the state.

Rhode Island hummingbirds listed in order of frequency seen:

Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 99% of all hummingbirds seen in Rhode Island are Ruby-throated hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Rhode Island hummingbirds seen, 9,900 will be a Ruby-throated hummingbird.

Rufous Hummingbird: 0.93% of all hummingbirds seen in Rhode Island are Rufous hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Rhode Island hummingbirds seen, only 93 will be Rufous hummingbirds.

Calliope Hummingbird: 0.01% of all hummingbirds seen in Rhode Island are Calliope hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 Rhode Island hummingbirds seen, only 1 will be a Calliope hummingbird.

Where in the state are Rhode Island hummingbirds seen?

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

Rhode Island hummingbirds
(eBird.org links)

• Ruby-throated: This is where, in Rhode Island, current sightings of this hummingbird are being reported.
• Rufous: This is where, in Rhode Island, current sightings of this hummingbird are being reported.
• Calliope: This is where, in Rhode Island, current sightings of this hummingbird are being reported.

Read my article:
Rhode Island Hummingbird Migration

Happy Hummingbird Watching!

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions