South Carolina Hummingbirds: 9 Awesome Documented Species

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

Which species of South Carolina hummingbirds are found in the state?

Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, Buff-bellied, Calliope, Anna’s, Broad-billed, Allen’s, and Broad-tailed hummingbirds are the 9 species of hummingbirds documented as seen in South Carolina, listed in order of frequency seen.

Top Google-ranked websites recognize one additional hummingbird, the Blue-throated Mountain-Gem, as a South Carolina hummingbird, despite the fact that it is not one of the species documented as being seen in South Carolina on a national hummingbird sighting map.

Sighting Maps:

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

• Ruby-throated (Archilochus colubris)
• Rufous (Selasphorus rufus)
• Black-chinned (Archilochus alexandri)
• Buff-bellied (Amazilia yucatanensis)
• Calliope (Selasphorus calliope)
• Anna’s (Calypte anna)
• Broad-billed (Cynanthus latirostris)
• Allen’s (Selasphorus sasin)
• Broad-tailed (Selasphorus platycercus)

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

Listed In The Order Of Frequency Seen:

Hummingbirds:	Year-Round, Seasonal, Rare/Vagrant
Ruby-throated	Seasonal
Rufous	Rare/Vagrant
Black-chinned	Rare/Vagrant
Buff-bellied	Rare/Vagrant
Calliope	Rare/Vagrant
Anna’s	Rare/Vagrant
Broad-billed	Rare/Vagrant
Allen’s	Rare/Vagrant
Broad-tailed	Rare/Vagrant

For more information on South Carolina hummingbirds:
Read my article:
South Carolina 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 South Carolina.

Year-Round South Carolina Hummingbirds:

There are no hummingbirds classified as year-round residents in South Carolina; however, the Rufous, Black-chinned, and Calliope hummingbirds have rare sightings 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina Hummingbirds:

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

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 South Carolina.

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

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

For more pictures and information on Ruby-throated hummingbirds.

Rare/Vagrant Hummingbirds In South Carolina:

Rufous, Black-chinned, Buff-bellied, Calliope, Anna’s, Broad-billed, Allen’s, and Broad-tailed hummingbirds are the 8 South Carolina 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.

Top Google-ranked websites recognize one additional hummingbird, the Blue-throated Mountain- Gem, as a South Carolina hummingbird, despite the fact it is not documented as being seen in South Carolina on a national hummingbird sighting map.

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

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 rare vagrants to South Carolina.

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

Some Rufous hummingbirds choose to overwinter in South Carolina according to the Carolina Bird Club (CBC.org) and ebird.org, however most migrate south for the winter.

See the current sighting map of Rufous hummingbirds in South Carolina.

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

Some Black-chinned hummingbirds choose to overwinter in South Carolina according to ebird.org, however most migrate south for the winter.

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

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 have also been frequently observed along the coast of the Gulf of America in the Southern United States and are extremely rare accidental vagrants to South Carolina.

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

For more pictures and information on Buff-bellied 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 them extremely rare accidental vagrants to South Carolina.

Some Calliope hummingbirds choose to overwinter in South Carolina according to the Carolina Bird Club (CBC.org) in reference to a study out of Mecklenburg County, however most migrate south for the winter.

See the current sighting map of the Calliope hummingbird in South Carolina.

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 are an extremely rare accidental vagrant to South Carolina.

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

For more pictures and information on Anna’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 South Carolina’s location in the Eastern United States, Broad-billed hummingbirds are extremely rare.

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

For more pictures and information on Broad-billed 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 and southern California, making them extremely rare accidental vagrants to South Carolina.

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

For more pictures and information on Allen’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 an extremely rare accidental vagrant to South Carolina.

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

For more pictures and information on Broad-tailed hummingbirds.

Which South Carolina hummingbirds are most frequently seen in the state?

The most frequently seen South Carolina hummingbirds are the Ruby-throated hummingbirds that represent 99% of all hummingbirds seen in the state.

South Carolina hummingbirds listed in order of frequency seen:

Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 99% of all hummingbirds seen in South Carolina are Ruby-throated hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 South Carolina hummingbirds seen, 9,896 will be Ruby-throated hummingbirds.

Rufous Hummingbird: 0.63% of all hummingbirds seen in South Carolina are Rufous hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 South Carolina hummingbirds seen, only 63 will be Rufous hummingbirds.

Black-chinned Hummingbird: 0.27% of all hummingbirds seen in South Carolina are Black-chinned hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 South Carolina hummingbirds seen, only 26 will be Black-chinned hummingbirds.

Buff-bellied Hummingbird: 0.07% of all hummingbirds seen in South Carolina are Buff-bellied hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 South Carolina hummingbirds seen, only 7 will be Buff-bellied hummingbirds.

Calliope Hummingbird: 0.04% of all hummingbirds seen in South Carolina are Calliope hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 South Carolina hummingbirds seen, only 4 will be Calliope hummingbirds.

Anna’s Hummingbird: 0.01% of all hummingbirds seen in South Carolina are Anna’s hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 South Carolina hummingbirds seen, only 1 will be Anna’s hummingbird.

Broad-billed Hummingbird: 0.01% of all hummingbirds seen in South Carolina are Broad-billed hummingbirds.
Out of 10,000 South Carolina hummingbirds seen, only 1 will be Broad-billed hummingbird.

Allen’s Hummingbird: Out of 20,000 South Carolina hummingbirds seen, only 1 will be an Allen’s hummingbird.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird: Out of 60,000 South Carolina hummingbirds seen, only 1 will be a Broad-tailed hummingbird.

Where in the state are South Carolina hummingbirds seen?

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

South Carolina Current Sightings Maps:
(eBird.org links)

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

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions

Happy Hummingbird Watching!