8 Types Of Hummingbirds In Texas

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Did you know that eight types of hummingbirds can be found in Texas?

These beautiful creatures come in a variety of colors and sizes, and each one is unique.

In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the different types of hummingbirds in Texas and discuss some of the best places to see them in the Lone Star State, especially Western Texas.

We’ll look at the different hummingbird species in the whole state.

8 Types Of Hummingbirds In Texas

In Texas alone, there are many hummingbirds: Black-chinned, the rufous hummingbird, Costa’s, Broad-tailed, Anna’s, Buff-bellied, White-eared, and blue-throated hummingbirds.

The Black-chinned is one of the most commonly encountered species in Texas as it mostly frequents urban areas and gardens.

Allen’s Hummingbird

Allen’s Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin) is an amazing little bird, native to the western shores of North America.

These birds are small and bright green with a bright orange-red throat and crown.

They can be found hovering near colorful flowers while feeding on nectar, their favorite food source.

Their wings rapidly beat between 55-75 times a second during flight, making them one of the fastest-flying birds in existence!

Broad-tailed Hummingbirds

Broad-tailed Hummingbirds are known for their brilliant, metallic green feathers and loud, high-pitched calls.

These small birds weigh in at only 3–5 grams and measure 7.5–9 centimeters in length, making them one of the smallest yet most vocal hummingbird species.

Their wings can flap up to 80 beats per second and also have curved feathers which create a resonant hum when they fly.

They mainly consume nectar but can supplement their diet with spiders, fruit, and insects.

During the breeding season, Broad-tailed Hummingbirds travel through the western United States and northern Mexico before migrating south for the winter to areas of Central America.

Anna’s Hummingbird

Anna’s Hummingbird is a sight to behold and a delight to watch.

It’s an American species of hummingbird found in the western states, as far north as British Columbia and as far south as northern Baja California.

Its beauty has endeared it to many, with its iridescent purple crown head and back, white chest, neck, and belly; and prominent, curved bill.

Its wings move so quickly that the eye can’t quite capture them – they create a visible blur in movement – yet its hovering capabilities are remarkable!

White-eared Hummingbirds

The white-eared is a rare north American hummingbird.

White-eared hummingbirds are captivating creatures!

This species of hummingbird can be found in semi-desert scrub and deep deciduous forests from South Texas through Central Mexico.

These tiny birds have a white stripe behind their eye, and the upper parts of their body range from iridescent green to black while the underside is usually grey or greenish.

Because they can hover in midair while feeding on nectar and chasing away other avian intruders, White-eared

Hummingbirds make for a dazzling viewing experience.

Buff-bellied Hummingbird

The Buff-bellied Hummingbird is the only hummingbird species native to the East coast of North America.

It’s a medium-sized hummingbird characterized by its unique buffy appearance and gorgeous blue-green tail feathers.

It can be seen flitting from flower to flower in bushy open spaces as it feeds on nectar and catches tiny insects with its long tongue!

It’s a captivating sight to behold, especially during courtship season when males curiously check out potential mates with their beautiful display of flight maneuvers.

Female Buff-bellied hummingbirds are mostly found in the Big Bend national park, the Rio grande valley, and southern Texas.

Violet-crested Hummingbird

The stunning Violet-crested Hummingbird is an absolute delight to behold.

This colorful, diminutive bird is found in the tropical regions of both Central and South America.

These birds display their beauty with a vibrant crown of magenta feathers, with males showing even brighter colors than their female counterparts!

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

The ruby throat is a magnificent hummingbird.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are one of the most beloved birds in North America.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds

These unique and beautiful creatures move quickly that they appear as a hovering blur of color when observed in flight.

Male ruby-throated hummingbirds with their vibrant feathers, dark green color, stout little bodies, and energetic buzzing wings, capture the attention of everyone that crosses their path!

While female ruby-throated hummingbirds are bright orange.

Broad-billed Hummingbirds

Broad-billed Hummingbirds are a hummingbird native to the southwestern United States and Mexico.

They have long and colorful beaks that can reach up to 6 centimeters in length and a steely slate-blue head, back, and wings.

To add to the mesmerizing beauty of these birds, their throats are iridescent ruby-red with white corners on their tails.

One of their most interesting traits is how they use their beaks to secure food from hard-to-reach spots, such as deep inside flowers or between tree bark crevices.

types of hummingbirds in Texas

While they typically prefer open areas such as deserts and grasslands, Broad-billed Hummingbirds often migrate to find more seasonal food options.

Blue-throated Hummingbird

The blue-throated Hummingbird, also called the blue-throated mountain gem, is a stunning bird native to the Tropical Andes mountain range in South America.

This beautiful species features an iridescent garnet-red head and throat on a white belly, with metallic azure-green around the wings and tail feathers.

The blue-throat mostly feeds on both nectar and insects, which provide an important pollination service for plants.

Lucifer Hummingbird

Lucifer Hummingbirds are stunningly beautiful creatures found in the western United States, the Pacific Northwest, and Mexico.

The male’s iridescent throat feathers, glittering from violet to red, delight bird watchers and nature enthusiasts with their unpredictable flashes of color.

Even though its preference is for desert climates and sparse vegetation, the Lucifer Hummingbird can be found near ponds and small rivers as well as cacti and desert shrubs.

Black-chinned Hummingbird

The black-chinned hummingbird is one of the most colorful and fascinating birds that call North America home.

It’s unmistakable with its velvety blue-green feathers, a dark chin, a white patch around its throat, and ruby red feathers at its throat.

That ruby red turns spectacularly iridescent when directly struck by sunlight!

These tiny birds feed exclusively on nectar from certain flowers, as well as small insects to provide protein.

Calliope Hummingbird

The Calliope Hummingbird is an enchanting sight and an amazing creature, with their majestic emerald-green head and red streaks on the chest.

Their wings beat several times a second as they hover in front of flowers to sip from the nectar, a remarkable feat of strength and agility.

Male calliope hummingbirds are fast but can also slow down for a perfect hovering position, allowing them to probe for sweet nectar with their long tongues up to twice their body length.

types of hummingbirds in Texas

They often fly towards native plants covered by complex tangles of vines instead of those that merely stand out since the brilliant hummers need a place where prey is plentiful and safe from predators like hawks or larger birds.

Rufous Hummingbirds

The rufous hummingbird never fails to mesmerize us with their vibrant plumage and dynamic flying abilities.

As one of the most commonly seen birds on the west coast, these feisty fliers thrive in a diversity of habitats from Alaska and Canada down to Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Mexico.

While they live mostly along the coast, Rufous hummingbirds can also be spotted in canyons and along rivers or streams where evergreen trees abound.

When it comes to food, their diet consists mainly of nectar for energy as well as smaller insects for extra protein.

During breeding grounds in west Texas and eastern North America, these birds become quite possessive about their territories and will fly aggressively against any possible threats.

After mating, female Rufous hummingbirds will build small cup-shaped nests secure with spider webs near flowers close to water sources.

However, this common hummingbird is mostly found on the Pacific coast and the Davis mountains.

Costa’s Hummingbird

Costa’s Hummingbird is a stunning bird, easily recognized by its glittering emerald-green back and head, its ruby-red throat, and its stunningly long beak.

It’s a species native to Mexico and parts of the Southwestern United States, including Arizona and California, where it is often spotted in the early morning drinking nectar at flowers.

It lives off tree sap and nectar from plants such as cacti, agaves, and other flowering plants.

During the breeding season, it’s known to compete aggressively with other hummingbirds for access to the best food sources!

Most Common Hummingbirds In Texas

Most hummingbirds capture our imaginations all over the world, especially in the United States.

In Texas alone, there are numerous vibrant species of tiny little birds.

Most hummingbirds spotted across the Lone Star State range from the Black-chinned Hummingbird to Anna’s Hummingbird.

Kinds Of Hummingbirds Found In Texas

The Lone Star State boasts an incredible diversity of hummingbirds, with twelve species recorded in Texas over a year.

Hummers such as the small but mighty Rufous, Allen’s, Broad-billed hummingbird, and broad-tailed hummingbird, call the state their home both in winter and summer. In the springtime, birdwatchers often observe Magnificently, Costa’s, and White-eared Hummingbirds flitting about their feeders or gardens.

Along coastal areas, you might find Black-chinned or Ruby-throated Hummingbirds as they make their way from one flowering shrub to the next in search of nectar.

The Best Hummingbird Feeder to Attract Hummingbirds in Texas

Attracting hummingbirds to your backyard is an amazing experience!

To get started, you need the best nectar feeders that are designed to attract these charming birds.

In Texas, there are several great feeders available on the market.

Look for one that’s made with rust-resistant materials and has several feeding ports so more birds can enjoy the nectar simultaneously.

Be sure to keep it clean by rinsing it often and replacing the sugar water regularly to ensure that the hummingbirds remain safe and healthy.

To attract a female hummingbird, you’ll have to ensure a supply of green-breasted mango.

Dawn Caffrey

Dawn Caffrey

Hummingbirds just make me happy - in fact, I read somewhere that they represent happiness in Native American totems.
Let me tell you what I found about feeders from treating the hummingbirds in my back yard.