The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only breeding hummingbird throughout most of eastern North America, but the west has a number of other hummingbirds, although it's nothing compared to what can be found in Central America and South America.
There are more than 300 species of hummingbirds, but fewer than two dozen call North America home.
Below, you can see a map of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird's distribution.
Journey North accepts reports of all hummingbirds, although Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and Rufous Hummingbirds are the only two with their own dedicated reporting categories.
Take a look below at some of the other hummingbirds you may see in the western U.S. and their ranges across the continent. Click on the links to head to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's All About Bird species profiles, where you can view a range map for each species and more.
Allen's Hummingbird: This striking orange hummingbird breeds in areas along the Pacific Coast and mostly winters in Mexico.
Anna's Hummingbird: One of the most common hummingbirds in the West, Anna's Hummingbirds have a breeding range that stretches from Baja California all the way up through coastal British Columbia.
Black-chinned Hummingbird: Black-chinned Hummingbirds have a wide range, from Texas up to the Canadian border, inhabiting various habitats, including western deserts.
Blue-throated Mountain-gem: The largest breeding hummingbird in the U.S., the Blue-throated Mountain-gem has a limited range in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Most of its breeding range is in Mexico.
Broad-billed Hummingbird: The Broad-billed Hummingbird is another whose range barely sneaks into New Mexico and Arizona, but it's a treat to see one. Males are a dazzling mix of blue and green, while females offer a bit of blue color on their tail feathers as well.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird: Broad-tailed Hummingbirds breed across western mountain habitats, as well as being year-round residents in Mexico.
Buff-bellied Hummingbird: Buff-bellied Hummingbirds are non-breeding visitors to areas along the Gulf of Mexico in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
Calliope Hummingbird: The striking pink gorget of the male Calliope Hummingbird can be seen from British Columbia down to southern California, as well as in mountain states like Montana, Idaho and Utah.
Costa's Hummingbird: Speaking of striking gorgets, the male Costa's Hummingbird has a beautiful purple one. Look for it through central and western Arizona, as well as California and northwestern Mexico.
Lucifer Hummingbird: Add the Lucifer Hummingbird to the list of hummers with a range mostly in Mexico, but extending into areas of southern Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
Rivoli's Hummingbird: The bulk of the U.S. range of Rivoli's Hummingbird, formerly known as the Magnificent Hummingbird, is in the southeastern corner of Arizona.
Rufous Hummingbird: The Rufous Hummingbird's range extends further north than any other hummingbird species, going as far as Alaska. They complete a lengthy migration down to Mexico and Gulf Coast states during the winter, and they can sometimes find themselves in odd places along the way. In 2021, for example, one called Madison, Wisconsin, home for much of the winter.
Violet-crowned Hummingbird: Violet-crowned Hummingbirds are typically seen in the western half of Mexico, with a breeding range that occasionally creeps into New Mexico and Arizona.