Learn to identify the hummingbirds you will encounter in the southeastern United States. From the common Ruby-throated Hummingbird to rare winter visitors, this guide covers field marks, seasonal timing, and key differences between species.
Archilochus colubris
The only breeding hummingbird in eastern North America. If you see a hummingbird in the Southeast from March–October, it is almost certainly a Ruby-throat.
Males have iridescent red throat, forked tail. Females have no red, rounded tail with white tips, overall duller coloring.
While the Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only breeding species in the eastern US, several western species occasionally overwinter in the Southeast, primarily from November through March. Keeping a feeder up through winter increases your chance of spotting one of these uncommon visitors.
Selasphorus rufus
Most common winter vagrant in Southeast (November–March)
Likelihood: Uncommon but regular; most frequently reported winter hummingbird in GA, FL, SC, AL
Archilochus alexandri
Rare winter visitor
Key difference: Males have black (not red) throat with purple base. Females nearly impossible to distinguish from Ruby-throat without careful examination.
Selasphorus calliope
Rare vagrant (1–2 reported per winter in Georgia)
Gorget (throat patch) color is the most reliable identification feature for males. Ruby-throated shows red, Rufous shows orange-red, Black-chinned shows black with purple base, and Calliope shows magenta streaks rather than a solid patch. Gorgets can appear black in shade—wait for the bird to turn into direct sunlight.
Timing narrows your options dramatically. From March through October, nearly every hummingbird in the Southeast is a Ruby-throat. A hummingbird at your feeder in December or January is almost certainly not a Ruby-throat—look carefully for Rufous, Black-chinned, or Calliope.
Calliope Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in North America—noticeably smaller than Ruby-throats. If a winter hummingbird at your feeder looks unusually tiny with a short tail that does not extend past folded wings, it may be a Calliope.
Rufous Hummingbirds have distinctive warm orange-brown coloring on the back, flanks, and tail. No other Southeast hummingbird shows this much rufous. If you see a hummingbird with obvious orange or rust coloring, especially in winter, it is very likely a Rufous.
If you think you have a non-Ruby-throated hummingbird visiting your feeder, report it to eBird. Take photos and note the bird's size, tail shape, flank color, and gorget pattern. Your local Audubon chapter may be able to arrange a bander to confirm the identification.