Hummingbird Species in Georgia

The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only species of hummingbird that lives full time in Georgia, as it is the main species of hummingbird in the eastern United States. However, other hummingbird species do wind up in Georgia, occasionally visiting the state for the winter months before returning to their summer homes. These species include the rufous hummingbird as well as others that birdwatchers refer to as accidental visitors.

  1. Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

    • The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only hummingbird that nests east of the Mississippi River in the United States. The species takes its name from the distinct iridescent ruby red throat of the males, which contrasts with the green on its head and back. The bird is small, between 2.8 and 3.5 inches, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds website, and can beat its wings as rapidly as 53 time per second. The ruby-throated hummingbird feeds on nectar from such plants as honeysuckle, bee balm and morning glories. The female builds a nest about the size of a thimble, and once the male completes his mating tasks, he leaves the female to raise the family.

      The species has a range from Canada south through upper Florida and as far west as the eastern Great Plains. Ruby-throated hummingbirds winter in Mexico and Central America

    Rufous Hummingbird

    • The Georgia Hummers website reports that the rufous hummingbird, a species of the Far West, is the hummingbird other than the ruby-throated type most commonly observed in Georgia. The species typically will winter in Mexico after breeding in the Pacific Northwest but sometimes comes as far to the east as Georgia. The male has a brilliant orange belly and back, along with a red throat, while the female rufous hummingbird has a green upper body and orange-brown sides.

      This is a fearless hummingbird, known for chasing other hummingbirds away from feeders and flowers. The bird possesses a fine memory of where certain patches of flowers exist. The species is an excellent acrobatic flier, like all hummingbirds, and will capture and eat insects such as flies and gnats in mid-air.

    Other Hummingbirds

    • Other hummingbird species recorded by observers in Georgia include the magnificent hummingbird, the Allen's hummingbird, the broad-tailed hummingbird and the Anna's hummingbird.

      The Anna's hummingbird lives in the Far West and winters in states like New Mexico and Arizona. The male will sit on a perch and sing and will dive-bomb other birds, as well as people.

      The broad-tailed hummingbird lives in the Rocky Mountain states but occasionally comes as far to the east as Alabama and Georgia.

      Allen's hummingbird resembles the rufous species closely, especially the younger birds. As of February 2010, the Georgia Hummer website reports nine documented sightings of this species in Georgia.

      The magnificent hummingbird, at 5.5 inches long, is second in size only to the blue-throated hummingbird, in regards to hummingbirds found north of the Mexican border. It lives in southeast Arizona and has beautiful purple, green and black plumage.