How to Tell Female & Male Hummingbirds Apart

The best way for a birdwatching enthusiast to differentiate male and female hummingbirds is to use their colors as a guide. Employing a field guide to birds and then taking note of the colors of any hummingbird you happen to encounter is the most practical way to accomplish this. Identifying the sexes in a species that can beat its wings on average as rapidly as 53 times a second requires careful observation to note the specific color pattern of the plumage when the opportunity arises.

Instructions

    • 1

      Distinguish the male ruby-throated hummingbird by the patch of red on its neck that gives this species its name. The males and females both have green upper parts and sides, with the green coloring continuing on to the top of the head. Only the male possesses the ruby throat, which will appear dark to you if the bird is not flying or perching in the sunlight.

    • 2

      Tell the male rufous hummingbird from the female by the bright orange coloring on its back as well as its belly. This western hummingbird species aggressively defends its territory against even much larger birds. The male has an obviously red throat in addition to the orange hues. The female has greenish upper parts and a grayish-white throat with just a touch of reddish-orange on it.

    • 3

      Identify a male magnificent hummingbird by looking at the purple on the top of its head. The male also has a greenish throat area and the belly is black. The female has green on the head, back and wings with a gray breast and belly. If you can get a good look at the female through binoculars, you may notice a white line that seems to extend from behind her eye. The range of this hummingbird is in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico.

    • 4

      Discern a male Anna’s hummingbird from its opposite sex by their throats. The male’s throat, along with the forehead, will be a shimmering red; the female’s throat is much more lackluster with a gray tone with just a hint of red mixed in. The female’s forehead is a dark brown-gray shade. Anna’s hummingbird lives in the Southwest and along the Pacific Coast.

    • 5

      A hummingbird you may happen to catch a glimpse of on its nest is the female of the species. In most hummingbird types, the female constructs the nest, hatches the eggs and raises the little ones. The male does not hang around for a long period and is typically gone once the mating is finished.