Hummingbird Varieties

Anna's hummingbirds populate much of the Pacific Coast, taking up residence in eucalyptus groves, parks, coastal scrub habitats and hospitable backyards. Males of the species boast luminous green feathers and rich pinkish-rose throats, making them quite visible as they whirl through the air during courtship behaviors. In fact, a male often soars 130 feet high before executing a spectacular dive to the ground, complete with unusual noises emanating from his tail feathers.

Costa's hummingbirds spend the cooler breeding months in the Arizona and California deserts, migrating to more habitable woodland and scrub environments during the blistering desert summer months. The Costa male's greenish back contrasts with his brilliant purple head and throat, making him quite visible against the desert and scrub vegetation. The hummingbirds' habitats have become threatened by development and flood control project land preparation. In addition, cattle farmers have replaced desert scrub vegetation with South African buffelgrass, which feeds fires that destroy Costa's hummingbirds' nesting spots and nectar sources.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds provide a welcome reminder of spring throughout the eastern United States. After the tiny travelers traverse the Gulf of Mexico from their Central American winter homes, the ruby-throats settle in meadows, parks, gardens and suburban backyards. Male ruby-throats' greenish backs and rich red throats make them easy for females to spot, leading to mating and nesting behaviors, and ultimately resulting in ruby-throated offspring. In early fall, the hummingbirds' instincts spur them to head south again.

Rufous hummingbirds follow seasonal weather patterns throughout the U.S. and Mexico. During the summer, the rufous species settles throughout the northwestern U.S., breeding and nesting in spacious parks and woodlands. While rufous hummingbirds occasionally winter in the Southeast and southern California, they generally spend the winter months in Mexico. Rufous males' orange back coloring may be flecked with green, contrasting with many plants and trees. The rufous males' wings only produce the distinctive buzzing sound when they actually fly, not when they hover.