Hummingbird Identifier
Identify hummingbird species by color, size, and region. Use our interactive filters, compare similar species side-by-side, and learn the key field marks that separate look-alike species.
Color Identification Tool
Select the colors and features you observed to narrow down the species
1Primary Body Color
2Throat / Gorget Color
Note: gorget colors only show in males. Females mostly lack iridescent throat patches.
3Apparent Size
All hummingbirds appear tiny in the field — focus on relative size if multiple species are present.
4Region Where Observed
Select at least one filter above to see matching species
The more filters you apply, the more precise your identification
Similar Species Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of the most commonly confused species pairs
Ruby-throated vs Black-chinned
The east vs west look-alikes
Rufous vs Allen's
Nearly identical — look at the tail and back
Field Marks Guide
Key identification features explained — what to look for in the field
Gorget (Throat Patch)
Ruby-red flash
Brilliant ruby-red gorget that flashes like a traffic light in sunlight. Appears black in poor light. Only Ruby-throated has this in eastern NA.
Purple-violet band
Black-chinned males show a velvet-black chin with a lower band of iridescent purple-violet — only visible at certain angles.
Rose-pink crown + gorget
Anna's Hummingbird is the only species with rose-pink extending over the entire crown, not just the throat.
Streaked gorget
Calliope's gorget has individual elongated wine-red feathers that can flare like whiskers — not a solid patch.
Tail Shape & Pattern
Rufous vs Allen's
Rufous has an entirely rufous back; Allen's usually shows a green back. Tail feathers are the definitive ID — Rufous r2 is broader at the tip.
Broad tail trill
Male Broad-tailed Hummingbirds produce a distinctive metallic cricket-like trill with narrowed outer tail feathers — audible from 50 ft.
Blue-throated tail flash
Blue-throated Mountain-gem has large white tips on the outer tail feathers — very visible in flight, especially from below.
Wing Sounds
Broad-tailed cricket trill
The male Broad-tailed Hummingbird produces an unmistakable high-pitched metallic trill on every wingbeat — often heard before seen.
Rufous wing buzz
Rufous wings produce a lower, softer buzz compared to the Broad-tailed's trill. Sound alone won't separate Rufous from Allen's.
Ruby-throated hum
The classic deep 'hum' of hovering hummingbirds — Ruby-throated produces a soft, low-pitched hum at 53 beats per second.
Overall Body Color
All-green females
Most female hummingbirds appear green above with white/buff below. Context, range, and bill shape are critical for female ID.
Rufous coloration
Any extensive rufous/orange-brown coloration immediately points to Rufous or Allen's. Other species only show rufous on flanks.
Blue-gray underparts
Blue-throated Mountain-gem shows distinctive blue-gray underparts and white facial stripes — no other US species matches this.
Photography Tip
Set your camera to burst mode at 1/2000s or faster. Hummingbird wings move up to 80 times per second — you need the speed.
Lighting Matters
Gorget colors are iridescent — they only appear colored when light hits at the right angle. A dull throat in shade does not mean no gorget.
Focus on Range First
Before looking at colors, always check the range. In eastern North America, a breeding bird is almost certainly a Ruby-throated.
All Tracked Species
All hummingbird species found in North America with key ID details
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
Rufous Hummingbird
Selasphorus rufus
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Archilochus alexandri
Blue-throated Mountain-gem
Lampornis clemenciae
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Selasphorus platycercus
Calliope Hummingbird
Selasphorus calliope
Allen's Hummingbird
Selasphorus sasin
Costa's Hummingbird
Calypte costae