Wonders Of Different Hummingbirds In Wyoming

These fast-moving and joyful birds are always a delight to look at! Ranging from the hyper Calliope to the colorful Rivoli Hummingbird, Wyoming’s environment is brimming with these species attracted by its cooler temperature. You might have come across quite a few zipping around in your yard yet not knowing what species they are.

Fortunately, quite a few types of Hummingbirds can be found in Wyoming. If you want to learn more about different Hummingbirds with each having unique and interesting characteristics, then keep on reading!

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Different Species of Hummingbirds found in Wyoming

A wide range of Hummingbirds can be spotted throughout the state of Wyoming. Some are residents, while others are migratory or have been spotted by accident. We will explore the diversity of the species of these birds.

Black-Chinned Hummingbird

Although quite rarely seen in the state, these Black-Chinned Hummingbirds are most likely to be seen around summer in Wyoming. These birds are characterized by metallic green backs and light underneath.

One way to distinguish male and female birds is to look at their necks. A male Black-Chinned Hummingbird will have a black throat with purple undertones, while the females have a white throat.

However, they are also known to be spotted commonly in a wide range of habitats, from deserts to mountains and dense forests, as well as urban areas. This makes them one of the most adaptable and versatile species among Hummingbirds.

Scientific Name	Archilochus alexandri
Length	3.5 in (9 cm)
Weight	0.1-0.2 oz (2.3-4.9 g)
Wingspan	4.3 in (11 cm)
Commonly Found In	These tiny birds are frequently found around canyons, rivers, and shaded trees. Additionally, they are also most commonly found to be sitting on bare branches of trees while frequently returning to a favorite perching spot.

Broad-Tailed Hummingbird

The female Broad-Tailed Hummingbird is one of the oldest living species of Hummingbird and can live for 12 years. The male species is characterized by pink iridescent throats, while the females have green spotting around their necks and cheeks, with both having long tails.

Their preferred nesting grounds are in mountainous areas at heights between 5000 and 10,000 feet. It can get a little chilly at night because their nests are often constructed on aspen or evergreen branches at higher altitudes.

However, Broad-tailed Hummingbird nests are typically lined with gossamer and spider webs to provide extra warmth to counteract the cold.

Scientific Name	Selasphorus platycercus
Length	3.1-3.5 in (8-9 cm)
Weight	0.1-0.2 oz (2.8-4.5 g)
Wingspan	5.25 inches (13 cm)
Commonly Found In	Typically found in mountains and located far above sea level, the Broad-Tailed Hummingbird prefers high altitudes. Mountains and woodlands are typically their favorite landscapes.

Calliope Hummingbird

The Calliope Hummingbird is yet again one of the smallest hummingbirds that can be found in the United States. They can be compared to a size of a ping-pong ball and is lighter than a penny! However, despite their tiny size, they can travel long ranges of more than 5000 miles with ease annually.

A Calliope also has red-to-magenta spotting on their necks, especially the male species, and features lighter backs and short bills and tails for both genders.

Scientific Name	Stellula calliope
Length	3.1-3.5 in (8-9 cm)
Weight	0.1-0.1 oz (2.3-3.4 g)
Wingspan	4.1-4.3 in (10.5-11 cm)
Commonly Found In	These tiny birds love coniferous forests and can be spotted mostly in the mountains in western Wyoming during summertime.

Rivoli’s Hummingbird

These Hummingbirds are larger in size when compared to other Hummingbirds of their species. With their striking coloring, these birds are a sight for the sore eyes!

The male Rivoli are dark green in color boasting a shiny purple crown which sets them apart from any other Hummingbirds. While the female Rivoli has a light green body with a grey underside, while both genders have long bodies and bills.

One of this remarkable species’ most amazing features is that it has the highest heart rate of any hummingbird species, reaching an astounding 1200 bpm!

Scientific Name	Eugenes fulgens
Length	4.3-5.5 in (11-14 cm)
Weight	0.3-0.3 oz (7-8 g)
Wingspan	7.1 in (18 cm)
Commonly Found in	The Rivoli Hummingbirds like to live in high elevated mountains, usually above 5000 to 9000 feet high. They prefer nesting in shady canyons or pine-oak forests in the mountains as well as forests and woodlands or are seen frequently perching on pike-oak trees.

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Characterized and distinguished by their scarlet throats and black chins, these birds are quite small among the species.

However, despite being one of the most common Hummingbirds in the USA, they can be a bit rare to be spotted in the state of Wyoming.

Scientific Name	Archilochus colubris
Length	2.8-3.5 in (7-9 cm)
Weight	0.1-0.2 oz (2-6 g)
Wingspan	3.1-4.3 in (8-11 cm)
Commonly Found In	These birds tend to live mostly in habitats surrounding dense, mixed forests, pine, and hardwood forests.

Rufous Hummingbird

These are yet again one of the longest migratory birds among the Hummingbird species while traveling up to 4000 miles twice per year. Their visuals mirror their feisty attitudes, which are distinguished by their distinctive bright flaming orange color, and white and red necks with iridescent patterns in males.

In contrast, female birds usually range from green to brown with white bellies and thinner bodies. Both sexes are notorious for chasing off other birds and humans when it comes to sharing feeders, they can be quite territorial!

Their feisty and aggressive personality makes it difficult to share feeders with other birds hence are not usually welcomed by hummingbird feeders. However, they play an important role in acting as a pollinator in the Pacific Northwest ecosystem

Unfortunately, their numbers have been declining quite rapidly throughout the years. Reports say that there has been a 60% decline in their population since the 1970s.

Scientific Name	Selasphorus rufus
Length	2.8-3.5 in (7-9 cm)
Weight	0.1-0.2 oz (2-5 g)
Wingspan	4.3 in (11 cm)
Commonly Found In	The Rufous Hummingbirds prefer open fields, including parks, forests, and yards, making them easy to spot.

Anna’s Hummingbird

These Birds can be very rare to find in Wyoming but can be spotted from time to time. Anna’s Hummingbirds are usually gray-brown, with the magenta iridescent throats of males distinguishing them from their female counterparts with gray throats.

Anna’s Hummingbirds are popular for their extravagant and fancy displays of courtship during the breeding season. They are known to do dives by climbing high up in the air and diving down with loud calls and shows of their colorful feathers.

Scientific Name	Calypte anna
Length	3.9 in (10 cm)
Weight	0.1-0.2 oz (3-6 g)
Wingspan	4.7 in (12 cm)
Commonly Found In	Anna’s Hummingbirds can be spotted in parks and gardens full of colorful flowers since they love feeding on nectars; hence easy to spot around flowering regions. However, they can also be spotted in the savannah as well.

Conclusion

Although these birds are small in size, each species has a big and unique personality not to mention their colorful feathers make them a delight to look at. Some are most easily spotted than others but it’s always possible to come across the rare ones as well! Now that you know the differences among the species and different types of Hummingbirds in Wyoming, there will be no issues in identifying some of these birds roaming around the area!

Hummingbirds Found in Nearby States of Wyoming: