7 Hummingbirds in Nevada Every Birdwatcher Should Know

Nevada’s diverse landscapes, from scorching desert valleys to cool mountain peaks, create perfect conditions for multiple hummingbird species throughout the year.

While you might spot a flash of iridescent green darting between desert blooms or hovering at mountain wildflowers, identifying these tiny speedsters requires knowing what to look for and when to look.

Whether you’re exploring Red Rock Canyon, hiking in the Sierra Nevada, or simply watching your backyard feeder, you’ll discover that hummingbirds in Nevada follow distinct migration patterns and habitat preferences that make identification both challenging and rewarding.

Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)

The Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) earns its reputation as Nevada’s most territorial hummingbird species. These fierce little warriors will aggressively defend feeding territories against much larger birds, making them both fascinating and occasionally problematic at backyard feeders.

Key Identification Features:

• Males: Brilliant copper-orange back and sides with a dazzling reddish-orange throat
• Females: Green back with rusty-colored flanks and white breast with small rusty spots
• Size: 3-4 inches long with a slightly curved bill

When and Where to Find Them: Rufous Hummingbirds pass through Nevada during spring and fall migration, typically appearing from March through May on their northbound journey. They follow the Pacific Flyway, moving up elevation as flowers bloom in mountain meadows before continuing to breeding grounds further north.

Pro Tip: Look for Rufous Hummingbirds at feeders early in the morning when they’re most active and before other species arrive.

Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri)

The Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) represents Nevada’s most common breeding hummingbird species, making it essential for any birdwatcher to master identification of this adaptable species.

Distinctive Features:

• Males: Deep purple throat band that appears black in poor lighting, metallic green back
• Females: Plain whitish underparts with faint spotting on throat, green back
• Behavior: Pumps tail while hovering, unlike most other species

Habitat and Timing: Black-chinned Hummingbirds nest in Nevada’s lowland areas from April through August. They prefer riparian areas with cottonwoods and willows but adapt well to suburban gardens with appropriate flowering plants and feeders.

These hummingbirds demonstrate remarkable flexibility in elevation preferences, starting in valleys during spring before moving to slightly higher elevations as the season progresses.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus)

Mountain enthusiasts will most likely encounter the Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus) during summer hikes in Nevada’s higher elevation forests and meadows.

Identification Markers:

• Males: Brilliant rose-red throat, green back, distinctive wing whistle during flight
• Females: Buffy-colored flanks, green back, rusty-colored base of tail
• Sound: Males produce a distinctive cricket-like trill with their wings during flight

Prime Locations and Season: Broad-tailed Hummingbirds prefer elevations above 4,000 feet, frequenting aspen groves, pine forests, and mountain meadows from May through September. In Nevada, search for them in the Sierra Nevada range and other mountainous regions where wildflowers bloom throughout summer.

The species shows remarkable cold tolerance, often remaining active in temperatures that send other hummingbirds into torpor.

Calliope Hummingbird (Selasphorus calliope)

North America’s smallest bird, the Calliope Hummingbird (Selasphorus calliope), occasionally graces Nevada’s mountainous regions during migration, particularly in areas with suitable high-elevation habitat.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

• Males: Magenta throat streaks that radiate outward like rays, green back
• Females: Peachy wash on flanks, white throat with small dark spots
• Size: Notably smaller than other species at just 3 inches long

Migration and Habitat: Calliope Hummingbirds follow mountain corridors during migration, preferring meadows and open forests between 1,000-11,000 feet elevation. In Nevada, they’re most commonly spotted during May through July in suitable mountain habitat.

Their remarkable 5,000-mile migration journey makes any Nevada sighting particularly special for dedicated birders.

Common Mistake: Don’t confuse female Calliope Hummingbirds with female Broad-tailed Hummingbirds – Calliope females lack the rusty tail base.

Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna)

Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna) appears rarely in Nevada, primarily along the western border areas and occasionally at urban feeders, making each sighting noteworthy for local birders.

Key Features:

• Males: Brilliant rose-pink head and throat, emerald green back
• Females: Green back with gray-green underparts, small red spots on throat
• Size: Stockier build compared to other Nevada species

Occurrence Patterns: Unlike most hummingbirds in Nevada, Anna’s Hummingbirds can potentially appear year-round in suitable habitat, though they remain uncommon. They prefer coastal climates but occasionally wander inland, particularly during winter months when other food sources become scarce.

Urban feeders in Reno and Las Vegas areas provide the most likely opportunity for Anna’s Hummingbird encounters.

Allen’s Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin)

Allen’s Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin) represents one of Nevada’s rarest hummingbird visitors, typically appearing as vagrants from their primary coastal California range.

Identification Challenges:

• Males: Copper-orange throat and back, extremely similar to Rufous Hummingbird
• Females: Nearly identical to female Rufous Hummingbirds
• Behavioral Clues: Less aggressive than Rufous Hummingbirds at feeders

When to Watch: Allen’s Hummingbirds most commonly stray into Nevada during migration periods, particularly in spring when weather patterns may push them eastward from their normal coastal routes. Expert identification often requires detailed observation of tail feather patterns and subtle size differences.

Key Takeaway: Distinguishing Allen’s from Rufous Hummingbirds requires expert-level observation skills and often benefits from photographic documentation for later verification.

Broad-billed Hummingbird (Cynanthus latirostris)

The Broad-billed Hummingbird (Cynanthus latirostris) occasionally appears in southern Nevada as a vagrant from Arizona’s desert regions, representing the state’s most exotic hummingbird possibility.

Distinctive Features:

• Males: Deep blue-green throat and breast, red bill with black tip
• Females: Distinctive white stripe behind the eye, gray underparts
• Bill: Notably broad and red, unlike other Nevada species

Vagrant Status: These desert specialists rarely venture beyond their primary Sonoran Desert range, but climate variations and habitat changes occasionally bring them into southern Nevada’s desert areas, particularly around Las Vegas and the Colorado River corridor.

Any Broad-billed Hummingbird sighting in Nevada deserves immediate documentation and reporting to local birding communities.

Final Birding Tips for Nevada Hummingbirds

The key to successful hummingbird identification in Nevada lies in understanding elevation preferences, seasonal timing, and habitat requirements. Start by noting your location’s elevation and the time of year, then focus on throat coloration in males and overall size differences.

Remember that migration timing varies significantly between species, with some passing through quickly while others establish temporary or breeding territories. Keep your feeders clean and filled with fresh nectar, particularly during peak migration periods in spring and fall.

Whether you encounter the aggressive Rufous, the adaptable Black-chinned, or catch a glimpse of one of the rarer species, each hummingbird sighting in Nevada offers an opportunity to witness the remarkable diversity of these aerial acrobats in one of the American West’s most diverse landscapes.