Mississippi’s warm climate and diverse habitats make it a surprisingly rich destination for hummingbird enthusiasts. While you’ll primarily encounter the ruby-throated hummingbird during spring and summer months, the state’s position along the Gulf Coast creates opportunities to spot rare western species and winter stragglers that delight dedicated birders.
Understanding which hummingbirds visit Mississippi—and when—transforms casual backyard observation into rewarding wildlife watching. From the reliable summer residents that nest in your neighborhood to the accidental visitors that generate excitement in birding communities, each species brings unique identification challenges and behavioral patterns worth learning.
This guide covers all 11 hummingbird species documented in Mississippi, organized by their occurrence patterns to help you know what to expect throughout the year and what to watch for during migration periods.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
The ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) dominates Mississippi’s hummingbird scene from March through October. This species represents virtually all hummingbird sightings in the state during breeding season, making it the baseline for identifying any unusual visitors.
Males display an unmistakable iridescent ruby-red throat patch that appears black in poor lighting, while females and juveniles show white underparts with minimal markings. Both sexes measure 3-3.5 inches in length with emerald green backs and slightly forked tails. The National Audubon Society tracks ruby-throated migration patterns through Mississippi, revealing that most birds arrive in late March and depart by mid-October.
Breeding and Nesting Behavior
Female ruby-throats construct walnut-sized nests from plant down and spider silk, typically placing them 10-40 feet high on downward-sloping branches. You’ll find these tiny structures camouflaged with lichen pieces, making them nearly invisible even when you know the general location.
Mississippi’s breeding season runs from April through July, with females raising 1-2 broods depending on food availability and weather conditions. Males establish feeding territories but provide no parental care, focusing their energy on defending nectar sources and attracting additional mates.
Pro Tip: Ruby-throated males arrive in Mississippi 7-10 days before females during spring migration. If you spot your first hummingbird in mid-March, expect female arrivals and nesting activity to begin in late March or early April.
Feeding Preferences
These hummingbirds favor tubular red and orange flowers including trumpet creeper, coral honeysuckle, and cardinal flower. At feeders, they consume sugar water mixed at a 1:4 ratio (one part white sugar to four parts water) and vigorously defend productive feeding sites from other hummingbirds and even larger birds.
Ruby-throats also capture small insects and spiders for protein, often gleaning them from foliage or catching them in mid-air. This insect consumption increases dramatically during nesting season when females need extra protein for egg production and feeding nestlings.
Rufous Hummingbird
The rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) ranks as Mississippi’s most regular rare visitor, with sightings occurring primarily from October through February. This western species follows an elliptical migration route that brings small numbers through the Gulf Coast states during fall and winter months.
Adult males show extensive rufous (reddish-brown) coloring on the back, sides, and tail, with an orange-red throat patch. Females and immature birds present more challenging identification, displaying green backs with rufous sides and varying amounts of throat spotting. According to detailed identification resources, rufous hummingbirds measure slightly smaller than ruby-throats at 2.8-3.5 inches.
Winter Occurrence Patterns
Mississippi birders increasingly report rufous hummingbirds at feeders during winter months, particularly in coastal counties. These birds overwinter in the Gulf states rather than completing migration to Mexico, taking advantage of mild temperatures and reliable feeder networks maintained by dedicated enthusiasts.
If you maintain feeders year-round in Mississippi, you significantly increase your chances of hosting a wintering rufous. These birds often claim feeding territories and defend them aggressively against other hummingbirds, making them easier to observe consistently once they establish residence.
Important Note: Leaving feeders up through winter does not prevent hummingbirds from migrating. Ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate based on decreasing daylight hours, not food availability, while rufous hummingbirds naturally winter in the Gulf region.
Distinguishing Rufous from Ruby-throated
The primary identification challenge involves separating female and immature rufous hummingbirds from similar ruby-throated hummingbirds. Key differences include the rufous bird’s rufous wash on the sides and tail base, slightly shorter bill, and different tail feather patterns when viewed from below.
Behavior also provides clues—rufous hummingbirds exhibit more aggressive territorial defense and produce different vocalizations than ruby-throats. The rufous gives a buzzy, sputtering chase call compared to the ruby-throat’s softer chips.
Black-chinned Hummingbird
The black-chinned hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) appears rarely in Mississippi, with most records concentrated during fall migration from August through October. This western species occasionally wanders east of its normal range, creating identification challenges for observers unfamiliar with its subtle field marks.
Males feature a black throat with a thin purple band at the bottom edge, though the purple often appears black in poor lighting. Females closely resemble female ruby-throats but show slightly longer bills, different wing proportions, and distinct vocalizations. Both sexes pump their tails noticeably while hovering, a behavior less pronounced in ruby-throats.
Identification Challenges
Distinguishing female black-chinned hummingbirds from female ruby-throats ranks among the most difficult field identification challenges in eastern North America. The species share similar size, coloration, and habitat preferences, requiring careful observation of multiple features for confident identification.
Focus on the black-chinned’s longer, slightly decurved bill, duller green back coloration, and distinctive wing sound—a lower-pitched buzz compared to the ruby-throat’s higher whine. The black-chinned also shows less contrast between the throat and breast in females.
| Feature | Black-chinned | Ruby-throated |
|---|---|---|
| Bill Length | Longer, slightly decurved | Shorter, straight |
| Back Color | Duller green | Brighter emerald |
| Tail Pumping | Frequent, pronounced | Minimal |
| Wing Sound | Lower buzz | Higher whine |
Occurrence Timing
Mississippi’s black-chinned records cluster in late summer and fall, suggesting that young birds dispersing from western breeding grounds occasionally drift eastward. Coastal counties report sightings more frequently than inland areas, possibly due to concentrated observer effort and the coast’s role as a migration corridor.
Document any suspected black-chinned hummingbird with photographs and detailed notes, as these records contribute valuable data about the species’ occurrence patterns in Mississippi. Many birders maintain feeders specifically to attract and observe rare hummingbird species.
Calliope Hummingbird
The calliope hummingbird (Selasphorus calliope) represents North America’s smallest bird species at just 2.8-3.2 inches long. This western mountain species appears extremely rarely in Mississippi, with only a handful of documented records concentrated during fall and winter months.
Males display distinctive magenta streaks on a white throat rather than a solid gorget, creating a unique “whiskered” appearance. Females show peachy-buff sides and relatively short bills and tails compared to other Selasphorus species. Both sexes have shorter wings that barely extend past the tail tip when perched.
Rarity Status
Calliope sightings in Mississippi qualify as accidental occurrences, meaning the species appears far outside its normal range with no predictable pattern. Most eastern records involve young birds during their first fall migration, suggesting that inexperienced navigators occasionally wander far off course.
The species’ small size makes it easily overlooked among more common hummingbirds. Careful observers checking winter feeders occasionally discover calliopes mixed with rufous hummingbirds, particularly in coastal areas where multiple western species sometimes concentrate.
Key Insight: Calliope hummingbirds show proportionally shorter bills and tails than rufous hummingbirds, creating a distinctly compact appearance. This structural difference, combined with the male’s streaked throat pattern, provides reliable identification even at a distance.
Conservation Context
While calliope hummingbirds maintain stable populations in their western breeding range, climate change threatens their high-elevation mountain habitats. These tiny birds migrate farther relative to their body size than any other bird species, traveling from breeding grounds in the Pacific Northwest to wintering areas in Mexico.
Any Mississippi sighting represents an extraordinary navigational error, highlighting the challenges young birds face during their first migration. Reporting these rare occurrences to eBird and other databases helps researchers understand vagrancy patterns and population trends.
Anna’s Hummingbird
Anna’s hummingbird (Calypte anna) appears occasionally in Mississippi during winter months, representing another western species that has expanded its range eastward in recent decades. This relatively large, stocky hummingbird shows distinctive rose-red coloring on the head and throat of adult males.
Males feature iridescent rose-pink covering the entire head and throat, extending onto the forehead—a pattern unique among North American hummingbirds. Females display gray underparts with variable red spotting on the throat and a small patch of red on the crown. Both sexes appear noticeably larger and stockier than ruby-throats, with straighter bills.
Range Expansion
Anna’s hummingbirds historically resided only along the Pacific Coast but have expanded dramatically northward and eastward over the past 50 years. This expansion correlates with increased ornamental plantings and year-round feeder maintenance, which provide reliable food sources outside the species’ traditional range.
Mississippi records remain uncommon but appear to be increasing, particularly in southern counties. The species’ tolerance for cold temperatures allows it to overwinter successfully even during occasional freezes, provided feeders remain accessible and functional.
Behavioral Characteristics
Anna’s hummingbirds vocalize more extensively than most hummingbird species, producing scratchy songs and loud chase calls. Males perform spectacular dive displays, climbing 100+ feet before plummeting toward the ground while producing loud popping sounds with their tail feathers.
These birds defend feeding territories year-round rather than only during breeding season, making them particularly aggressive at feeders. If you host an Anna’s in winter, you’ll likely notice it dominating all feeding sites and chasing away other hummingbirds, even the normally pugnacious rufous.
Allen’s Hummingbird
Allen’s hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin) ranks among Mississippi’s rarest hummingbird visitors, with only a few confirmed records. This western coastal species closely resembles the rufous hummingbird, creating significant identification challenges that require expert analysis of photographs or in-hand examination.
Adult male Allen’s hummingbirds show green backs compared to the rufous back of male rufous hummingbirds, but females and immature birds of both species appear virtually identical in the field. Tail feather measurements and patterns provide the most reliable identification criteria, though these features require close examination or high-quality photographs.
Identification Complexity
The similarity between Allen’s and rufous hummingbirds means that most Mississippi observers cannot definitively identify female or immature birds without expert consultation. Even experienced birders typically record these birds as “Selasphorus species” unless they can document diagnostic tail feather patterns.
Adult male Allen’s provide more straightforward identification with their green backs, but even these birds can show variable amounts of rufous coloring that complicates field identification. The species’ limited range and rarity in Mississippi means that any Selasphorus hummingbird in the state most likely represents a rufous rather than Allen’s.
Common Mistake: Many observers incorrectly identify rufous hummingbirds as Allen’s based on subtle plumage variations. Unless you can clearly document a green back on an adult male or obtain detailed tail feather photographs, assume any Selasphorus hummingbird in Mississippi is a rufous.
Documentation Importance
Given the identification challenges, any suspected Allen’s hummingbird in Mississippi requires extensive photographic documentation from multiple angles. Focus particularly on capturing clear images of the tail feathers spread from below, as the width and shape of specific feathers provide the most reliable identification criteria.
Submit documentation to the Mississippi Ornithological Society or regional bird records committees, which maintain official state bird lists and evaluate unusual sightings. These records contribute to understanding both species’ occurrence patterns and help identify potential range changes over time.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
The broad-tailed hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus) appears extremely rarely in Mississippi, with most records occurring during fall and winter months. This western mountain species produces a distinctive metallic trill with its wings, creating a sound unlike any other North American hummingbird.
Adult males display rose-magenta throats and green backs, with broad tails that produce the characteristic trilling sound during flight. Females show peachy-buff sides and white-tipped outer tail feathers, resembling female rufous and Allen’s hummingbirds but typically appearing slightly larger with different structural proportions.
Acoustic Identification
The broad-tailed’s wing trill provides the most reliable identification feature, audible from considerable distances and unlike any sound produced by other hummingbirds regularly occurring in Mississippi. Adult males produce this sound constantly during flight, making them detectable even before visual observation.
Females and immature birds lack the specialized wing feathers that create the trill, requiring identification based on plumage and structural features. These birds show slightly longer wings and different tail patterns compared to similar Selasphorus species, though distinguishing these features requires experience and often photographic documentation.
Habitat Associations
In their western range, broad-tailed hummingbirds inhabit mountain meadows and open forests from 4,000-10,000 feet elevation. Mississippi’s low elevation and different habitat types mean that any broad-tailed occurrence represents a significant range extension and navigational error.
The few Mississippi records suggest that young birds occasionally wander eastward during fall migration, similar to patterns observed with other western hummingbird species. Maintaining feeders through migration periods increases the chance of detecting these rare visitors.
Buff-bellied Hummingbird
The buff-bellied hummingbird (Amazilia yucatanensis) represents a tropical species that occasionally reaches Mississippi’s Gulf Coast during fall and winter. This large, distinctive hummingbird shows buffy underparts and a bright red bill with a black tip, making identification relatively straightforward.
Both sexes display similar plumage with green upperparts, rufous tails, and the characteristic buff-colored belly. The bright red bill and overall large size distinguish buff-bellied from all other hummingbirds regularly occurring in Mississippi. According to Mississippi bird distribution data, most state records come from coastal counties during November through February.
Range and Occurrence
Buff-bellied hummingbirds breed primarily in southern Texas and northeastern Mexico, with some birds moving northward and eastward along the Gulf Coast during winter. This post-breeding dispersal pattern brings small numbers to Louisiana and occasionally Mississippi, particularly during mild winters.
The species shows increasing occurrence along the Gulf Coast over recent decades, possibly reflecting range expansion or improved observer coverage. Coastal Mississippi counties offer the best chance for encountering this species, especially in areas with abundant flowering plants and maintained feeders.
Feeding Behavior
Buff-bellied hummingbirds favor flowering trees and shrubs over typical garden flowers, often feeding at higher levels than ruby-throated hummingbirds. They readily visit feeders but also consume significant amounts of insects, frequently gleaning prey from foliage and bark.
These birds tolerate cold temperatures better than most tropical hummingbird species, allowing them to survive occasional freezes if food sources remain available. Their larger body size provides better cold tolerance compared to smaller species, contributing to successful overwintering in the Gulf states.
Broad-billed Hummingbird
The broad-billed hummingbird (Cynanthus latirostris) appears extremely rarely in Mississippi, with only a handful of documented records. This Mexican species occasionally wanders north and east of its normal range, creating excitement among birders when discovered.
Males show brilliant blue-green plumage overall with a bright red bill and forked tail. Females display gray underparts with a red-based bill and white eyebrow stripe, creating a distinctive facial pattern. Both sexes appear medium-sized with relatively broad, flat bills compared to most North American hummingbirds.
Identification Features
The broad-billed’s distinctive bill shape and coloration provide reliable identification for both sexes. Males’ overall blue-green coloration differs from any other hummingbird likely to occur in Mississippi, while females’ white eyebrow stripe and red-based bill create a unique combination of field marks.
The species’ forked tail and overall structure resemble ruby-throated hummingbirds more than western Selasphorus species, but the bill characteristics prevent confusion once observers obtain clear views. The broad-billed also produces distinctive vocalizations, including a rattling call quite different from ruby-throat chips.
Pro Tip: If you discover an unusual hummingbird at your feeder, avoid the temptation to identify it immediately. Instead, take detailed photographs from multiple angles, note behavioral characteristics, and record any vocalizations. This documentation allows expert consultation and contributes valuable occurrence data.
Vagrancy Patterns
Mississippi’s broad-billed records likely represent young birds dispersing from Mexican breeding populations or southwestern U.S. populations that have expanded northward in recent decades. The species shows increasing occurrence in the southwestern states, which may lead to more frequent eastern vagrancy over time.
Report any suspected broad-billed hummingbird immediately to local birding networks, as other observers will want opportunities to see and document this rare visitor. These sightings often attract birders from across the region, highlighting the excitement that rare hummingbirds generate among the birding community.
Mexican (Green) Violetear
The Mexican violetear (Colibri thalassinus) represents one of Mississippi’s most unexpected hummingbird visitors, with rare records scattered across the eastern United States. This medium-large Central American species shows distinctive violet ear patches and overall green plumage that distinguishes it from all regularly occurring North American hummingbirds.
Both sexes display similar plumage with metallic green bodies, violet-blue ear patches, and violet-blue chest bands. The species appears noticeably larger than ruby-throated hummingbirds with a stockier build and slightly decurved bill. The tail shows a broad blue-black band near the tip, visible when the bird spreads its tail during flight or displays.
Occurrence Context
Mexican violetears breed in highland forests from Mexico through Central America, with no regular migration into the United States. The species’ appearances in Mississippi and other eastern states represent true vagrancy—birds that have traveled far outside their normal range through unknown mechanisms.
Most U.S. records occur during summer months, suggesting that some birds may undertake northward movements during or after breeding season. The pattern of widely scattered records across eastern North America indicates that these movements lack any predictable direction or timing, making each sighting purely opportunistic.
Behavioral Observations
Mexican violetears that reach Mississippi typically establish territories around reliable food sources, defending feeders and flowering plants aggressively. The species produces loud, distinctive songs consisting of repeated metallic chips, quite different from the vocalizations of other hummingbirds.
These birds often perch conspicuously on exposed branches, singing persistently throughout the day. This behavior, combined with their large size and distinctive plumage, makes them relatively easy to identify once detected. Any violetear sighting warrants immediate documentation and reporting to regional birding networks.
Green-breasted Mango
The green-breasted mango (Anthracothorax prevostii) represents Mississippi’s rarest documented hummingbird, with extremely few confirmed records. This large tropical species normally ranges from Mexico through Central America, making any U.S. appearance exceptional and worthy of significant documentation.
Adult males show dark green upperparts with a black throat and chest divided by a central blue-green stripe. Females display similar upperparts but have white underparts with a dark central stripe, creating a completely different appearance from males. Both sexes appear noticeably larger than ruby-throated hummingbirds with curved bills and distinctive tail patterns.
Documentation Requirements
Any suspected green-breasted mango in Mississippi requires extensive photographic and video documentation from multiple observers. The species’ extreme rarity means that identification must be absolutely certain, with images showing diagnostic features including bill shape, tail pattern, and plumage details.
Contact the Mississippi Ornithological Society immediately if you suspect this species, as other experienced observers will want to confirm the identification and document the occurrence. These records often require submission to regional or national bird records committees for official acceptance.
Vagrancy Considerations
The mechanisms bringing green-breasted mangos to Mississippi remain unclear, though severe weather events in the Gulf of Mexico could potentially displace birds far from their normal range. The species’ size and strong flight capabilities allow it to survive extended over-water flights, though such journeys likely occur only under unusual circumstances.
Mississippi’s position along the Gulf Coast makes it slightly more likely to receive tropical vagrants compared to inland states, though the probability remains extremely low for any given location. Maintaining awareness of hummingbird diversity and identification features ensures that observers can recognize unusual species when they appear.
Key Insight: Mississippi’s hummingbird diversity extends far beyond the common ruby-throated species, with 10 additional species documented through dedicated observer effort. Maintaining feeders year-round, learning identification features, and connecting with local birding networks maximizes your chances of discovering rare visitors.
Conclusion
Successfully observing Mississippi’s hummingbird diversity requires strategic planning, proper equipment, and connection to the birding community. The state’s position along the Gulf Coast creates opportunities for rare species, particularly during fall and winter months when western vagrants appear most frequently.
Maintain clean feeders year-round using a simple 1:4 sugar-to-water ratio, changing the solution every 3-5 days in warm weather and weekly during winter. Plant native flowering species including trumpet creeper, coral honeysuckle, and cardinal flower to provide natural nectar sources that attract both common and rare hummingbirds.
Join local birding groups and monitor online resources to learn about unusual sightings in your area. Many rare hummingbirds remain at the same location for weeks or months, allowing multiple observers to study and document them. Report your own sightings through eBird and other platforms to contribute valuable occurrence data.
Invest in a quality camera or spotting scope to document unusual birds, focusing on features like bill shape, tail pattern, and overall structure rather than just plumage color. These details prove crucial for identifying rare species and allow expert consultation when field identification remains uncertain.
The rewards of careful observation extend beyond simply adding species to your list. Each hummingbird sighting—whether common ruby-throat or exceptional rarity—provides insights into migration patterns, range changes, and the remarkable navigational abilities of these tiny birds. Mississippi’s diverse habitats and strategic location ensure that every season brings new opportunities for discovery.
