Identifying different types of birds gives a great sense of achievement for bird watchers. Will it not be amazing to go a step further and be able to distinguish between the males and females of different bird species.
Many birds have distinctly different males and females and the hummingbird is no different. It may be difficult to quickly identify the males and the females, but this hummingbird picture ID guide will come in very handy to help identify the male and female hummingbirds.
Male hummingbirds are extremely colorful making them striking. Their throats are easily the best part of their bodies as they glisten and sparkle brightly. They are called gorgets. The females of the species are not half as colorful. They are normally dimmer in color compared to males. The beautiful dazzling throat of the male is also not present in the females.
Though there are many differences between the male and female hummingbirds, distinguishing them may not be as easy as it sounds. This picture ID guide is designed specifically to help make this process easy and enjoyable.
There are many sites that give us a lot more information about hummingbirds in general and about hummingbirds in North America in particular. Here are a few sites that can help with this:
Anna’s Hummingbird Male vs Female
Just like the other hummingbirds, Anna’s hummingbird also has male and female birds that are different. It is necessary to get to know the difference in order to identify them quickly. Luckily, the difference is very obvious and striking.
The main distinguishing factor is the color of their throats. The males have amazing, shimmering throats that are reddish-pink in color. The females are less colorful and have throats that are not very obvious. Their throats are gray in color. Isn’t this variation enough to instantly identify the male and the female of the species?
Anna’s Hummingbird Male
This picture is proof of the attractive throats that the male Anna Hummingbird has.
Anna’s Hummingbird Female
Though the female Anna’s hummingbird cannot boast of an equally appealing throat, they are beautiful birds with gray throats. They also have tinges of red.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Male vs Female
The Ruby-throated hummingbird is no less than Anna’s hummingbird as it also has an equally gorgeous shining throat that is red in color. Their bellies are white. The females of this species are not as colorful and also have white but in their throats and bellies.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Male
The name ‘Ruby-throated hummingbird’ comes from the beautiful red throats that do these birds proud. They have a mix of gray and white on the underneath. If you are surprised at this riot of colors, then you are in for a surprise. They have another color, green, on their backs. This is a vivid green and is definitely brighter than the green on the backs of their partners, the females.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Female
Though these birds also go by the same name, they do not have the ruby color that the males flaunt. Their throats are white and they are generally less colorful than the males. They have white bellies and greenbacks like the males but the green in their backs is not as bright as the green in the male. Their crowns are a brown color.
Black-chinned Hummingbird Male vs Female
The main difference between the two genders in this type of hummingbird also rests in the color of the throats. As is natural, the males are more colorful. They have beautiful black throats which are lined by a shimmering purple at the bottom. The females, however, do not have such a distinctly colored throat. They have pale throats. Another distinguishing feature in the females is the tinge of white in the tail feathers.
Black-chinned Hummingbird Male
The bird in the picture is an easily identifiable black-chinned hummingbird with a splendid black throat and a shiny purple lining underneath.
Black-chinned Hummingbird Female
The females of this species do not have such brilliantly colored throats. Instead, their throats are pale. They also have white tips on their tail feathers.
Rufous Hummingbird Male vs Female
The males of this species have a splash of vivid orange all over their bodies. The only area that is not orange is a small patch under the chin that is white. Their throats stand out distinctively as they are a reddish-orange. Though the females lack the amazing colors of the male, they have backs that are greenish-brown and they have pale underneath.
Rufous Hummingbird Male
The male Rufous hummingbird has backs and bellies that are a flaming orange and a really shiny red throat. They have a contrasting patch under the chin that is white.
Rufous Hummingbird Female
The females of this species also have different colors but are not as colorful or attractive as the males. They have greenish-brown backs rust-colored sides. Their bellies are white.
Broad-tailed hummingbird Male vs Female
The shiny rose throat that the males of this species boast of differentiates them easily from the females. The females have colorless throats with green spots.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird Male
This picture is proof of the gorgeous rose throats of the males.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird Female
The less colored female of this species has green spots on their throats and cheeks.
Costa’s Hummingbird Male vs Female
The males of this species are strikingly beautiful as they have lustrous purple patches on their throats. The females have plain necks without this brilliant purple. There is more white on their bellies compared to the males.
Costa’s Hummingbird Male
The males have remarkably glittering purple-colored patches on their throats. This color gives a lovely shine. Apart from the throat, the specialty of this bird is that its crowns are also purple. These are not the only colors on the bird. Their bellies are white. There is a green on their backs and this green extends down to the sides too.
Costa’s Hummingbird Female
The females are not as attractive as the males as the purple colors are completely absent in the females. They have more white in their bellies.
Calliope Hummingbird Males vs Females
As with many other kinds of hummingbirds, the males of this species also have amazingly striking throats that are glistening magenta. They also have white bellies. Such flashy necks are absent in the females. They have colorless throats and their bellies are also differently colored. They have white bellies.
Calliope Hummingbird Male
The beauty of the multi-colored male Calliope hummingbird is obvious in this picture. Apart from the magnificent magenta throats that they boast of, they also have backs and flanks that are shiny green. To contrast all this, they have tails that are completely dark.
Calliope Hummingbird Female
There are two distinct features that will help you identify the female of this species. They do not have such flamboyant colors and their underneath is pinkish white, unlike the males.
Best Feeders to Attract Hummingbirds
Who would not want to invite such colorful and amazing birds to their backyard? In fact, the more of these birds we attract, the happier we are territorial. So, they might not like sharing the same hummingbird feeder.
It is better to set up a few of these so that they are comfortable. The following list gives you the names of the feeders that are sure to attract these birds. Other than this, all you need is a simple nectar recipe and you are ready to go!
- Best window mounted hummingbird feeder – Perky-Pet Window Mount Hummingbird Feeder
Won’t it be fascinating to count the wingbeats of the next hummingbird that you spot using this feeder?
Best all-rounder feeder – First Nature Hummingbird Flower Feeder
This feeder comes with a double advantage. It lures an amazing number of hummingbirds. If you think this comes at a price, then think again. This feeder is very affordable. When there are such admirable advantages and it is well within reach, you will definitely want to buy a lot of these so that your yard is full of these lovely birds.
Best decorative feeder – Grateful Gnome Hummingbird Feeder
This is very special as it is completely handmade. It is hand-blown glass that is skilfully shaped into a feeder. Needless to say, it looks awesome and it is really good at attracting hummingbirds too.
