Hummingbirds In Ohio

We are lucky enough to have seven species of hummingbirds in Ohio. Hummingbirds are wonderful birds that are amazing to watch and listen to. Below are the seven hummingbirds in Ohio.

About Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are native to the Americas and there are more than 350 species. Most species are found in Central and South America. It is the noise created by their beating wings that gives them their name. The wing beats range from 12 beats per second to 80 beats per second in smaller birds.

The smallest hummingbird is the Bee Hummingbird at just smaller than 2 inches, and the largest is the Giant Hummingbird at 9 inches.

With their long beaks, hummingbirds specialize in feeding on flower nectar, but all species also consume small insects.

As of 2024, 21 hummingbird species are listed as endangered or critically endangered.

Rufous Hummingbird

The Rufous Hummingbird is a beautiful-looking bird and it is also quite easy to tell the difference between the male and female.

The males are a lovely bright orange and have a small white patch on their throats. Some males also have a green streak on their body. Females are not as brightly colored as males. They are brown with a streak of orange. Instead of having a white patch on their throat, it is orange.

These Hummingbirds are around 8cm and have a wingspan of 10cm. They like to call Ohio home due to the fantastic countryside and habitat. These birds are quite common at all heights. They are also a friend to humans as their favorite snack is bugs.

Although some of these hummingbirds live in Ohio, they do migrate. In the winter months, they will head south to the Gulf of Mexico. In the summer months, they stay around the Northern parts of the United States and they also like to venture into Canada.

Black-Chinned Hummingbird

The males have a stunning purple collar with a black head. The body is very interesting as they have a mix of various colors. Some of these colors are brown, gray, white, and a tinge of green and red. The female is a very colorful green and has brown-tipped wings and a gray front.

These hummingbirds are around 10cm and they have a wingspan of 10 to 12cm. The Black-Chinned Hummingbird can be found in various parts of the United States and the West Coast is a particular favorite area for them. Having said that, they love Ohio and they call this state their home as well.

They can be found in various parks, bogs, and gardens. They love to take a drink of water from feeders, and their favorite food is spiders and other small insects.

Mexican Violetear Hummingbird

The male and female Mexican Violetear Hummingbirds have the same coloring. Their coats are quite spectacular with an amazing green covering, and a purple chest, and some individuals have a purple throat as well.

They also have a stunning violet marking along the eyes, and the tips of the wings are a very dark brown. This species of Hummingbird is larger with a body length of around 12cm and a wingspan of the same measurement.

Naturally, these birds can be found in Mexico and the United States. These birds prefer it when the environment is sub-tropical, so they can be found in Ohio in the summertime.

Calliope Hummingbird

It is easy to tell the difference between male and female Calliope hummingbirds. The males have streaks of magenta that run down from the throat and their body is quite light-colored. Some individuals have white bodies and some have light brown. The female is very pretty with a green back, tinged with bronze and they also have a peach-colored chest.

These hummingbirds are among the smallest species of hummingbird in the entire North American continent. The body only measures around 8cm and they have a wingspan of 10 to 11cm.

This species of hummingbird is normally found down the entire west coast of the continent. Whilst they are not seen in Ohio too much, they can be found in the state, especially if the winds and weather encourage them to come this way. In the summertime, they can be found in back gardens taking a drink of water. They enjoy eating insects and nectar.

Allen’s Hummingbird

The Allen’s hummingbird is a sight to see and a real treat as its colors are simply stunning. The males have fantastic orange and rust coloring and a bright multicolored throat. The females are not quite as bright as the males, but they are no less stunning. They are more of a rusty-looking color, however, they also have green mixed in with the feathers of their wings. These hummingbirds are quite small with a body of 9cm and a wingspan of 11cm.

The Allen’s Hummingbird lives in California and Mexico, but they do like to travel to other parts of the United States as well. Whilst they rarely visit Ohio, you may well be lucky enough to see one if you look hard enough. The best time to see these beauties in our state is in the summer.

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

The ruby-throated males and females can be quite difficult to tell apart, this is because both have a wonderful green coat and a very bright, white belly. They also have bright green backs and crowns on their heads.

The males also have a dark red throat, whereas the females tend not to have this, so in the right conditions (and if they play ball), you may be able to tell them apart. Another thing about this species is that both the males and females are the same size at 8cm in the body with a 10cm wingspan.

The best way of attracting these birds in Ohio is to have a garden full of flowers. These birds love collecting pollen and nectar and can spend hours doing it. They also enjoy the large parks and meadows in Ohio.

Another interesting fact about these wonderful birds is that they are the only hummingbirds to breed in Ohio. They breed in the spring and summertime before heading south for the winter with their new offspring.

This family was lucky enough to spot a rare albino Ruby-Throated hummingbird in their Northeast Ohio backyard:

Anna’s Hummingbird

The male Anna’s hummingbird has a magenta head and a greenish body. Some male individuals may have a grayish body. The female is a bit brighter than the male and they have green markings on their wings and their crowns. These hummingbirds are around 10cm in body length with a wingspan of 12cm.

Anna’s hummingbirds reside in the western parts of the United States, however, when the conditions are favorable to them, they do like to come to Ohio to rest and visit before continuing their journey. These hummingbirds are quite handy to have around as they like to eat various bugs and they like nectar and tree sap.

Spotting Hummingbirds in Ohio

Have you been lucky enough to spot any hummingbirds In Ohio? We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below and share your sightings.

If you are a birdwatching enthusiast, then you should check out our articles on Owls In Ohio and Hawks In Ohio!

If you are wondering which flowers they are feeding from when you are out hiking, maybe our Ohio Wildflowers article can help!