Hummingbirds of Canada and the United States Quiz

Answer: Rufous hummingbird

The rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) may be small, but it's a top contender in the bird world for the long-distance migration marathon. Weighing little more than a couple of grams (about the weight of a raisin), this orange hummingbird migrates up to 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) each way, traveling from breeding grounds as far north as Alaska all the way to wintering areas in Mexico. Relative to body size, that's one of the longest migratory journeys of any bird on Earth.

Males are unmistakable with their brilliant orange-red plumage and iridescent throat, while females wear a more demure green-and-rust combination. Despite their tiny size, rufous hummingbirds are notoriously aggressive at feeders, dive-bombing anything that dares to sip "their" sugar water. If you're a hummingbird, you don't want to tangle with one of these bad boys.

Answer: Ruby-throated hummingbird

The ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is the most widespread hummingbird in eastern North America and the only one that regularly breeds there. Males are instantly recognizable by their shimmering red throat, which can appear jet black until sunlight hits it at just the right angle. This flashy accessory isn't just for show. It's used to impress females and intimidate rivals, sometimes both at once ("Is this guy botherin' you?")

Ruby-throateds are notorious for their dogged territoriality. A single bird will stake out a feeder or patch of flowers and vigorously chase away any challengers, often with more confidence than common-sense should allow. These aerial dogfights, complete with buzzing dives and squeaky chirps, make backyard feeders resemble little gladiatorial arenas. If you have a feeder, you understand.

The species is also famous for its remarkable migration. Each year, many Ruby-throated hummingbirds make a nonstop flight across the Gulf of Mexico, up to 500 miles (800 kilometers) over open water. For a bird with a heart the size of a pea, that's an impressive feat of endurance, especially considering I'll stand and wait for an elevator just to go up one floor. They manage it fueled entirely by nectar and the occasional bug snack.

Answer: Anna's hummingbird

Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna), named after Anna Masséna, Duchess of Rivoli, looks like it belongs performing on a glittery Vegas stage rather than in your backyard, all thanks to the male's brilliant iridescent magenta to reddish-pink crown and throat. Unlike many hummingbirds that rely on migration to escape winter, Anna's has become something of a year-round resident in much of western North America, from California up into British Columbia. The species has even expanded its range northward over the last century, thanks in part to urban gardens and an endless supply of hummingbird feeders.

What really makes Anna's special is its voice. Most hummingbirds are silent, save for the whirring of their wings and the occasional indignant squeak during aerial chases. But Anna's are singers. Males sing their scratchy songs from exposed perches, auditioning to the world. They also put on spectacular dive displays during courtship, plummeting from great heights and producing sharp, squeaky sounds with their tail feathers at the bottom of the dive.

Answer: Costa's hummingbird

Costa's hummingbird (Calypte costae) may be small, but it doesn't do subtle. The males' vivid purple crown and flared gorget look like a royal ruff, perfect for dramatic courtship displays in which they hover and dive to impress females (been there). When the sunlight hits just right, they resemble flying jewels wearing Elizabethan collars, albeit much faster and with fewer monologues about the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

These birds are specially adapted to desert life, thriving in the arid regions of the southwestern U.S. and Baja California, but spreading out as food permits. They rely on desert plants like ocotillo and chuparosa for nectar, timing their breeding season to the blooms.

Answer: Buff-bellied hummingbird

The buff-bellied hummingbird (Amazilia yucatanensis) is a bit of a show-off, flaunting shimmering green upperparts, a reddish bill, and, true to its name, a warm buffy-colored belly. While many hummingbirds migrate long distances, this species is more of a regional traveler. It breeds in southern Texas and along the Gulf Coast, with its range extending into Mexico and Central America. In winter, northern populations often head further south, while others enjoy year-round residence in tropical habitats.

This species is particularly fond of coastal thickets and semi-open woodlands, making it a common sight along the Gulf of Mexico. It may not be as famous as the ruby-throated, but the buff-bellied is a local favorite in Texas, where it adds a splash of tropical color to backyard gardens.

Answer: Allen's hummingbird

Allen's hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin) is a tiny dynamo of the Pacific Coast, ranging from southern Oregon down through California. Males are easily recognizable by their bright orange plumage and iridescent red-orange throat, which they use to maximum effect during their courtship displays.

These performances involve steep J-shaped dives accompanied by a loud, buzzing sound created by their wing feathers.

Answer: Black-chinned hummingbird

The black-chinned hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) is a subtle but gorgeous resident of the American Southwest, including Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Texas. However, they're no strangers as far east as Oklahoma and north to British Columbia. Males sport a glossy black throat and chin, which sometimes flash deep purple band in the sunlight at certain angles.

Females, meanwhile, are more muted, with grayish underparts and a faintly speckled throat, letting them blend into desert shrubbery. Interestingly, despite its typical desert habitat, this species migrates seasonally, heading south to Mexico in the winter before returning north for breeding.

Answer: Rivoli's hummingbird

Rivoli's hummingbird (Eugenes fulgens), also called the Magnificent hummingbird, the name preferred by the bird itself of course, is a true giant by hummingbird standards. Males can weigh nearly twice as much as many of their tiny cousins, and their dazzling violet crown and emerald-green throat catch the eye immediately. They are primarily found in the mountainous regions of Mexico and Central America, with regular sightings in the southernmost United States.

These hummingbirds favor pine-oak forests and steep canyons, where they feed on nectar from large flowers and also hunt small insects for protein. Despite their size, they are still impressively agile fliers, capable of hovering, darting, and performing the typical hummingbird aerial acrobatics. Males are highly territorial, defending feeding areas with a combination of aggressive chases and spectacular aerial displays.

Answer: Broad-billed hummingbird

The broad-billed hummingbird (Cynanthus latirostris) may not win a prize for originality for its name, but it definitely stands out in the hummingbird world. Its bill is exactly as advertised, broad and noticeably red at the base, paired with a shimmering emerald-green plumage and a sapphire-blue throat in males. Native to Mexico and parts of the southwestern United States (mainly Arizona and New Mexico), it's a frequent visitor to feeders, especially in arid regions where its colors seem almost too bright for the desert backdrop.

This hummingbird is also famous for its willingness to cross borders. While many hummingbirds stick to tropical or subtropical climates, the broad-billed pushes northward into the U.S. during breeding season, making it one of the most commonly seen hummingbirds in Arizona.

Answer: Blue-throated mountaingem

The blue-throated mountaingem (Lampornis clemenciae) is the heavyweight champion of U.S. hummingbirds, not that it's going to tip any practical scales at just about 8 grams (about a quarter ounce), but that's still nearly twice the size of some of its tiny cousins. Males boast a brilliant blue gorget that flashes in the sunlight, although in dim light it can look rather plain gray.

Unlike the desert-loving broad-billed, the blue-throated prefers cooler, forested mountain habitats with plenty of shade and running water, often in canyons and along streams. It breeds in Mexico but also makes its summer home in parts of southern Arizona, New Mexico, and sometimes Texas, where lucky birdwatchers sometimes catch them at backyard feeders. Their wingbeats are slower than smaller hummingbirds, giving them a slightly more deliberate vibe.