Hummingbirds have been observed in the United States, according to some accounts, of up to 27 different species. Certain of them are frequent visitors, while others are uncommon or accidental visitors. We have identified four common or semi-common species of hummingbirds in Oregon, as well as five additional species that have been seen more than once but are considered rare. Oregon is one of the greatest places in America to feed and see hummers, with a total of nine species of hummers present.
9 HUMMINGBIRDS IN OREGON
We’ve put together a list of hummingbirds that can be seen in the state of Oregon based on range maps from authoritative sources like allaboutbirds.org and ebird.org. Black-chinned hummingbirds, Anna’s hummers, rufous hummers, and calliope hummers are the most frequent Oregon hummingbirds. The species name, images, and other information about appearance are all listed for each species in this list. You may be able to locate them at certain times and places. The four most prevalent species will be mentioned first, followed by the five less prevalent ones.
Keep reading this page to find out when hummingbirds will be returning to your state, and keep reading at the conclusion of the article for strategies on bringing hummingbirds to your yard.
Enjoy!
1. BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD
Scientific name: Archilochus alexandri
Each year, black-chinned hummingbirds travel from Mexico and Central America to the western United States to breed. In most light, males’ throats appear to be completely black, but they do have a little purple feather patch at the bottom that is occasionally apparent. Females have a plain throat and are green above and pale below, as are most hummingbird females. They prefer to perch on bare branches and may be found in a variety of environments, from deserts to mountain forests.
Black-chinned hummingbirds may be found across Oregon from spring to autumn, although they are more common in the state’s central and eastern regions. During spring or autumn migration, they’ll be easiest to see in many places.
2. CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD
Scientific name: Selasphorus calliope
The Pacific Northwest and portions of western Canada are home to the calliope hummingbird during the breeding season, although it may be seen in many western states during migration seasons. Given the calliope is the smallest bird in the United States, this is an impressively long migration! The neck of males is striped in magenta stripes that fork down on either side. Plain females have a peachy tint underparts and a few green flecks on the throat.
Some calliope hummingbirds migrate through Oregon on their way north, but others will remain for the summer. They’ll stay around in central Oregon and are more scarce along the western coast, but they will migrate through most of the state’s eastern regions.
3. RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD
Scientific name: Selasphorus rufus
When it comes to sharing feeders and driving away other hummers, rufous hummingbirds are recognized for being extremely “feisty.” The top breast of males is orange, while the neck is orange-red. Males have a white patch on their upper breast. Green with rusty patches on the neck and a speckled throat, females are green. They go up through California in the spring, spend their summers in Oregon, Washington, and Canada before returning down through the Rockies in the fall.
Rufous hummingbirds are a common sight in Oregon throughout the summer, and they will stay to breed.
4. ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD
Scientific name: Calypte anna
The truth is, Anna will be staying in the United States. Nonetheless, you may only locate them in a few of the western states, such as Oregon, throughout the whole of their range. Their feathers are iridescent, and their chest and belly are flecked with emerald feathers, which makes them stand out among the rest of the green birds. Males have pink throats and their feathers are colorful enough to reach up to their forehead. They adore gardens and eucalyptus trees, and they are joyful in the backyards.
The west coast of Oregon, as well as central Oregon north of Bend, are home to Anna’s year-round. They are more likely to stick around for the breeding season and then depart in the fall in central Oregon south of Bend. In the eastern part of the state, they are far less prevalent.
5. COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD
Scientific name: Calypte costae
The deep purple skin of male Costa Ricans is well-known. Their foreheads and throats are splattered with purple feathers, which protrude out on both sides like a mustache. Green females have a white underside. Costa’s have somewhat shorter wings and tail, in comparison to other hummingbirds. In the United States, it is known as Baja, southern California, southern Nevada, and western Arizona are the best places to look for them.
They are still occasionally seen in Oregon, despite being considered uncommon. The western part of the state was where I saw the most recorded sightings.
6. ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD
Scientific name: Selasphorus sasin
Every year, these tiny birds travel from Central America to California’s Pacific Coast to breed. It may be difficult to tell the difference between these birds because they have a lot of the same colors. Allen’s males have an orange back and neck with a greenish tint. The back and flanks of females are dull green, with a brownish-orange throat. When compared to other hummingbirds, they migrate to California in January, a very early date. This also implies that they may head south as early as May or June, which is earlier than normal.
Allen’s are only found along a small portion of the Oregon coast in the south. From the southern border to Langolis, most of the coast is sandy. Outside of Oregon, they’re scarce. Look for them between February and June/July departure.
7. BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD
Scientific name: Selasphorus platycerus
Hummingbirds with broad wings prefer high altitudes and breed at elevations of up to 10,500 feet. The neck of a male is reddish-magenta. The throat and cheeks of females are green, with a buffy coloration on the sides.
Hummingbirds that have a broad tail are only here for a few weeks. In the meadows and forest clearings, look for them between May and August.
Broad-tailed hummingbirds are quite prevalent in neighboring Idaho, but they are scarce in Oregon. They do, however, occasionally enter the state and roam around. Fremont National Forest and the Steens Mountain Wilderness are two locations where there have been a few documented sightings.
8. RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD
Scientific name: Archilochus colubris
In the eastern part of the United States, ruby-throated hummingbirds are common, but not in the western part. The back is green, while the underparts are white. In some lighting, males have a black throat that appears crimson. They arrive in droves from Central America each spring, entering the country. A single flight across the Gulf of Mexico is used by many people heading for the eastern states.
Only in northwestern states such as Oregon do Ruby-throated hummingbirds appear on a regular basis. In the state, they are quite uncommon and there have only been a few sightings documented.
9. BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD
Scientific name: Cynanthus latirostris
In the United States, there are just two states. Arizona and New Mexico are known to have bred the broad-billed hummingbird. With their purpleish-blue throat and blueish-green belly, males are difficult to mistake. Their beak color is orange, with a black tip. The typical black beak is seen on females, who are a washed-out green above and gray below.
Only a couple of recorded sightings of broad-billed hummingbirds in the eastern part of the state, both in the early 2000s, have been found.
ATTRACTING HUMMINGBIRDS TO YOUR YARD
1. HANG HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS
Hang a nectar feeder in your yard, which is perhaps the best way to attract hummingbirds. Hummingbirds must eat constantly, and finding dependable nectar is critical. Select a feeder with a red color and that is simple to disassemble and clean. Cleaning and refilling should be done more than once per week in hot weather. For most people, we recommend a saucer-shaped feeder. They’re simple to maintain, perform well, and don’t hold a lot of nectar.
2. MAKE YOUR OWN NECTAR
By making your own nectar, you’ll eliminate the need for (and sometimes the risk of) harmful additives. It’s a low-cost, simple, and fast method. All you need to do is mix 1 cup sugar and 4 cups water in a 1:4 ratio. Creating your own nectar without having to boil the water is easy with our simple how-to guide.
3. PLANT NATIVE FLOWERS
Plant flowers in your yard that will draw passing hummingbirds, other than a feeder. Flowers with trumpet or tubular shaped blossoms, as well as red (as well as orange, pink, and purple) flowers are particularly attractive to them. Vertical planting can help you maximize your space. Long cascading vines of flowers may be given a large vertical surface by using an obelisk trellis or a flat trellis attached to the side of your home. Hummingbirds will like these 20 plants and flowers.
4. PROVIDE WATER
Water is required by hummingbirds for both drinking and bathing. They will utilize baths with the appropriate “specifications,” even if they find conventional bird baths to be too deep. You can buy or create something gorgeous for your yard with these excellent hummingbird bath options.
5. PROMOTE INSECTS
Sugar isn’t sufficient for most hummingbirds, so they need protein as well. Insects make up a third of their diet. Mosquitoes, fruit flies, spiders, and gnats are all examples of this. By avoiding pesticides, you can help your hummers. See our 5 simple tips for more information on insect feeders and ways to contribute to hummingbird feeding.