There have been reports of as many as 27 different species of hummingbirds seen in the United States. Some of these are common can be found every year, while some are rare or accidental visitors. When it comes to hummingbirds in Delaware, we have found 2 species that are common or semi-common and 3 that are rare. That’s a total of 5 species of hummingbirds that have visited Delaware.
5 Hummingbirds in Delaware
Based on the range maps of authoritative sources like allaboutbirds.org and ebird.org, we’ve put together a list of hummingbirds that can be seen in the state of Delaware. For each species in this list you’ll find the species name, pictures of what it looks like, specifications about appearance, and where and when you may be able to spot them. We will list the more common species first, and the least common ones last.
Stay tuned at the end of the article for tips on attracting hummingbirds to your yard, and visit this article to find out when hummingbirds will be returning to your state.
Enjoy!
1. Ruby-throated hummingbird
Scientific name: Archilochus colubris
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the most common hummingbirds in the eastern half of the United States. They have a green back and white underparts. Males have a ruby red throat that can look black in certain lighting. Each spring they enter the country in droves from their wintering grounds in Central America. Many of them fly over the Gulf of Mexico in one non-stop flight! Ruby-throated hummingbirds are fairly easy to attract to backyards with nectar feeders and flowers.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are seen throughout Delaware during the spring and summer months. They will arrive in April and May and leave in late September.
2. Rufous Hummingbird
Scientific name: Selasphorus rufus
Rufous hummingbirds are known for being very “feisty” when it comes to sharing feeders and chasing off other hummers. Males are orange all over with a white patch on the upper breast and an orange-red throat. Females are green with rusty patches and a speckled throat. In the spring they migrate up through California, then summer in the Pacific northwest and Canada, then zip back down through the Rockies in the fall.
While the Rufous is considered a hummingbird of the western U.S., they are probably second most commonly sighted species on the east coast after the ruby-throated hummingbird. While they are by no means a common hummingbird in Delaware, they have been spotted a dozen or more times over recent years. There have also been plenty of sightings in surrounding areas such as Cape May, Philadelphia and Washington D.C., so they are definitely in the area and wander into Delaware from time to time. Most sightings are during the late fall or winter.
3. Calliope Hummingbird
Scientific name: Selasphorus calliope
The calliope hummingbird winters in Central American, then mainly spends its breeding season in the Pacific Northwest and parts of western Canada. That’s an impressively far migration, especially considering the calliope is the smallest bird in the United States! Males have a unique throat pattern of magenta stripes that fork down on the sides. Females are plain with some green spotting on the throat and peachy tinted underparts.
Calliope Hummingbirds are considered rare on the east coast, however they have been spotted in Delaware at least three times. Interestingly, all sightings recorded were in November, and they all occurred in the same general area of far northern Delaware around Wilmington and New Castle.
4. Allen’s Hummingbird
Scientific name: Selasphorus sasin
These tiny guys fly all the way from Central America to breed along the Pacific Coast in California each year. They have very similar coloring to the Rufous hummingbird so it can be tricky distinguishing the two. Allen’s males are orange with a green back and orangey-red throat. Females have a speckled throat with dull green back and brownish-orange flanks. They migrate quite early compared to other hummingbirds, heading for California in January.
Allen’s is very rare for Delaware. There is only one recorded sighting on eBird in Newark during November and December in 2021. However I included them on this list because Allen’s have been spotted in surrounding Philadelphia and along the southern New Jersey coast. So it does appear a stray Allen’s finds its way to the area from time to time and probably pass over Delaware occasionally.
5. Black-chinned Hummingbird
Scientific name: Archilochus alexandri
Black-chinned hummingbirds migrate north from Mexico and Central America each year and breed in the western United States. Males throat color looks plain black in most light, however they do have a small strip of purple feathers along the bottom that is sometimes visible. Females appear like most hummingbird females green above and pale below with a plain throat. They are widespread among many habitats from deserts to mountain forests and like to perch on bare branches.
While they are a bird of the west coast, they have been spotted in most states along the east coast at least once, including Delaware where some lucky birders saw one in Sussex during November 2020. They are extremely rare for the state however I included them because there have been a handful of sightings just across the bay on Cape May, so I would guess that some cross over to coastal Delaware on occasion.
Melanie is an environmental scientist, birdwatcher, and amateur photographer. She’s been a birding hobbyist for years and loves feeding and learning about birds of all types. Over the years, Melanie has identified more than 250 bird species, with sightings of the Atlantic Puffin, Hawaiian Goose, and Arctic Tern among her most cherished.