There have been reports of nearly 30 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 New Hampshire, we have found 1 common species, 1 semi-common species, and 1 species that has visited but is rare. That’s a total of 3 species of hummingbirds you may be able to see in New Hampshire.
3 Hummingbirds in New Hampshire
The 3 species of hummingbirds in New Hampshire are the Ruby-throated hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, and the Calliope Hummingbird.
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 New Hampshire. 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 species below in order of how common they are.
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 New Hampshire during the spring and summer months. They are by far the most common hummingbird in the state, and will arrive in April and May and leave in September. If you see a hummingbird in your yard, 9 times out of 10 it will be the ruby-throated.
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, spend the 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 the second most commonly sighted species on the east coast after the ruby-throated hummingbird.
Recorded sightings in New Hampshire tend to be most frequent in the southern portion of the state (below Laconia), and often late summer to late fall. I wouldn’t call them common visitors to the state, but there have been well over a dozen sightings in recent years.
3. Calliope Hummingbird
Scientific name: Selasphorus calliope
The calliope hummingbird winters in Central America, 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 most east coast states. I could only find one sighting in New Hampshire that occurred in 2013, however they have popped up in surrounding states such as Maine, Massachusetts and Connecticut, so there is always a possibility of the occasional calliope wandering into the state.
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.