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 Washington, we have found 4 species that are common , and 1 that has been spotted in Washington more than once but is considered rare. That’s a total of 5 species of hummingbirds in Washington, making it a good state for feeding and spotting hummingbirds.
5 Hummingbirds in Washington
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 Washington. The most common Washington hummingbirds are Anna’s hummingbird, Rufous hummingbird, Black-chinned hummingbird and the Calliope hummingbird. For each species in this list you’ll find the species name, pictures and specifications about appearance, and where and when you may be able to spot them. We will list the 4 more common species first, and the less common one last.
Stay tuned at the end of the article for tips on attracting hummingbirds to your yard.
Enjoy!
1. 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.
Black-chinned hummingbirds are more common in the eastern half of Washington. Sightings become sparse around Seattle and it would be hard to find one any further west. Look for them to arrive in the spring, and then move into more mountainous areas in late summer before migrating south again.
2. Calliope Hummingbird
Scientific name: Selasphorus calliope
The calliope hummingbird mainly spends its breeding season