13 Types of Hummingbirds in Florida (Inc. Awesome Photos)

With its year-round warm temperatures, stunning scenery, and tropical climate, Florida is home to some of the planet’s most exotic-looking creatures.

And, of all its inhabitants, the Hummingbird has to be among the most beautiful.

But how many Hummingbird species are there in Florida?

Below, we’re going to take a look at 13 types of Hummingbird you can find in Florida. We’ll point out their identifying features, look at their natural habitat, and give some tips on how to attract them to your own backyard.

Quick Answer

Looking for a quick-reference list of all the Hummingbird species you can find in Florida? Here’s everything you need to know:

• Allen’s Hummingbird
• Broad-Billed Hummingbird
• Calliope Hummingbird
• Mexican Violetear
• Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
• Bahama Woodstar Hummingbird
• Costa’s Hummingbird
• Buff-Bellied Hummingbird
• Anna’s Hummingbird
• Rufous Hummingbird
• Black-Chinned Hummingbird
• Blue-Throated Mountain Gem
• Broad-Tailed Hummingbird

Now, let’s take a closer look at each of these beautiful Hummingbirds in more detail.

Allen’s Hummingbird

We’re kicking off our list with one of Florida’s most elusive Hummingbird species.

The Allen’s Hummingbird is native to Mexico and spends the spring and summer months in Southern States including Florida, California, and Oregon.

Come fall, they take to the skies and head back to Mexico for the winter. 

As with many birds, the male and female Allen’s Hummingbird have different markings.

Male Allen’s Hummingbirds can be identified by their pale orange underparts, green and copper back, green cap, and iridescent orange throat.

They also bear a small white patch on the breast. Females, on the other hand, are overall paler in color and do not have an orange throat.

Both sexes are the same size, measuring around 3.5-inches in length and with an average wingspan of 4-inches.

You’re most likely to spot an Allen’s Hummingbird in meadows or forests where they nest and feed on flower nectar and small insects.

You can try attracting the Allen’s Hummingbird to your backyard by filling a Hummingbird feeder with sugar water nectar, or by planting native shrubs that both attract insects and produce nectar.

Broad-Billed Hummingbird

The Broad-Billed Hummingbird can be identified by its long, bright red beak, iridescent green underparts, and blue-green upperparts.

It’s also one of the smallest Hummingbirds you’ll find in Florida, measuring just 3-inches in length and with an average wingspan of 5-inches. 

Native to Mexico, the Broad-Billed Hummingbird heads to Florida for the breeding season, spending spring and summer in meadows and canyons.

Here it seeks out small insects and spiders to feed on, as well as flower nectar.

Once they have finished raising their brood and temperatures begin to drop, they’ll start their long migratory journey back to Mexico.

The Broad-Billed Hummingbird isn’t the most sociable species and will rarely venture into human occupied territory.

However, you can try enticing the Broad-Billed Hummingbird into your garden by planting hollyhock, honeysuckle, and ocotillo – all of which are known for producing nectar that Hummingbirds find irresistible.

You can also try filling a Hummingbird feeder with sugar water nectar. 

Calliope Hummingbird

While more common in California, the Calliope Hummingbird can occasionally be found living in Florida’s meadows and canyons.

You can identify the male Calliope Hummingbird by its shimmering, dark purple throat and iridescent green cap.

It also has matching green upperparts and pale gray underparts. The female Calliope Hummingbird is identical in appearance, but does not have the purple throat. 

Another tiny Hummingbird species, the Calliope Hummingbird measures around 3-inches in length and tops the scales at just 0.1 ounces.

This makes them the smallest Hummingbird species you’ll find in all of North America.

Native to Mexico, the Calliope Hummingbird spends the breeding season in Florida and takes full advantage of food available to them throughout the spring and summer.

Flower nectar is at the top of their menu, but they’ll also feed on small bugs such as aphids.

You can attract the Calliope Hummingbird to your backyard by planting foxgloves, honeysuckle, and red bee balm.

Mexican Violetear

One of the larger Hummingbird species you’ll find in Florida, the Mexican Violetear measures around 4.5-inches in length and has an average wingspan of 7-inches.

You can identify the Mexican Violetear by its iridescent, emerald green upperparts and cap, blue underparts, violet cheeks (from which it takes its name), and black wings.

It also has a long, black beak that is perfect for dipping deep into tubular-shaped flowers and feeding from the nectar within.

Another migratory species, the Mexican Violetear can be found in Florida throughout late spring and summer.

Come fall, it starts its journey back to its native Mexico, where it is most commonly found living in mountainous areas. 

The Mexican Violetear’s diet consists mainly of flower nectar, although they will also eat small insects and spiders that they find while investigating plants.

You can attract Mexican Violetears to your garden with an offering of sugar water nectar, and you can increase your chances of drawing them in further by planting red salvia or honeysuckle. 

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Florida’s most common Hummingbird species, the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird can be spotted in the State all year round.

You’re most likely to find one in its preferred habitat or deciduous forests, although they certainly are scared to venture out of their territory in search of food. 

The male Ruby-Throated Hummingbird can be identified by its namesake ruby-colored throat.

This is the one characteristic that separates them male and female Ruby-Throated Hummingbird though, and both sexes have green-gold backs, a green cap, and a white throat.

In terms of size, the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird measures around 3.5-inches long and has an average wingspan of 4.5-inches.

It’s pretty easy to attract the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird to your backyard, and a simple offering of sugar water nectar inside a Hummingbird feeder should do the trick.

You can, however, increase your chances of drawing it in by planting trumpet creeper, honeysuckle, and wild bergamot.

Bahama Woodstar Hummingbird

As you may have guessed from its name, the Bahama Woodstar Hummingbird is native to the Bahamas.

However, some can be found in the lowlands and tropical forests of Southern Florida, especially when food sources are scarce or competition too great.

You can identify the Bahama Woodstar Hummingbird by its green-gold upperparts.

Both sexes have this marking, while males have a violet neck and white underparts. Females do not have the same violet neck, but their underparts are a pale orange color. 

You can attract the Bahama Woodstar Hummingbird to your garden by filling a Hummingbird feeder with sugar water nectar.

In fact, most sightings in Florida come from backyards where sugar water nectar has been offered, so it’s definitely worth filling a feeder if you’d like to attract this beautiful little bird into your garden. 

Costa’s Hummingbird

The Costa’s Hummingbird can be identified by its pale green upperparts and wings, light gray underparts, bright purple throat and cap, and black face.

One of the smallest Hummingbirds on our list, the Costa’s Hummingbird measures around 3.5-inches in length and has an average wingspan of 4.3-inches.

Most are found in Southern California’s desert scrubs, but there is a small population of summer-visiting Costa’s Hummingbird in Florida.

This can make them quite difficult to spot, though not impossible – especially if you offer them something good to feed on!

You may be able to attract the Costa’s Hummingbird to your backyard by filling a Hummingbird feeder with sugar water nectar.

You can also increase your chances of attracting the Costa’s Hummingbird by making your garden as wildlife friendly as possible, planting desert lavender and honeysuckle for them to feed on.

These plants don’t only produce the sweet nectar the Costa’s Hummingbird craves, but will also attract tiny insects for it to feed on. 

Buff-Bellied Hummingbird

Another summer-visitor to Florida, the Buff-Bellied Hummingbird is native to Mexico’s forests and coastlines.

It inhabits the same areas when visiting Florida, although it has also been known to visit backyards in search of food.

You can identify the Buff-Bellied Hummingbird by its green upperparts and cap, orange wing feathers, gray throat, and namesake buff-colored underparts.

It also has a long, red beak, measures around 4-inches in length and has an average wingspan of 5.5-inches.

Planting red honeysuckle, Turk’s cap, and red salvia in your backyard is a good way of enticing the Buff-Bellied Hummingbird into your garden as these plants produce a lot of nectar and attract insects.

You can also fill a Hummingbird feeder with sugar water nectar if you’d like to increase your chances of seeing the Buff-Bellied Hummingbird in your own garden.

Anna’s Hummingbird

The Anna’s Hummingbird is present in Florida all year round where it inhabits open woodland.

However, it very rarely strays from its preferred habitat, so enticing them into your garden can be quite difficult.

Part of the reason for this is that the Anna’s Hummingbird is extremely territorial, and the risk of venturing further out may result in them losing their precious territory.

You can identify the Anna’s Hummingbird by its green upperparts and gray underparts. Males also bear a bright magenta throat and crown.

This is the only difference between the two sexes and both are around the same size, measuring 4-inches in length and with an average wingspan of 4.5-inches.

As we mentioned before, it can be quite difficult to attract the Anna’s Hummingbird into your backyard.

It isn’t impossible though, and you can increase your chances by choosing plants such as eucalyptus, Hummingbird sage, and gooseberry for your garden.

A well-stocked Hummingbird feeder may also help to entice the Anna’s Hummingbird into your yard.

Rufous Hummingbird

Native to Florida, the Rufous Hummingbird can be seen flitting around the State all year round.

It’s also one of the most common Hummingbird species in Florida, making it one of the easiest to check off your bird watching list!

The Rufous Hummingbird can be identified by its iridescent green back and fuzzy-looking white tail feathers from which they take their name.

The male Rufous Hummingbird has a dazzling orange throat as well, which can make it quite easy to mistake for the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird at first glance.

Both sexes are the same size, measuring around 3.5-inches in length and with a 3.5-inch wingspan. 

As one of Florida’s most prominent bird species, attracting the Rufous Hummingbird into your backyard is really easy.

Simply filling a Hummingbird feeder with some sugar water nectar should be enough, although you can increase your chances of attracting multiple Rufous Hummingbirds by planting milkweed, bearberry, and Columbia lilies.

Black-Chinned Hummingbird

It’s pretty easy to see where the Black-Chinned Hummingbird gets its name from. Its jet black chin and head aren’t its only identifying features, though.

You can also identify the Black-Chinned Hummingbird by white underparts, pale-green upperparts, and dark purple neck.

Females have a white neck instead of purple, but both sexes are the same size and measure around 3-inches long with a 4-inch wingspan. 

Unlike many Hummingbird species that visit Florida for the summer months, the Black-Chinned Hummingbird is most commonly spotted in the State during the winter.

Here, they set up home in meadows, orchards, and woodlands looking for nectar and small insects to feed on.

While they aren’t that keen on feeding from Hummingbird feeders, the Black-Chinned Hummingbird may visit your garden as long as there is a natural food source for them.

Planting red honeysuckle and larkspur is a good way of attracting this beautiful Hummingbird into your backyard. 

Blue-Throated Mountain Gem

Another of Florida’s winter-visiting species, the Blue-Throated Mountain Gem can be identified by its dark-green upperparts, slate-gray underparts, long black beak, and namesake blue throat.

This blue throat is only present in males, although both sexes have the same white streak around each eye.

The Blue-Throated Mountain Gem is also one of the larger species, measuring around 5-inches length with a 5-inch wingspan. 

Native to Texas and Mexico, you’re most likely to spot a Blue-Throated Mountain Gem in coniferous forests, especially near a stream or river.

Here, they feed from tubular-shaped flowers rich in nectar, as well as small insects such as aphids and ants. 

Planting red cardinal, daylilies, honeysuckle, and other nectar-producing flowers is a great way to encourage the Blue-Throated Mountain Gem into your backyard.

You can also fill a Hummingbird feeder with sugar water nectar to draw them in, although they will always prefer to feed straight from the flower. 

Broad-Tailed Hummingbird

The last entry on our list of Florida’s Hummingbirds is the Broad-Tailed Hummingbird.

Measuring just 3.5-inches long, it’s one of the smallest you’ll come across and can be identified by its bright green upperparts and white underparts.

The male Broad-Tailed Hummingbird also sports an iridescent orange throat, which can make it quite easy to mistake for the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird at first glance. 

The Broad-Tailed Hummingbird is most commonly spotted in Southeastern Florida, although it does live at very high elevations in evergreen forests and scrubby meadows.

This can make it one of the hardest Hummingbird species to find.

You can, however, try to attract the Broad-Tailed Hummingbird into your garden with the usual offerings.

A Hummingbird feeder filled with sugar water nectar is a good place to start and, if you want to increase your chances of attracting it, choose bee balm or honeysuckle for your garden. 

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are a total of 13 types of Hummingbird you can find in Florida. Some of them are quite common, while others are much more elusive.

One thing is for sure though; regardless of the time of year, there is always a beautiful Hummingbird in the State for you to see!

Follow our guidance above next time you spot one to help you identify it and, better still, following our advice will also help you attract them to your own backyard!