Species:Selasphorus sasin

Plumage:Adult male: Green back and crown, an orange-red gorget (throat patch), a white chest with cinnamon underparts and a rufous (reddish-brown) tail and rump.

Adult female: Green back and pale rufous sides.

Voice:A low chup and an excited zeeeee chuppity-chup.

Favorite Nectar Plants:Cape Honeysuckle, Century Plant, Columbine, Fuchsia, Indian Paintbrush, Sage.

Territory:Breeds along the Pacific Coast from southern Oregon through California. Resident in southern California; also winters in Mexico.

Facts:• Small numbers may be found wintering along the Texas coast.

• Prefers to nest away from human habitation.

Species:Calypte anna

Plumage:Adult male: Distinctive iridescent rose gorget (throat patch) and crown. At different angles, the bright coloring might appear violet, gold or green.

Adult female: Bronzy green above and white below, no gorget.

Voice:A sharp chip and a rapid chee-chee-chee-chee-chee.

Favorite Nectar Plants:Coral Bells, Eucalyptus, Fuchsia, Flowering Quince, Penstemon.

Territory:A largely permanent resident from northern California southward.

Facts:• Since it tends to live in one place throughout the year, Anna’s requires year-round blossoms.

• Range has been extending south, east and north over the past 50 to 60 years.

Species:Archilochus alexandri

Plumage:Adult male: Green above with a solid black throat bordered by a narrow band of iridescent purple.

Adult female: Green above with a white throat and breast, buff sides and outer tail feathers tipped in white.

Voice:A low tup.

Favorite Nectar Plants:Canna, Century Plant, Columbine, Yucca.

Territory:Breeds from British Columbia south throughout the West to Mexico and central Texas. Winters in Mexico.

Facts:• Often considered the western U.S. counterpart of the ruby-throated hummingbird.

• In urban areas, likes to nest in ornamental trees and shrubs.

Species:Cynanthus latirostris

Plumage:Adult male: Dark green above and below, with bright metallic-blue gorget (or throat patch). Distinctive bright red-orange bill with a black tip.

Adult female: An unmarked gray throat and underparts, distinctive red-orange bill.

Voice:A rapid, scratching chi-dit.

Favorite Nectar Plants:Agave, Ocotillo, Prickly Pear, Penstemons

Territory:Breeds in southern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and western Texas. Winters along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Facts:• Quieter and less active than other hummingbirds

• Likes to nest in streamside trees.

Species:Stellula calliope

Plumage:Adult male: Gorget (throat patch) is rose-purple with streaks of white. Iridescent green above, cinnamon buff along the sides, whitish below.

Adult female: Similar to the male, without the colorful gorget. Also similar to the female Rufous hummingbird.

Voice:A high-pitched tsew.

Favorite Nectar Plants:Columbine, Currant, Orange, Penstemon, Sage.

Territory:Breeds from southern British Columbia south through the U.S. Pacific states and east to Colorado. Winters in Mexico.

Facts:• The smallest North American hummingbird.

• The only North American hummer with a multicolored gorget.

Species:Calypte costae

Plumage:Adult male: Violet-purple crown and gorget (throat patch), with very long side feathers.

Adult female: Green above with a white throat and breast, buff sides and outer tail feathers tipped in white.

Voice:A light chip and high tinkling notes.

Favorite Nectar Plants:Bottlebrush, Coral Bells, Larkspur, Mexican Sage, Red Penstemon.

Territory:Breeds from central California, southern Nevada and southwestern Utah southward. Winters in southern California and Mexico.

Facts:• Costa’s short bill makes long, tubular flowers off-limits.

• The chief pollinator of Red Penstemon in southern and central California.

Species:Selasphorus platycercus

Plumage:Adult male: Bright rose-pink gorget (throat patch), green crown. Tail is broad and bronzy black. Upperparts are metallic green with gray-tinged buff on the sides.

Adult female: Tail is broad and bronzy black, with green central feathers. Upperparts are metallic green with rich buff on the sides. White patches on the breast and underparts.

Voice:A sharp cricket-like chick.

Favorite Nectar Plants:Blue Larkspur, Century Plant, Lupine, Nasturtium, Penstemon, Sage.

Territory:Breeds from eastern California and northern Wyoming south through the Rocky Mountain states to southern Arizona and western Texas. Winters in Mexico.

Facts:• Broad-tails return to the same tree or shrub year after year, often to the same branch.

• Said to create the most distinctive sound in the Rockies in the summer.

Species:Eugenes fulgens

Plumage:Adult male: A bright green gorget (throat patch) and black underparts. Crown is iridescent purple. Back is bronze green.

Adult female: Green above and grayish below, with light spotting on the throat.

Voice:A high-pitched teek.

Favorite Nectar Plants:Century Plant, Columbine, Geranium, Penstemon, Trumpet Honeysuckle.

Territory:Breeds in the mountains of southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and western Texas. Winters in Mexico.

Facts:• Feeds more on insects than other hummingbird species, though still takes nectar from flowers and feeders.

• Also known as the Rivoli hummingbird.

Species:Archilochus colubris

Plumage:Adult male: Emerald green back, iridescent ruby red gorget (throat patch) that might appear black under some lighting conditions, gray flanks, forked tail with no white. Smaller than female.

Adult female: Emerald green back, white breast and throat, rounded tail with white tips. Larger than male, with longer bill.

Voice:Mouse-like. twittering squeaks.

Favorite Nectar Plants:Tubluar red flowers like Salvia and Trumpet Creeper as well as Beebalm, Columbine, Japanese Honeysuckle, Mimosa Tree.

Territory:Breeds throughout eastern to midwestern North America, from southern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Most winter in Mexico, Central America and on Caribbean islands, although a few remain in the Gulf States and the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Facts:• The only hummingbird that nests east of the Mississippi.

• The only hummingbird that regularly migrates across the Gulf of Mexico.

Species:Selasphorus rufus

Plumage:Adult male: Bright rufous (reddish-brown) upper parts and flanks, with an iridescent orange-red gorget (throat patch).

Adult female: Green upper parts and white below, with a rufous tinge on rump and flanks and much rufous in the tail. Speckles of orange-red on throat.

Voice:Abrupt, high-pitched zeee; various thin squealing noises.

Favorite Nectar Plants:Red-Flowering Currant plus Abutilon, Beebalm, Fuchsia, Lupine, Penstemon.

Territory:Breeds from southern Alaska south to the Pacific Northwest to the northern tip of California. Winters mainly in Mexico, occurring in small numbers along the Golf Coast during migration.

Facts:• The most abundant hummingbird in the West.

• Some migrate as far as 3,000 miles each winter.