Missouri is a great place for birding! Lots of woodland birds live in the state’s beautiful forests, and grassland birds occur in other parts of the state. There are also hummingbirds, the only common one being the beautiful Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
Go birding in Missouri during the summer months, and you’ll probably see at least a few of these pretty little gems!
But where do they live, and how can you see them?
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Photograph © Greg Lavaty.
Scientific name: Archilochus colubris
Length: 3.75 inches
Wingspan: 4.5 inches
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only common hummingbird you can see in Missouri.
Males are green above, have some olive on their belly, a white chest and semi-collar, and a tiny white spot behind each eye. True to their name, they also have a beautiful, ruby-red throat. However, as with most hummingbirds, those colors only show in certain lighting.
They also have a dark, slightly forked tail, and a long, needle-like beak. Female Ruby-throated Hummingbirds look quite different from their male counterparts! They are also green above but have a grayish throat, and white tips on their tail.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are common in woods, second growth, and gardens near woods from central and southern Canada to Florida and Texas. Although they feed on their own, several can congregate at feeders, especially during migration! They also feed from a wide variety of small flowers.
Key identifications:
- Red throat and white semi-collar.
- Dark, slightly forked tail.
- Females have a white spot behind their eyes, a hint of a dusky mask, and the tail of perched birds is longer than their wingtips.
Rare Visitors
Black-chinned Humminbird
Scientific name: Archilocus alexandri
Length: 3.75 inches
Wingspan: 4.75 inches
Black-chinned Hummingbirds replace the Ruby-throated Hummingbird west of the Rocky Mountains and in parts of central and southern Texas. They are green above and dusky gray below, with a white semi-collar and a small pale spot behind their eyes.
Males have a beautiful dark purple throat with a black chin, and a black, slightly forked tail. Females have a dusky gray throat, grayish crown, hint of a dark mask, and a slightly forked tail with white tips on the outer tail feathers.
On perched females, the wings nearly reach the end of their tail.
Anna’s Hummingbird
Scientific name: Calypte anna
Length: 4 inches
Wingspan: 5.25 inches
Anna’s Hummingbirds are one of the most common hummingbirds on the west coast. These little beauties live in parks, gardens, and similar habitats from British Columbia to northern Mexico.
Anna’s Hummingbirds are dusky green, have straight beaks, and a bit of white above their eyes.
Although females are fairly dull, male Anna’s Hummingbirds have shining fuchsia pink-red on their throat and head.
Calliope Hummingbird
Scientific name: Selasphorus calliope
Length: 3.25 inches
Wingspan: 4.25 inches
Calliope Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in North America. These feathered sprites are green above, pale buffy or pale greenish below, and have a short, squared tail.
They also have shorter, straighter beaks than other hummingbirds and a pale mark behind each eye. Male Calliopes have rose-red streaks on their throats while females have fine, dark streaking.
Rufous Hummingbird
Scientific name: Selasphorus rufus
Length: 3.75 inches
Wingspan: 4.5 inches
Rufous Hummingbirds breed in the coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest and then fly to central Mexico for the winter. Some even breed as far north as southern Alaska!
Males are pretty, pumpkin orange hummingbirds with white on the upper part of their chest, and an orange-red throat. Some males also have green on their back and crown.
Female Rufous Hummingbirds are green above and white below with pale rufous highlights on their underparts. They also have rufous on the base of their tail, and white tips on their outer tail feathers.
Broad-billed Hummingbird
Scientific name: Cyanthus latirostris
Length: 4 inches
Wingspan: 5.75 inches
The Broad-billed Hummingbird is a small to medium-sized, distinctive hummingbird with green upperparts, a broad, forked tail, and a red beak with a dark tip. Males also have a violet-blue throat, and dark, blue-green underparts.
Females have grayish underparts, a white line going back from their eyes, and a dusky mask.
Broad-billed Hummingbirds occur from southeastern Arizona and adjacent New Mexico to Mexico. In the USA, they mostly live along streams on canyons. However, further south, we also see this hummingbird species in a variety of subtropical and tropical habitats.
Frequently Asked Questions
What months are hummingbirds in Missouri?
Hummingbirds are in Missouri for the spring and summer months.
Do hummingbirds stick around for winter in Missouri?
No, most hummingbirds do not stick around for winter in Missouri.
When should you put up hummingbird feeders in Missouri?
You should put up hummingbird feeders in Missouri in mid March.
More in Missouri: Most common birds | Hawks | Owls | Woodpeckers | Ducks | State Bird