Rufous hummingbird Selasphorus rufus

Identification Tips:

• Small hummingbird
• Long, straight, thin bill

Adult male:

• Rufous back, flanks, rump, and tail
• Occasionally variants occur with greenish backs and crowns
• Brownish-red crown and face
• Bright red gorget
• White breast

Adult female:

• Green back and crown
• White underparts
• White throat variably marked with dark streaks (immatures) or central group of red spots (adult females)
• Rufous wash on flanks
• Immature males similar to adult female but central tail feathers like adult male (rufous with dark tips)
• Dark tail with rufous at the bases of the retrices, and white tips on the outer three retrices

Similar species:

Adult males can be confused only with Allen's Hummingbird. Rufous-backed males are certainly Rufous Hummingbirds, but care should be taken as some Rufous have variable amounts of green on the back and crown. Females and immatures are easily identified as a Selasphorus by the rufous in the tail. Female and immature Broad-tailed Hummingbirds have less rufous on the inner tail feathers, whitish, not rusty undertail coverts and more blue-green backs, as well as being larger with different calls. Female and immature Calliope Hummingbirds are smaller with shorter bills and less rusty backs. Rufous and Allen's females and immatures are inseparable in the field.