Hummingbirds captivate birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts alike with their dazzling colors, rapid wing beats, and remarkable aerial agility. In Minnesota, a northern state known for its lakes and forests, Hummingbirds are a cherished seasonal visitor, heralding the arrival of spring and summer. Although Minnesota’s climate is cooler than the hummingbirds’ more typical southern habitats, several species are regularly observed within the state, enlivening gardens and natural spaces with their swift movements and iridescent plumage. This article explores the hummingbirds found in Minnesota, providing detailed insights into their taxonomy, distribution, physical characteristics, behavior, breeding habits, conservation status, and fascinating traits.
Scientific Classification
Hummingbirds belong to the family Trochilidae, a diverse group of small, nectar-feeding birds renowned for their unique flying abilities, including hovering and backward flight. The species regularly found in Minnesota primarily belong to the genus Archilochus and Selasphorus. The most common species is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris), which is the only hummingbird species that breeds widely in the eastern United States and Canada. Occasionally, accidental or rare visitors include the Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) and the Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna). These species represent different branches of the hummingbird family tree, each with distinctive ecological adaptations and behaviors.
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is classified under the order Apodiformes, which also includes swifts, birds known for their aerial prowess. The Rufous Hummingbird, though closely related, is noted for its more aggressive behavior and migratory patterns that extend along the western coast of North America but sometimes veer eastward, leading to accidental sightings in Minnesota. Anna’s Hummingbird, native primarily to the western United States, is a rare visitor in Minnesota, with very few documented observations.
Geographic Range & Distribution
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the predominant hummingbird species in Minnesota. Its breeding range extends across much of the eastern U.S. and southern Canada, including Minnesota, where it arrives typically in early May. These birds migrate south to Central America for the winter, traveling remarkable distances, including a non-stop flight across the Gulf of Mexico. In Minnesota, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds favor forest edges, gardens, and areas where nectar-producing flowers and feeders are abundant. They are commonly observed throughout the state during the warm months and tend to depart by late September.
The Rufous Hummingbird is primarily a western North American species, breeding from Alaska through the Pacific Northwest and wintering in Mexico. However, at least 13 confirmed records exist of Rufous Hummingbirds appearing in Minnesota, typically as accidental migrants during spring and fall. These records highlight the species’ occasional long-distance vagrancy and adaptability when exploring new habitats. Rufous Hummingbirds prefer open habitats and are known for their territoriality around feeders and nectar sources.
Anna’s Hummingbird is a rare visitor to Minnesota, with fewer than five verified sightings, mostly between October and late December. Native to the Pacific Coast, this species has expanded its range northward in recent decades, but its presence in Minnesota remains sporadic and unusual. Most records occur in urban or suburban areas where flowering plants and feeders provide sustenance during the colder months.
Physical Description
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is a small bird, measuring approximately 7 to 9 centimeters (2.8 to 3.5 inches) in length, with a wingspan of about 11 to 13 centimeters (4.3 to 5.1 inches). Adults typically weigh between 2.6 to 6 grams, roughly equivalent to a penny. Males are unmistakable with their iridescent ruby-red throat patch (gorget), which can appear black or dark red depending on lighting conditions. They also have a shimmering emerald green back, white underparts, and a slightly forked tail with black tips. Females lack the bright throat patch and instead have a white throat with some faint streaking, a green back, and tail feathers marked with white tips and bands of black or gray-green.
The Rufous Hummingbird is slightly smaller, measuring about 7 to 9 centimeters in length with a wingspan close to 11 centimeters. Males are vibrant, with a brilliant orange-red throat and sides, a green back, and a rufous (reddish-brown) tail often tipped with white. Females and juveniles have a speckled white throat, greenish backs, and rufous tails with white tips, making them somewhat similar to female Ruby-throated Hummingbirds but generally more colorful on the sides and tail.
Anna’s Hummingbird is one of the largest hummingbirds found in the United States, measuring 10 to 12 centimeters (4 to 4.7 inches) long, with a wingspan of about 13 to 15 centimeters (5 to 6 inches) and weighing around 4.5 to 6 grams. Males have a striking iridescent rose-red throat and crown, which can appear almost black in low light, with metallic green backs and grayish underparts. Females have a white throat with red spots, green backs, and white-tipped tails. Anna’s Hummingbirds are robust and stockier than the smaller ruby-throats and rufous hummingbirds.
Behavior & Diet
Hummingbirds are best known for their extraordinary flight capabilities, which include hovering in place, flying forwards, backwards, and even upside down. Their wings beat rapidly, typically around 50 to 80 times per second, creating the characteristic humming sound from which they derive their name. In Minnesota, hummingbirds show aggressive territorial behaviors, especially males who defend rich nectar sources from rivals and even larger animals.
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird primarily feeds on nectar from a variety of flowering plants such as bee balm, cardinal flower, and trumpet creeper. They supplement their diet with small insects and spiders, which provide essential proteins and nutrients. These tiny birds consume up to twice their body weight in nectar daily, fueling their high metabolism. In gardens, they readily visit feeders filled with sugar water (a mixture of four parts water to one part white granulated sugar), which help them survive when natural flowers are scarce.
Rufous Hummingbirds are known for their feisty temperament and will aggressively chase other hummingbirds and even larger birds away from feeders and flowers. Their diet mirrors that of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, with nectar from various tubular flowers and small arthropods. Rufous Hummingbirds are remarkable for their stamina during migration, flying over mountain ranges and making long journeys between breeding and wintering grounds.
Anna’s Hummingbird is unique in that it can be active even during colder months, especially when food sources are available, such as flowering shrubs like manzanita and eucalyptus. Males perform elaborate dive displays to defend their feeding territories, often accompanied by vocalizations — a rarity among hummingbird species. Their diet includes nectar from a variety of flowers and feeders, along with small insects caught on the wing or gleaned from foliage. According to BirdLife International, this species is well documented.
Breeding & Reproduction
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird commences breeding soon after arrival in Minnesota. Males establish territories and perform aerial displays to attract females, including rapid darting flights and hovering. The female builds a tiny cup-shaped nest, often on a slender tree branch or shrub, using plant down, spider silk, and lichens for camouflage. The nest is typically 2 to 3 centimeters (0.8 to 1.2 inches) across and 2 to 4 centimeters (0.8 to 1.6 inches) deep. Females lay two white eggs, each about the size of a jellybean, measuring approximately 1 centimeter in length. Incubation lasts around 12 to 14 days, and the chicks fledge about 18 to 22 days after hatching. According to eBird, this species is well documented.
Rufous Hummingbirds have a similar breeding cycle but nest earlier in their typical western range. In Minnesota, accidental individuals are unlikely to breed successfully due to the limited numbers and timing of their visits. Nonetheless, they employ the same nest-building techniques and raise two eggs per clutch. Females are solely responsible for incubation and chick rearing.
Anna’s Hummingbirds breed primarily in the western U.S., with breeding season stretching from late winter through summer. In Minnesota, their rare and late-season appearances mean successful breeding is extremely uncommon. Like other hummingbirds, their nests are tiny and expertly camouflaged. Females lay two eggs and provide all parental care. These birds show remarkable adaptability in selecting nest sites, sometimes even nesting on man-made structures.
Conservation Status
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is currently classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Its population is stable or slightly increasing, thanks to the availability of backyard feeders, conservation of woodland edges, and native flowering plants. However, threats such as habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change could impact their long-term survival. Providing natural habitats and avoiding harmful chemicals benefit these delicate birds.
The Rufous Hummingbird is also listed as Least Concern but faces localized threats, particularly habitat fragmentation and changes in flowering plant phenology, which may affect food availability during migration. Their aggressive nature and adaptability help them persist, but monitoring remains important, especially given their extensive migratory routes.
Anna’s Hummingbird is considered stable and not threatened, although its expansion into new areas like Minnesota is closely watched by ornithologists. Their ability to exploit urban and suburban environments has helped them thrive despite habitat changes in their native range.
Interesting Facts
One of the most remarkable aspects of hummingbirds found in Minnesota is their incredible migration. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is famous for its non-stop flight across the Gulf of Mexico, covering distances of up to 800 kilometers (nearly 500 miles) without rest. This feat requires tremendous energy reserves, which they build up by feeding heavily before migration.
Rufous Hummingbirds are among the most aggressive hummingbirds when it comes to defending their feeding territories. Despite being smaller than many competing birds, Rufous males fearlessly confront much larger birds and even drive away squirrels and other animals from feeders.
Anna’s Hummingbirds stand out as the only North American hummingbird species known to produce a true song. Males sing complex scratchy vocalizations during courtship and territorial displays, a behavior not observed in other U.S. hummingbirds. Additionally, their spectacular dive displays are accompanied by unique tail feather sounds, producing loud popping noises at the bottom of their dives.
Hummingbirds have the highest metabolism of any bird species, requiring frequent feeding throughout the day. Their hearts can beat up to 1,260 times per minute, and their wings beat so rapidly that they appear as a blur to the human eye. This extraordinary physiology allows them to hover with precision and maneuver deftly among flowers.
Finally, hummingbirds contribute significantly to pollination, especially of tubular flowers adapted to their long bills. In Minnesota gardens, planting native nectar-rich flowers like bee balm, cardinal flowers, and trumpet vine helps support local hummingbird populations during their brief but vibrant presence.
Conclusion
Minnesota’s hummingbirds, especially the ubiquitous Ruby-throated Hummingbird, bring a splash of color and life to the state’s landscapes each spring and summer. Though the cooler northern climate limits the diversity of species, the occasional appearances of Rufous and Anna’s Hummingbirds add intrigue for birdwatchers and researchers alike. These tiny marvels of nature embody resilience, agility, and beauty, inspiring countless people to cultivate hummingbird-friendly habitats in their own backyards. By understanding their taxonomy, behavior, and ecological needs, Minnesotans can better appreciate and protect these remarkable birds for generations to come.
