Hummingbirds in Oklahoma are a welcome sight that occurs each year. Male hummingbirds begin arriving in Oklahoma in mid-March, with females arriving later, usually by early April. These tiny birds will remain in Oklahoma, usually treating themselves to the nectar provided by hummingbird gardens or the sugar water provided by hummingbird feeders. In mid-October, the visit will begin coming to an end, when the male hummingbirds will begin leaving Oklahoma, followed closely by the females and juveniles with the majority leaving by mid-October. Some Oklahoma hummingbird enthusiasts may even be treated to a visitor who may stay over the winter.
There are seven species of hummingbirds that have been documented in Oklahoma. These species are the Black-chinned Hummingbird, the Rufous Hummingbird, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, the Calliope Hummingbird, the Broad-tailed Hummingbird, the Anna’s Hummingbird and the Green Violet-eared Hummingbird. Each of these species can be identified by features that allow them to be identified, especially the males of the species. Features to study are the hummingbird’s throat, the back and crown, the belly and breast and finally, the hummingbird’s tail feathers.
Identifying the Black-chinned Hummingbird begins with the male of the species because he is the easiest of the sexes to identify. Look at the tiny bird’s throat, which is black with a throat band that is purple and a collar that is white. He also has a back, crown and breast that are metallic green. The female Black-chinned Hummingbird has a back and crown that are green, although not metallic green as is the male’s. The female also has a white breast, a black and white spotted throat, sides that are buff and white-tipped tail feathers. This species of hummingbirds in Oklahoma is the second most common in Oklahoma, usually in the far western part of the state.
Identifying the Rufous Hummingbird begins with the male of the species, who, once again is the most colorful of the species, making it the easiest to identify. This male hummingbird can be identified by the orange-red color of its throat and the rufous color of its crown, tail and sides. The female Rufous Hummingbird has greenish-colored back and pale rufous-colored sides. This species of hummingbirds is not commonly seen in Oklahoma, but has been documented several times.
Identifying the Broad-tailed Hummingbird is a little different from the previous hummingbirds because there is no major difference between the sexes, only subtle differences, such as the color of their backs and crowns. The males have metallic green back and crown and the females have a green back and crown, but they are not as brilliant in color as the metallic of the male. Both the male and female have a white breast, but the female has black spots on her white breast and the male has a rose-colored throat while the female’s throat is white. The Broad-tailed Hummingbird is another of the rare species of hummingbirds in Oklahoma, but has been documented as being seen.
Identifying the Ruby-throated Hummingbird goes back to identifying the male because it is the most colorful and easiest to identify. The most prominent features this male hummingbird has are a ruby-red throat, emerald back, gray flanks and a forked tail with no white tips. The female Ruby-throated Hummingbird has the same emerald green back, but that is where the similarity ends between the sexes, as it has a white breast and throat and a round tail with white tips. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the most common hummingbird in the United States and in Oklahoma as well.
Identifying the Calliope Hummingbird is also easiest with the male of the species who has a back and crown that are metallic green, a throat that is white with purple streaks that create a whisker look. The female Calliope Hummingbird has a back and crown that is green, a throat that is white with streaks, sides that are buff colored and it is the corners of the tails are white-tipped.
Identifying the Anna’s Hummingbird is one more hummingbird species that is easiest to begin with the male of the species which has a metallic green colored back, a rose-red throat and a gray colored breast. The female Anna’s Hummingbird has a green colored back, a white and red spotted throat, a light gray breast and white-tipped tail feathers.
Identifying the Green Violet-eared Hummingbird begins with the violet ear patch that both sexes have as well as a bright pale green shimmering color that runs down it throated and breast. This species also has a black bill and black feet, which are features that set it apart from the other hummingbirds in Oklahoma.
