Arkansas is home to a diverse variety of hummingbird species. Some are year-round residents, while others pass through the state during spring and fall migration. With plentiful flowers and feeding stations stocked during migration, Arkansas provides excellent habitat for these tiny, energetic birds.
Year-Round Residents
Two species of hummingbirds make Arkansas their permanent home:
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Black-chinned Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
The ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is the most common and widely distributed hummingbird in eastern North America. As their name suggests, adult male ruby-throats have a brilliant metallic red throat. Females lack the red throat and are adorned with white stripes along their throats instead.
Ruby-throats are about 3 to 4 inches long and have an wingspan of 3 to 4 inches. Males average 3.4 grams in weight, while females are slightly larger at 3.8 grams.
These tiny birds have big appetites and are feisty defenders of flowers and feeders. Their diet consists of nectar, tree sap, and small insects including mosquitoes, fruit flies, gnats, and aphids. To fuel their high metabolism, ruby-throats must eat every 10-15 minutes from dawn to dusk.
Ruby-throats are solitary birds that only interact for mating. They build small, cup-shaped nests out of plant fibers, spider silk, and moss. Females lay 2 tiny white eggs and incubate them alone for 14-19 days. Once hatched, the chicks are fed regurgitated nectar and insects by the female for 18-25 days until they fledge.
Ruby-throats are found in open areas with sap-filled trees and lots of flowering plants. In Arkansas, they are common statewide in gardens, parks, farms, meadows, and woodland edges.
Black-chinned Hummingbird
The black-chinned hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) is a species native to the western United States. However, some black-chins have expanded their range eastward and can be found year-round in several central and southern states, including Arkansas.
Adult male black-chins have a black throat with a thin band of iridescent purple. Females have a pale throat with black streaks on the sides. These hummingbirds reach 3 to 4 inches in length and weigh 2.5 to 4.5 grams.
Black-chins eat nectar, tree sap, spiders, and insects. They are less aggressive than ruby-throats at feeders and prefer taller flowers. Their nests are made of plant down and spider webs.
In Arkansas, black-chins are most abundant in the southwestern part of the state. They can be found along forest edges, streamsides, and in parks or yards with flowers and feeders.
Summer Residents
These hummingbird species spend the spring and summer breeding in Arkansas before migrating south for the winter:
- Rufous Hummingbird
- Allen’s Hummingbird
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird
- Calliope Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
The rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) migrates north to breed in northwest North America each spring. Some travel as far east as Arkansas and other parts of the Southeast.
Adult male rufous hummingbirds have a distinctive rufous (reddish-brown) color. Females have green backs and white bellies. These hummingbirds are 2.5 to 3.5 inches long with wingspans of 4 inches. They weigh 2 to 5 grams.
Rufous hummingbirds eat nectar, tree sap, and small insects. They are bold and extremely territorial, chasing away other hummingbirds from feeders and flowers. For nesting, females use plant down and moss to build tiny cups in coniferous trees.
In Arkansas, rufous hummingbirds pass through in April and May as they migrate north. Some may linger through the summer to breed. They are most often reported in the Ozark Mountains region of northwest Arkansas.
Allen’s Hummingbird
Allen’s hummingbirds (Selasphorus sasin) are rare summer visitors to Arkansas. Their breeding range is along the Pacific Coast and they normally winter in Mexico. But some occasionally wander east during migration and summer in states bordering the Gulf of Mexico.
Adult male Allen’s have a reddish throat, green back, and rufous tail. Females lack the red throat and are more green overall. These hummingbirds are about 3.5 inches long with a 4 inch wingspan, weighing 2.5 to 4 grams.
While in Arkansas, Allen’s hummingbirds visit gardens with tube-shaped flowers and specialized feeders. There are less than a dozen documented records in the state, mostly from southwest Arkansas.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Broad-tailed hummingbirds (Selasphorus platycercus) primarily live in the mountainous regions of the western United States. But some migrate east through Arkansas in the spring on their way to breeding grounds farther north.
These hummingbirds get their name from the loud buzzing “whirr” made by their wide tail feathers as they fly. Adult males have a red throat, green back, and whitish underparts. Females lack the red throat and are more uniformly green.
While in Arkansas, broad-tails visit high-elevation meadows and valleys with wildflowers. They also come to gardens and feeders in the Ozarks and Ouachita Mountains before continuing their migration northward.
Calliope Hummingbird
The calliope hummingbird (Selasphorus calliope) is the smallest bird species in the United States. They breed at high elevations in the western mountains. Some migrate through Arkansas in spring on their way to more northern breeding grounds.
These tiny hummingbirds are just 2.5 to 3.25 inches long and weigh 2 to 3 grams. Adult males have colorful magenta throats bordered with white. Females lack the bright throat and are more uniformly greenish-brown.
There are few documented sightings of calliope hummingbirds in Arkansas. They are most likely to be seen briefly passing through the state’s mountain regions in April and May during migration.
Fall and Spring Migrants
The following species pass through Arkansas in migration to and from wintering grounds in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean:
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Rufous Hummingbird
- Black-chinned Hummingbird
- Anna’s Hummingbird
- Costa’s Hummingbird
- Broad-billed Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
In addition to summering in Arkansas, ruby-throats pass through the state in large numbers during spring and fall migration. Peak migration occurs in April and May as they return from Mexico and Central America. Numbers surge again in late summer as they head south to their wintering grounds.
Providing nectar feeders helps supply the huge energy needs of migrating ruby-throats. They will visit both rural and urban yards and gardens during migration if flowers and feeders are available.
Rufous Hummingbird
Most rufous hummingbirds in Arkansas are migrating through the state to and from wintering grounds in Mexico. They start arriving in March and April as they fly north to breeding areas. Southbound migrants pass back through Arkansas in late summer and fall from July to September.
Rufous hummingbirds aggressively guard feeding territories as they bulk up on food to continue their migration. They may defend feeders and flower patches for hours while refueling.
Black-chinned Hummingbird
In addition to Arkansas’s small year-round population, more black-chinned hummingbirds pass through during migration. They start arriving in April and May from Mexico. Northbound migrants are most often reported in western Arkansas. Southbound migrators returning to Mexico are seen from July through September statewide.
Anna’s Hummingbird
Anna’s hummingbird (Calypte anna) is a western species that is an extremely rare vagrant in Arkansas. There are only a handful of documented sightings. Most records are for winter and early spring when some Anna’s wander east after the breeding season.
Adult male Anna’s are emerald green above and grayish below with a vibrant magenta throat and crown. Females are greenish-gray with dark, spotted throats. These hummingbirds are about 4 inches long with a wingspan of 5 inches and weigh 4 to 6 grams.
Costa’s Hummingbird
Costa’s hummingbird (Calypte costae) is normally found in desert regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico. But they are rare spring and summer vagrants in Arkansas, mostly reported from the south of the state.
Adult male Costa’s have a purple crown and throat with a green back. Females lack the bright colors and display lighter greenish-gray plumage. These hummingbirds reach about 3.5 inches long with 4 inch wingspans.
There are around a dozen records of Costa’s hummingbirds in Arkansas. Due to their small size and similarity to ruby-throats, this species may be overlooked and more common than reported.
Broad-billed Hummingbird
The broad-billed hummingbird (Cynanthus latirostris) is an unusual vagrant from the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. Fewer than 10 have ever been documented in Arkansas, mostly in spring and summer.
Adult male broad-bills have a bright blue throat, green back, and whitish underparts. Females are less colorful with a pale throat and belly. As their name suggests, these hummingbirds have a very wide, long bill adapted for feeding from agave flowers.
Best Places to See Hummingbirds in Arkansas
Here are some top sites across Arkansas to spot migrating and breeding hummingbirds:
- Baker Prairie Natural Area – ruby-throats, black-chins, rufous
- Buffalo National River – ruby-throats, black-chins, rufous
- Crater of Diamonds State Park – ruby-throats, black-chins
- Lake Chicot State Park – ruby-throats, black-chins
- Mount Magazine State Park – ruby-throats, black-chins, rufous
- Ouachita National Forest – ruby-throats, black-chins, rufous
- Ozark National Forest – ruby-throats, black-chins, rufous
- Pinnacle Mountain State Park – ruby-throats, black-chins
- Village Creek State Park – ruby-throats, black-chins, rufous
Timing of Hummingbird Seasons in Arkansas
Different hummingbird species pass through or reside in Arkansas during different times of year. Here’s an overview of when key hummingbird events occur:
Months | Hummingbird Activity |
---|---|
February – March | First northbound ruby-throats and rufous pass through in migration |
April – May | Peak spring migration period |
April – July | Summer breeding season – rufous, broad-tails, calliopes arrive |
July – September | Most hummingbirds depart Arkansas by late September |
October – November | Southbound migration of ruby-throats and rufous |
November – February | Quiet winter period with only ruby-throats and black-chins |
By paying attention to the seasons, you can spot the different species passing through. It’s easiest to see them by getting flowering plants that bloom at different times and maintaining feeders especially during spring and fall.
Conclusion
For such a small state, Arkansas boasts an impressive diversity of hummingbird species. The majority are ruby-throated, black-chinned, and rufous hummingbirds. But rare migrants like Allen’s, calliope, broad-tailed, and other western species also occasionally appear.
By landscaping with native flowers and plants that bloom through the seasons, and setting up feeders, you’ll stand a good chance of spotting these tiny, colorful birds in your yard or garden. parks, wildlife refuges, and natural areas also provide excellent habitat. So grab some binoculars and watch for hummingbird activity wherever you are in The Natural State!