Hummingbirds in Connecticut

Connecticut residents and visitors alike, have the opportunity to enjoy watching the antics of hummingbirds even though there are only two species that actually visit this state on a regular basis. These two are Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and Rufous Hummingbirds. These two species of Hummingbirds generally make their appearance in Connecticut in early May, looking for that perfect plant nectar or feeder to dine on.

Even though there are only two species of hummingbirds that visit Connecticut, they are interesting enough to keep hummingbird enthusiasts occupied watching them dart and do their little antics while they feed. Hummingbird enthusiasts are much like any other enthusiasts meaning that they will have the need to find out all they can about these little beautiful birds, beginning with identifying them when they show up in their garden or at the hummingbird feeder. With hummingbirds, moving so quickly this can seem almost impossible, but fortunately, the easiest way to identify between these two species is to look at the colors of the feathers. The feathers are the key to this identification.

The Rufous Hummingbird is the larger of the two species of hummingbirds seen in Connecticut, with the male Rufous hummingbird weighing 3.22g and the male Ruby-throated hummingbird weighing 3.1g. Other than the size difference, the two species of hummingbirds can be identified by the colors of their feathers. The Ruby-throated hummingbird gets its name from the color of the male's throat, which is ruby red, although in some lighting situations it can appear to be black. The female is totally different, with its throat being covered in white feathers. The male has a forked tail while the female has a rounded tail with white-tipped tail feathers. One other difference between the male and female Ruby-throated hummingbird is the length of the bill, the female's bill is longer than the male's. The emerald green feathers covering their backs are the one thing the two sexes have in common with each other.

The Rufous hummingbird gets its name from the color of its feathers, just like the Ruby-throated hummingbird. The male Rufous hummingbird is identifiable by the iridescent rufous colored feathers that cover the sides, tail and crown. The female does not have these rufous colored feathers, instead it has green feathers that cover the crown and back while its tail feathers are rufous colored on the side and base and has white tips. The back of the male Rufous hummingbird is covered in rufous or green feathers or a combination of rufous and green feathers while white feathers cover the female's breast

I hope that with the differences between these two hummingbird species identified, hummingbird enthusiasts in Connecticut will have the ability to tell the difference between the species as they enjoy watching them on their yearly visit to the hummingbird feeders and gardens in Connecticut.