Rufous Hummingbird

Selasphorus rufus

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Identification

Field notes

10 cm (4") Common in northwestern forests, woodland edges and thickets.

Male: entire back is usually rufous or reddish-brown; sometimes some green speckles. Wings whistle.

Female: green backed with rufous on base of tail and sides. Not safely told from Allen's female.

Wings whistle.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: Eugene Beckes

Credit: Rick Leche

Credit: Rick Leche

Credit: Rick Leche

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Rufous Hummingbird (Female)

1 rule

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 5

What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Green · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Very long · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Green · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow
Compared with other hummingbirds, how large did it look?: About average for a hummingbird · Unknown
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hummingbird
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:458-rufous-and-allen-s-hummingbird-female:1:1 Source: 458 Rufous and Allen's Hummingbird (Female), row 1

Rufous Hummingbird (Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 5

What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Pointed or wedge-shaped · Forked · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Red, or pink · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Very long · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Green · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Green · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow
Compared with other hummingbirds, how large did it look?: About average for a hummingbird · Unknown
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hummingbird
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:457-rufous-hummingbird-male:1:1 Source: 457 Rufous Hummingbird (Male), row 1