3 Types of Hummingbirds in Mississippi (With Pictures)

Last Updated on Mar 13 2024

While some guides will tell you that you can spot all sorts of hummingbird species in Mississippi, that’s usually not the case. The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird and the Buff-Bellied Hummingbird are by far the two most likely types of hummingbirds you’ll find there, although you can catch the occasional Rufous Hummingbird flying around.

If you want to spot a hummingbird in Mississippi you need to know when and where to look, and you can do a few things to make your yard a bit more hospitable for them. While there aren’t many hummingbirds that regularly visit this area, there are three that you’re sure to spot. We’ll break it all down for you here.

The 3 Hummingbird Species in Mississippi 

1. Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is by far the most common type of hummingbird you can spot in Mississippi. Their breeding range goes from Eastern Texas all the way to southern portions of Canada, meaning during the warmer months, you can find them all throughout the state.

The ruby-Throated Hummingbird consists of quite a few colors with splashes of green throughout most of their body. But they get their name from the bright orange/red coloring around their throat, and it’s often one of the first things people notice when they spot this bird.

2. Rufous Hummingbird

While it’s far more likely to spot a Rufous Hummingbird along the Mexican highlands in the winter, you can find sparse populations of these birds throughout the Gulf Coast during this time. This means you can find them in Mississippi, but only during the winter, and even then, you won’t find many.

Currently, there are about 19 million Rufous Hummingbirds in the wild, but their population numbers are declining each year. The Rufous Hummingbird has a copper-colored body throughout, although they have splotches of white along its chest and some black tail and wing feathers.

3. Buff-Bellied Hummingbird

The Buff-Bellied Hummingbird is another hummingbird you can find along the Gulf Coast. You can only find them near the water in Mississippi and only during the non-breeding (winter) season. They live exclusively along the Gulf Coast, traveling down to the Mexican side during the breeding season.

As the name implies their chest seems to “puff” out a bit when they perch, although when they stretch their necks out it can take away from this appearance a bit. They have green, white, and white feathers, with males having an iridescent green throat that makes them easy to tell apart.

Tips to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Yard

Now that you know a bit about the types of hummingbirds that might visit your yard in Mississippi, all that’s left is for you to take the necessary steps to try and attract some of them to your yard. If you’re serious about attracting hummingbirds to your home, follow these tips.

1. Know When Hummingbirds Might Visit

If there aren’t any hummingbirds around, it doesn’t matter what you do, they won’t come to visit! If you don’t live by the Gulf Coast in Mississippi the only time you’ll spot a hummingbird is during the warmer summer months, and you’ll likely only spot the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird.

You can put as many feeders out throughout the rest of the year, but you’re probably not going to get any hummingbird visitors. But if you do live near the Gulf Coast, you can get hummingbird visitors throughout the entire year, but they’ll be different species.

You’ll still get the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird during the warmer months, but when things start to cool down, they’ll fly south, and you’ll start to get the Buff-Bellied Hummingbird and the occasional Rufous Hummingbird visitor!

2. Get a Good Feeder

If you want to watch hummingbirds in your yard, you need to give them something worth visiting. A high-quality feeder will do just that, but ensure you keep it clean and well-stocked with sugar water so they’ll want to visit.

Furthermore, when putting out a hummingbird feeder, aim for one with lots of red, as this is more likely to attract the hummingbird’s attention and get them to visit.

3. After The Feeder, Add a Birdbath

While a feeder is by far the best way to get a hummingbird to visit your yard, if you’re looking to make it an even more attractive destination for them, go ahead and add a birdbath or two. Hummingbirds love bird baths and putting a few in your yard will drastically increase the chances of getting one or two to stop by and visit.

4. Give Them Some Space

While you want to see the hummingbirds, you need to remember that they can be a bit skittish. If you’re keeping the feeder right next to your home or close to a high-traffic area, you’re less likely to get one to visit.

But if you put the feeder in a quieter location where they can see it, it shouldn’t be long until hummingbirds are stopping by for a treat!

5. Keep the Birdbaths in the Same Place

Find the perfect spot for your hummingbird feeder and then leave it there for the best possible results. Hummingbirds can live for multiple years, and if they already know of a great spot, they’re going to come back to visit it year after year.

They’ll bring their friends, and before long your yard will be an annual hummingbird destination!

Conclusion

Who doesn’t love the sight of a hummingbird fluttering around? If you live in Mississippi, there’s no reason you can’t have a few hummingbirds visiting your yard each year. Just know when to look for them and do what it takes to attract them to your yard when they’re flying by.

Before long, you’ll be able to watch the hummingbirds in Mississippi stopping by for a drink and a quick bite to eat!

• Related Read: 5 Types of Hummingbirds in Idaho

Featured Image Credit: BlenderTimer, Pixabay