Illinois's hummingbird scene is simpler than a Gulf Coast state's — one dependable breeder does almost all the work, a western species fills in most winters, and every so often something genuinely unexpected shows up at a feeder. That simplicity makes identification easy for nearly every sighting — but the handful of exceptions are genuinely tricky, tricky enough that Illinois's own first-ever confirmed rarity needed expert documentation to accept.

This guide sorts out which hummingbird you're actually looking at, whether that's spring, summer, or the winter long shot — including exactly where field identification breaks down and why. For feeder setup, native plants, and pest-safe care, see our how-to-attract guide. For exact arrival and departure windows by county, see the Illinois hummingbird calendar.

The Hummingbird You're Most Likely to See

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Illinois's only regularly breeding hummingbird, and the species behind nearly every sighting in the state. University of Illinois Extension confirms it's the only hummingbird species that inhabits the Midwest. At roughly 3.5 inches long and weighing about as much as a penny (2.5–3.5 grams), it's tiny even by hummingbird standards — but unmistakable once you know what to look for.

Adult males show an emerald or golden-green back and crown over gray-white underparts, a dark mask through the eye, and a brilliant iridescent ruby-red throat (the "gorget") that can look flat black — even solid dark — until the light catches it at the right angle. The tail is dark, green-and-black, and distinctly forked. Females and immatures carry a plain whitish throat with little to no buffy wash on the flanks, and a rounded (not forked) tail broadly banded in black and tipped in white — the tail shape alone separates them from males at a glance. Young males begin showing a scatter of red throat feathers by late summer as they molt toward adult plumage.

In flight, Ruby-throateds beat their wings roughly 50 times per second, producing the soft, low-pitched hum that often announces them before you see them. They can stop instantly, hover with pinpoint precision, and fly straight backward. Beyond nectar, they pick tiny insects out of the air and off spider webs, which supplies the protein a nectar-only diet can't.

Where you are matters for timing. Ruby-throated arrival runs a real south-to-north gradient across the state — reliably common in the far south around Carbondale about three weeks before it reaches Chicago. See the Illinois hummingbird calendar for the county-by-county breakdown.

Ruby-throated vs. Broad-tailed: What to Listen For

Illinois's first-ever confirmed hummingbird rarity was a Broad-tailed, found in Champaign County in November 2023 — and the field mark that separates it from a lingering Ruby-throated isn't primarily visual at all. Cornell Lab describes the male Broad-tailed's flight sound as an "insectlike, metallic trill" made by air moving through specially shaped outer wing feathers — a sound Ruby-throated simply doesn't make. Birders often hear a Broad-tailed before they see it.

Visually, the two do overlap in the red-to-magenta gorget department, but the details differ: Cornell's species comparison notes that adult male Broad-tailed lacks the dark facial mask around the eye that Ruby-throated shows, and that Broad-tailed's tail feathers run cinnamon rather than the green-and-black of Ruby-throated's tail. Broad-tailed's gorget also reads more rose-magenta than true ruby-red, and females and immatures of both species show a pale eye-ring that Ruby-throated lacks. Broad-tailed is also a genuinely larger-headed, more thickset bird up close, though that's a hard call without direct comparison.

None of this is why Illinois's one Broad-tailed record got accepted, though — a bird this far outside its normal Rocky Mountain range needs photographs and documentation reviewed by the state's records committee, not just a field description, which is exactly what happened with the Champaign County bird.

Hummingbirds in Illinois in Winter

Ruby-throated mostly clears out for the winter, but Illinois feeders don't necessarily go quiet. One regular winter specialist takes over most years, a second visitor turns up in smaller numbers, and true rarities are worth watching for.

Rufous Hummingbird — the regular winter visitor

A western species that reliably turns up in Illinois most years once Ruby-throated has moved on, typically peaking in early December. Adult males are unmistakable — fiery coppery-orange overall with an iridescent orange-red throat — and famously aggressive, known to chase off other hummingbirds even when the intruder is twice their size. Females and immatures are trickier: green-backed above, with rufous-washed flanks and a rufous patch at the base of the tail, and often a small central spot of orange or red iridescent feathers at the throat.

Rufous or Allen's? Why We Can't Always Be Sure

Female and immature Rufous and Allen's Hummingbirds are essentially identical in the field. The only reliable way to separate them is examining the width and notching of specific tail feathers, which usually means a licensed hummingbird bander catching the bird and measuring it in the hand. When a "winter Selasphorus" turns up at an Illinois feeder without ever being banded, "Rufous" is the standing assumption — it's overwhelmingly the more frequently documented of the two across the eastern half of the country — but for any single unbanded bird, it's a well-informed bet rather than a certainty.

Anna's Hummingbird — a winter visitor in smaller numbers

A Pacific Coast species that also turns up in Illinois most winters, though in smaller numbers than Rufous, often starting a bit earlier in the fall. Adult males show an iridescent rose-pink throat and crown that can look dull gray-brown without direct light — the color extending up over the head, not just the throat, is what separates a male Anna's from every other hummingbird on this list. Females and young are green above with a whitish throat, sometimes flecked with a few pink spots at the center.

If You're Lucky: Illinois's One-of-a-Kind Rarities

Keep a feeder up through winter and you're giving yourself the best possible shot at hosting something genuinely unusual — Illinois's rarity list is short, but each entry is a real, documented record, accepted by the Illinois Ornithological Records Committee (IORC).

Broad-tailed Hummingbird — Illinois's first and only confirmed record

A single, remarkable bird appeared in Champaign County on November 7–10, 2023 — Illinois's first confirmed state record, accepted by IORC. In its normal Rocky Mountain range, an adult male's rose-magenta gorget and diagnostic wing trill make it easy to identify; females and immatures are duller, green above with a spotted throat and a pale eye-ring, and are told from similarly-sized Rufous and Allen's females mainly by having less rufous coloring in the tail. It remains Illinois's only documented Broad-tailed — a genuine one-off, not a bird to expect regularly.

Broad-billed Hummingbird

Illinois has also documented a single accepted Broad-billed Hummingbird record, in Coles County. Cornell Lab describes the adult male as unmistakable within its normal Arizona-to-Mexico range: a vivid red bill tipped in black, an emerald body, and a glittering sapphire-blue throat — no other North American hummingbird combines a red bill with a blue gorget. Females are duller, with grayish underparts and that same telltale red-and-black bill. A genuine rarity this far from its usual range, and a reminder that a winter feeder in the right place can occasionally produce a bird that's a real surprise even to experienced birders.

Illinois Hummingbirds at a Glance

Frequently Asked Questions

How many species of hummingbirds are in Illinois?

Ruby-throated is the only species that breeds regularly in Illinois, with Rufous as a regular winter visitor most years and Anna's turning up in smaller numbers. Beyond those, the state's confirmed record list includes a single Broad-tailed and a single Broad-billed Hummingbird.

Are there hummingbirds in Illinois in winter?

Yes — Rufous Hummingbird is a regular winter visitor, typically peaking in early December. Anna's Hummingbird turns up most winters too, in smaller numbers.

Is the Broad-tailed Hummingbird a regular visitor to Illinois?

No. The Illinois Ornithological Records Committee accepted a single documented record — Illinois's first-ever confirmed sighting, Champaign County, November 2023. It remains the state's only confirmed record, not a species to expect regularly.

How do I tell a Ruby-throated from a Broad-tailed Hummingbird?

Listen first — male Broad-tailed produces a distinctive metallic wing trill in flight that Ruby-throated doesn't make, and birders often hear one before they see it. Visually, Broad-tailed lacks Ruby-throated's dark facial mask, shows cinnamon-toned tail feathers instead of green-and-black, and its gorget reads more rose-magenta than true ruby-red.

How do I tell Ruby-throated and Rufous Hummingbirds apart in Illinois?

Adult males are straightforward: Ruby-throated shows a red gorget and a slightly forked tail, Rufous shows a fiery orange-red body and throat. Females and young of the two species are trickier — Rufous females and young show rufous-washed flanks and a rufous tail base that Ruby-throated females lack.

For feeder setup, nectar ratios, and native plants that support these species, head back to our how-to-attract-hummingbirds-in-Illinois guide. For region-by-region arrival and departure windows, see the Illinois hummingbird calendar.

Sources

• University of Illinois Extension, "Gardening for a hummingbird's travels". Source for the sole-breeding-species confirmation.
• Illinois Ornithological Records Committee. Source for Illinois's documented rarity records (Broad-tailed, Broad-billed).
• All About Birds, Ruby-throated Hummingbird Identification (Cornell Lab of Ornithology). Source for plumage, size, and behavior detail.
• All About Birds, Ruby-throated Hummingbird Similar Species (Cornell Lab of Ornithology). Source for the Ruby-throated/Broad-tailed facial mask and tail-color field marks.
• All About Birds, Broad-tailed Hummingbird Sounds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology). Source for the diagnostic wing-trill description.
• All About Birds, Broad-billed Hummingbird Identification (Cornell Lab of Ornithology). Source for Broad-billed plumage detail.
• eBird bar chart data, Cornell Lab of Ornithology — Illinois statewide and county-level, 2016–2025.