Rufous Hummingbird
Selasphorus rufus
Silhouette: Ferran Sayol · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderApodiformes (Swifts and Hummingbirds)
- FamilyTrochilidae (Hummingbirds)
- GenusSelasphorus (Rufous, Allen's, and Allied Hummingbirds)
- SpeciesSelasphorus rufus (Rufous Hummingbird)
About the Rufous Hummingbird
The rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) is a small hummingbird, about 8 cm (3 in) long with a long, straight and slender bill. These birds are known for their extraordinary flight skills, flying 3,200 kilometres (2,000 miles) during their migratory transits. It is one of nine species in the genus Selasphorus.
The rufous hummingbird was formally described in 1788 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae. He placed it with all the other hummingbirds in the genus Trochilus. He coined the binomial name Trochilus rufus. Gmelin based his description on the ruff-necked hummingbird described by John Latham in 1782 and the ruffed honeysucker described by Thomas Pennant in 1785.
The type locality given by Gmelin was Nootka Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island in western Canada. However, breeding was estimated to occur in northwestern North America and wintering in westcentral Mexico. The rufous hummingbird is now placed with eight other species in the genus Selasphorus that was introduced in 1832 by the English naturalist William Swainson. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek selas meaning... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Rufous Hummingbird in Rocky Mountain National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Rocky Mountain National Park
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wrangell-St. Elias National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Yosemite National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Everglades National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Joshua Tree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Kenai Fjords National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Shenandoah National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Cañón del Sumidero National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 9 | Bahía de Loreto National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 10 | Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 11 | Katmai National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 12 | El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Rufous Hummingbird in Rocky Mountain National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Rufous Hummingbird sighting in Rocky Mountain National Park, based on 649 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Rufous Hummingbird in Rocky Mountain National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for Rufous Hummingbird in Rocky Mountain National Park in our monthly data.