Male hummingbirds can be easy to identify with their colorful, glittering throats, but what about the girls? Identifying female hummingbirds can be trickier, but not impossible – if you know just what to look for with each hummer you see.

Boy or Girl?

Separating male and female hummingbirds is quite easy most of the time. Of the 14 hummingbird species that breed in the United States, even with very limited ranges, 12 females have very plain throats compared to their male counterparts. Therefore, any hummingbird with a very well-defined, colorful throat is absolutely a male.

For the buff-bellied hummingbird, which is found in the very southern tip of Texas, males and females look similar, but females are somewhat duller than males. For the violet-crowned hummingbird, which can be seen only along the very southern borders of southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico, males and females are nearly identical. For both of these birds, just seeing either males or females can be a treat and well worth noting, even if the bird’s sex is impossible to be certain about.

For the remaining 12 hummingbird species, females have relatively plain throats while males have colorful throats. In late summer, however, juvenile males – hatched just a few weeks earlier – can look similar to adult females, since their bright throat feathers will not have fully emerged. Males might show just a few specks or splotches of bright iridescence, but young females will not. Overall size cannot be an indication of male and female hummingbirds, as young hummers don’t leave the nest until they are nearly the same size as adults.

One final clue that can help separate hummingbird sexes is behavior. If the bird is tending a nest, adding nesting material, brooding eggs, or feeding youngsters, that bird will always be a female. After the initial mating, male hummingbirds play no role in raising the next generation.

Which Girl Is Which?

Identifying one female hummingbird from another is a much more difficult challenge, as many females look very similar and lack distinguishing traits that would strongly set them apart. Nevertheless, there are some characteristics that can be clues about different female hummer species.

• Geography – For many hummingbird species, geography can be the best clue to identify females. For example, the ruby-throated hummingbird is the only nesting species regularly seen in the eastern United States, while the very similar broad-tailed hummingbird is only found in the mountain west.
• Flock – Before jumping to unusual conclusions and rarity sightings for female hummingbirds, consider the other hummingbirds common in an area. Most likely, a mystery girl will be the same species, and while this isn’t definitive, it can be a good clue to narrow down the possibilities of a female’s identity.
• Tail – The shape and length of a hummingbird’s tail can be a good field mark to identify a female. Compare how the tail length is relative to the wing tips – does it just reach the wings, or is it significantly shorter or longer than the bird’s folded wings? Also note whether the feathers are pointed or rounded, or if they have any spots on or near the tips.
• Bill – All hummingbirds, male and female alike, have thin, needle-like bills. The length of the bill and whether or not it is perfectly straight or has a subtle curve down can be helpful in identifying hummingbird species, but only if you have a really good look at the bird’s profile. Still, it can be a useful clue.
• Throat – While male hummingbirds have the truly diagnostic throats, females do have some field marks on their throats that can be helpful for species identification. For example, a female rufous hummingbird or Anna’s hummingbird may have a bit of a splotch at the base of her throat. A broad-tailed female, however, will have a streaky throat.

When you see enough clues, you may be able to identify which female hummingbird is which. It is important to try not to rely on a single identifying characteristic, however, as there is overlap between different species. More clues will yield a more confident identification.

When You Can’t Identify Every Female Hummingbird

Sometimes even with the best views and trying different techniques, you may not be able to conclusively identify every female hummingbird. That’s okay – every time you try, every detailed observation you make, you are getting great practice at hummingbird identification and gender differentiation. If you aren’t successful, however, don’t get discouraged. Enjoy the opportunity to see hummingbirds and learn more about them, and soon you’ll be amazed at how much easier female hummingbirds pop out as easy-to-identify.