Rufous Hummingbirds are the most common hummingbirds wintering in Louisiana, but close similarities with closely related Allen’s Hummingbirds prevent positive species identification of many hummers in the field (male Allen’s Hummingbird photo by Paul Konrad).

What a winter for hummingbirds in Louisiana! Since the end of November, 145 hummingbird hosts have reported almost 700 individual hummingbirds this winter, including 8 different species of hummingbirds! To put that into perspective, during all of last year, 223 birds were reported. New hummers are continuing to show up in Louisiana yards at Louisiana feeders, and with the coldest part of the winter at hand, compiler Erik Johnson noted that hummingbirds will continue looking for a food sources, “so keep those feeders fresh.”

As of January 11th, a total of 2 Anna’s Hummingbirds have been sighted, along with 80 Black-chinned Hummingbirds, 20 Broad-billed Hummingbirds, 35 Buff-bellied Hummingbirds, 19 Calliope Hummingbirds, 46 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and 150 Rufous Hummingbirds! In addition, 458 other hummingbirds are probably almost all Rufous, but they could not be positively distinguished from immature and female Allen’s. Rufous Hummingbirds are much more likely to be found east of the Rocky Mountains than Allen’s, and there were only 3 positively identified Allen’s Hummingbirds. There were also 14 hummingbirds that could not positively be identified as closely related immature and female Anna’s Hummingbirds or Black-chins. That’s an impressive list of hummingbirds, all reported by birders who provide hummingbird feeders with fresh sugar-water nectar throughout the winter to attract and benefit hummingbirds in the state. To get more information about Louisiana’s varied wintering hummingbirds, you can refer to Erik Johnson’s most recent compilation of Louisiana winter hummingbird sightings at http://birding.aba.org/message.php?mesid=1757029&MLID=LA&MLNM=Louisiana