Lucifer Hummingbird Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesLucifer Hummingbird
Male
Small hummingbird with a curved bill. Males have a purple gorget that flares out on the sides. Iridescent green above. Tail on perched birds is long and narrow.
© Marky Mutchler / Macaulay LibraryArizona, August 09, 2020Female
Small hummingbird with curved bill. Females are iridescent green above with cinnamon patch on the upper tail feathers. Underparts are whitish with cinnamon flanks. Note short tail on females.
© Brandon Nidiffer / Macaulay LibraryTexas, March 31, 2019Male
The curved bill and purple gorget stand out on this male. This video has no audio.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryArizona, May 01, 1994Not all videos have sound
Male
Small hummingbird with a curved bill, green forehead, and a purple gorget that flares out on the sides.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryTexas, July 26, 2016Female
Note the curved bill and buffy underparts on this female. This video has no audio.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryArizona, May 01, 1994Not all videos have sound
Male
Visits feeders, but often chased away by more aggressive species.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryArizona, May 01, 1994Not all videos have sound
Female
Females have cinnamon-washed flanks and a smudgy line behind the eye. Note curved bill and short tail.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 13, 2013Similar SpeciesBlack-chinned Hummingbird
Adult male
The Black-chinned Hummingbird lacks the Lucifer's decurved bill. It also has a smaller gorget that doesn't flare off to the sides like it does on Lucifer.
© Ian Hearn / Macaulay LibraryIdaho, July 13, 2017Similar SpeciesBlack-chinned Hummingbird
Female/immature
The Black-chinned Hummingbird lacks the Lucifer's decurved bill. Females/immatures have paler underparts with less buffy coloring as seen on female/immature Lucifer Hummingbirds.
© Paul Fenwick / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, September 14, 2016Similar SpeciesCosta's Hummingbird
Adult male
The Costa’s Hummingbird is heavier-bodied than the Lucifer Hummingbird and has a straighter bill. Adult males have purple crowns, whereas adult male Lucifers have a green crown.
© Gordon Karre / Macaulay LibraryArizona, February 06, 2017Similar SpeciesCosta's Hummingbird
Female
Costa's Hummingbirds have straighter bills than Lucifer Hummingbirds. Females lack the female Lucifer's buffy sides and breast band.
© Nick Hajdukovich / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, October 30, 2015Similar SpeciesBroad-tailed Hummingbird
Adult male
Adult male Broad-tailed Hummingbirds have a rosy-red gorget, whereas adult male Lucifers have a purplish gorget.
© Gregg Friesen / Macaulay LibraryColorado, July 29, 2017Similar SpeciesBroad-tailed Hummingbird
Female/immature
Female/immature Broad-tailed Hummingbirds have spotting on their throat and cheeks, whereas female/immature Lucifers have a plain throat and cheeks.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryUtah, October 11, 2009Similar SpeciesAllen's Hummingbird
Female/immature
Female/immature Allen's Hummingbirds have brighter cinnamon sides and a straighter bill than female/immature Lucifer Hummingbirds.
© Nigel Voaden / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, May 23, 2015Similar SpeciesRufous Hummingbird
Female/immature
Female/immature Rufous Hummingbirds have brighter cinnamon sides than female/immature Lucifer Hummingbirds. Their bill is also straighter.
© Ian Routley / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, September 16, 2016Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Hummingbirds(Order: Caprimulgiformes, Family: Trochilidae)
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