There are eighteen genus of hummingbirds in the world today, all in the "New World" of North and South America.  That means that Europe, China and the rest of our planet has no hummingbirds to be found, yet this fact is not fully explained in any book I've read.  Why aren't hummingbirds found throughout the world?  Why only in the western hemisphere and nowhere else? 

     Seems we are lucky in Wyoming to have three of the genus, and four species that have spent the warmer months in the Wind River Canyon.  The genus Stellula has only one member, my personal favorite hummingbird, and the most difficult to photograph, the Calliope Hummingbird.  The Calliope Hummingbird is the smallest bird to breed in North America and, the most distinctive to my eye.  The male's iridescent wine-red bolts on his throat are one of Mother Nature's genuine summer treats, yet he is shy by comparison, and when combined with his small size it makes him a fleeting and very small target for a big Canon lens.  The female is distinctive, but easily confused with females and young hummers from other species that breed in the Wind River Canyon.  The Calliope Hummingbird is small, quick and most beautiful.

     The hummingbird genus Archilochus has only one member west of the Mississippi River, the Black-chinned Hummingbird.  The Black-chinned Hummingbird was seen for the very first time in the Wind River Canyon last summer.  They were forced out of their usual mating grounds by the fires in southern Colorado, and some of them came to breed here in the Canyon.  In sixteen years we had never seen a Black-chinned hummingbird even once, and to say I was excited is an understatement.  I have photos of the male, but they're not of website and blog quality, but I have a nice portrait of a female Black-chinned hummingbird; the females of hummingbirds are always friendlier to nature photographers.  I've read that only thirty percent of nesting Black-chinned hummingbirds are successful, as the other two thirds are damaged by predation.  They were successful here in the Wind River Canyon early last summer, I hope they will return next summer.  

     Last of the genus to be seen in the Wind River Canyon is Selasphorus, which includes both the Broad-tailed hummingbird and the Rufous hummingbird.  The Broad-tailed hummingbird is seen every year in the Wind River Canyon, yet chooses not to nest here; they move through on their way northwest.  The males are large and aggressive for a bird the size of your thumb; the male's shooting star display is utterly amazing, and their  red gorget (throat) is unique in Wyoming.  I hope to live long enough to see them nest in the Wind River Canyon.  

     The last hummingbird species to nest in the Wind River Canyon is the always delightful Rufous hummingbird.  Both male and female Rufous hummingbirds are aggressive, territorial, and provide weeks of entertainment and photo ops during the summers here.  The male's throat is red-orange and can take on a green flash in dim light.  The adult Rufous male arrives during the first week of July, and they guard their food source with Tiger-like aggression; they're even the same color of rufous.  They're the most successful of the four species seen in the Canyon, and the bird that started me on this conservation and wildlife photography quest in the first place.  The females of all four species I have described can be confused unless you are very careful, and have a good hummingbird guide like me.  

     So there you have it, the four species of hummingbirds that can be seen and photographed in the Wind River Canyon and Wyoming.  Put up a feeder and keep it clean, plant some flowers and enjoy the show, and see my gallery of hummingbird photographs on my website HogbatsPhotography.com.      

     Here's a selection of the Hummingbirds I have described in my blog.

Callliope Hummingbird-Wind River Canyon-WYCalliope Hummingbird photographed in the Wind River Canyon, Wyoming.

Calliope Hummingbird-female-Wind River Canyon-WyomingCalliope Hummingbird, female, photographed in the Wind River Canyon, Wyoming.

Black-chinned Hummingbird, female, Wind River Canyon, WyomingBlack-chinned Hummingbird photographed in the Wind River Canyon, Wyoming.

Broad-Tailed Hummingbird-Wind River Canyon-WyomingHummingbird photographed in the Wind River Canyon, Wyoming.

Rufous Hummingbird-Wind River Canyon,Wyoming - 1st Place 48th Cody Art ShowRufous Hummingbird photographed in the Wind River Canyon.

Keep that camera ready!