Identification: Species Accounts
Hummingbirds in Texas are a diverse group, and their identification can be a challenge, especially if you are waiting to see that splash of color in the gorget that only occurs when the light is at just the right angle. While the gorget is the most colorful area of the bird and, if it can be seen is one of the easiest ways to definitively identify male hummingbirds, it is not always colorful nor is it of any value in identifying female hummingbirds. Fortunately, there are other tools that can be used for both of these purposes.
For detailed species identification information see Hummingbirds of Texas with their New Mexico and Arizona Ranges by Clifford Shackelford, Madge Lindsay and Mark Klym or other good field guides to the birds. More detailed habitat information can be found on the Hummingbird Gardening section of this web site or in Texas Wildscapes – Gardening for Wildlife by Noreen Damude and Kelly Bender.
