These 17 hummingbirds stand out for features such as long tails, colorful crests, unusual feeding postures, and specialized courtship displays. They are a curated sample, not a complete checklist or a ranking of beauty; each species has its own range and habitat, and most are not backyard birds for most readers.
The species below follow the selection in Jaymi Heimbuch’s Treehugger article, updated in 2022. Cornell Lab’s eBird/Clements checklist is updated as taxonomy, English names, and range descriptions change, so check a current regional reference when identifying a bird.
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At a glance: distinctive hummingbirds
| Species | Distinctive feature | Range or habitat noted in the source |
|---|---|---|
| Rufous-Breasted Hummingbird | Flower choice and bill shape | Panama through the Caribbean |
| Long-Tailed Sylph | Male’s exceptionally long tail | High Andes, Venezuela to Bolivia |
| Rufous-Crested Coquette | Male’s spiky crest | Tropical America |
| Ruby-Topaz Hummingbird | Male’s glossy red crown and nape | Northern South America, southern Panama, and Trinidad |
| Anna’s Hummingbird | Male’s courtship dives and magenta crown | Pacific Coast, with winter presence into British Columbia |
| White-Booted Racket-Tail | Male’s racket-ended tail feathers and feathered legs | Andean region |
| Cinnamon Hummingbird | Cinnamon-colored underside | Western Mexico toward northwestern Costa Rica |
| Green Hermit | Male’s tail-wiggling display | Southern Central America into northern South America |
| Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird | Rufous tail and territorial behavior | Broad range and habitat use |
| Brown Violetear | Iridescent throat and ear feathers | Canopy, second growth, and coffee plantations |
| Green-Crowned Brilliant | Perches on flowers while feeding | Highlands |
| Chestnut-Breasted Coronet | Raises its wings after landing | Andean region |
| White-Crowned Hummingbird | Male’s white crown | Localized Central American cloud forests |
| Ecuadorian Hillstar | Feeds at extreme elevations | High Andes, up to the snow line |
| White-Necked Jacobin | Male’s white belly, blue head, and long tail | Tropical America |
| Velvet-Purple Coronet | Dark plumage that reveals iridescent colors in good light | Humid foothill forests of western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador |
| Green-Throated Mango | Associated with mangroves and swamp forest | Near the Amazon outlet; a Trinidad population decline is reported in the 2022 source |
Hummingbirds with distinctive tails and displays
Long-Tailed Sylph
The male Long-Tailed Sylph is known for its exceptionally long tail and iridescent blue-green coloring. The Treehugger article describes the tail as around five inches long and places the species in high Andean elevations from Venezuela to Bolivia.
White-Booted Racket-Tail
Males have two elongated tail feathers ending in racket-like flares, while both sexes have feathered legs that look like boots. The source connects the bird’s access to tubular flowers with pollination.
Green Hermit
The Green Hermit is a relatively large hermit hummingbird. The source highlights the male’s shorter tail and a display in which he wiggles his white-tipped tail. Its range extends from southern Central America into northern South America.
Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird
The rufous color is on this hummingbird’s tail, distinguishing it from the Rufous-Breasted Hummingbird. The source describes it as using varied habitats and strongly defending feeding territories.
Anna’s Hummingbird
The male Anna’s Hummingbird is noted for its magenta crown and courtship display: he rises high, then dives, producing buzzy sounds. The source describes winter presence along the Pacific Coast and north into British Columbia.
Hummingbirds with striking colors and crests
Rufous-Crested Coquette
This tiny coquette is described by Treehugger as about 2.5 inches long. Males have a more prominent spiky crest and an iridescent green neck. The source says it feeds on nectar and small arthropods.
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Males have a glossy red crown and nape. The source describes territorial aggression and a range across northern South America, southern Panama, and Trinidad.
Cinnamon Hummingbird
The Cinnamon Hummingbird’s cinnamon-brown underside contrasts with dark wings. Its red bill has a black tip. The source places it from western Mexico toward northwestern Costa Rica and associates it with dry forest.
Brown Violetear
Although its overall appearance can be subdued, the Brown Violetear has iridescent throat and ear feathers. The source describes males displaying violet feathers in a U-shaped courtship flight and notes habitat including canopy, second growth, and coffee plantations.
Green-Crowned Brilliant
A large highland hummingbird, the Green-Crowned Brilliant is notable for perching on flowers while feeding. The source also calls out male violet-blue throat patches and forked tails.
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Chestnut-Breasted Coronet
The Chestnut-Breasted Coronet has rufous underparts that contrast with its green head and back, along with a thick, straight bill. According to the source, it holds its wings upright immediately after landing.
White-Crowned Hummingbird
Also called the snowcap in the source article, this species has a distinctive white crown in males and deep purple coloration; females are bronze-green. It is described as localized to Central American cloud forests and not visiting feeders.
Velvet-Purple Coronet
The Velvet-Purple Coronet can look dark, but its plumage reveals purple, blue, and green iridescence in good light. The source places it in humid foothill forests of western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador.
Hummingbirds with specialized feeding habits
Rufous-Breasted Hummingbird
The rufous-breasted hermit, identified in the source as Glaucis hirsutus, is described as selective about flowers whose corolla matches its bill. The source also notes that male and female bills differ in shape and gives its range as Panama through the Caribbean.
Ecuadorian Hillstar
The Ecuadorian Hillstar is an extreme-elevation Andean hummingbird that feeds up to the snow line. The source describes it sheltering and entering nightly torpor as ways to conserve energy in cold conditions.
White-Necked Jacobin Hummingbird
Males are conspicuous, with a white belly, blue head, and long tail. The source describes a diet that includes nectar and insects, and notes that the bird catches insect prey in the air.
Green-Throated Mango
The Green-Throated Mango is associated with mangrove and swamp forest near the Amazon outlet. The 2022 Treehugger article reports a declining Trinidad population linked to habitat loss and quotes a Least Concern category from a 2016 IUCN assessment. That dated category should not be treated as the species’ current status without checking a current species record.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What these hummingbirds show about the family
Hummingbird diversity appears in more than bright plumage. Tail feathers, crests, feathered legs, feeding posture, courtship flights, and the fit between a bird’s bill and flowers all help distinguish species. BirdLife International describes hummingbirds as native to the Americas and notes that they eat nectar and insects; it identifies habitat loss as the greatest general risk to their survival.
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Ranges and habitats matter when identifying a bird. A species associated with an Andean highland or a Central American cloud forest should not be assumed to visit a typical North American backyard. For current names and range descriptions, consult Cornell Lab’s eBird/Clements checklist and a regional field guide.
FAQ
Are these the 17 strangest hummingbirds in the world?
No. They are the 17 species in a curated Treehugger article, not a complete checklist or an objective ranking. Other species could also be considered unusual depending on the feature being compared.
Do all hummingbirds live in the same habitat?
No. Hummingbirds occur in the Americas, but individual species occupy particular ranges and habitats, including highlands, cloud forests, dry forests, mangroves, and other environments.
What makes a hummingbird look iridescent?
Some hummingbird feathers appear differently colored with changes in light and viewing angle. The source article uses iridescent plumage as a distinguishing feature of several species, including the Brown Violetear and Velvet-Purple Coronet.
Are all hummingbirds in this list threatened?
No. Do not infer a conservation category for all 17 from a general discussion of habitat loss or from an older assessment of one species. Check a current species-specific conservation record before relying on a status.
Conclusion
These 17 hummingbirds illustrate how varied the family can be, from the Long-Tailed Sylph’s extravagant tail to the Ecuadorian Hillstar’s high-elevation life and the White-Booted Racket-Tail’s feathered legs. Their unusual appearance is only part of the story: range, habitat, feeding, and courtship help explain what makes each species distinctive.
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