Two Species: Which is Which?
Journey North tracks two hummingbird species: ruby-throat and rufous. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are found in the eastern half of North America. Rufous hummingbirds are most often found in the western half. Which hummingbird — if either — are you more likely to see?

Identifying Rufous Hummingbirds
Field marks are physical features or behaviors of an organism that can be clearly seen and used to distinguish the organism from other similar species. Scientists and birdwatchers use field marks to identify rufous males and females.

Identifying Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds
Scientists and birdwatchers use field marks to identify ruby-throated males and females.

Where in the World?
In recent years, more and more observers have reported seeing both species of hummingbirds.This distribution map shows where most birds of each species are during the winter and breeding seasons.