- Selasphorus platycercus
Identification
9-10cm
- Green upperparts
- White underparts
- Buff and green flanks
- Bill is almost straight
Male
- Red throat
- Outer primary is attenuated which gives a buzz in the flying bird
Female
- White throat speckled with iridescent green or bronze
Similar species
Not that similar if seen well, but Black-chinned Hummingbird is often occurring in the same areas. Black-chin is more frequently lifting its tail when feeding but Broad-tailed can do that as well. The color of the gorget in the male is very different, and tail is longer in Broad-tailed Hummingbird.
To distinguish from Ruby-throated Hummingbird, note the white between the eye and the bill on the male and the rusty flanks on the female. Listen when the male flies - it makes a whistling sound unlike the humming of a Ruby-throat.
Distribution
Southwestern US to Mexico and Guatemala.
Casual vagrant to Kansas.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Mountain meadows and forests , pine-oak woodland, arid shrubland observed at 7500 feet. Readily visits garden feeders, even in urban areas.
Behaviour
Breeding
The nest is cup-shaped and secured to a branch by spiders' webs. The 2 white eggs are incubated by the female for 16 days. The young fledge 23 days later.
Diet
The diet includes nectar and insects.
Vocalisation
The wings of the male make a high-pitched whistling noise.
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Wikipedia
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Broad-tailed Hummingbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 October 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Broad-tailed_Hummingbird
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
