Broad-tailed Hummingbirds: Everything You Need to Know

Wait a few minutes to see the amazing world of Broad-tailed Hummingbirds! These tiny birds' scientific name is Selasphorus platycercus. They are known for their bright colors and incredible flying skills. They live in the western parts of North America. They are often seen in pine forests. Broad-tailed Hummingbirds can grow up to 3.5 to 4 inches (9-10 cm) in length and weigh between 2.8 to 4.5 grams.

In this article, we will learn all about Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, including what they look like, what they eat, migration, egg size, nest, mating, male-female, and how they live.

Where do Broad-tailed Hummingbirds Live?

Broad-tailed Hummingbirds are primarily found in the western parts of North America. They also live in the Rocky Mountains, southern Utah, and northern Mexico. When the summer season comes, you can easily find them in mountain meadows, pine forests, and open woodlands.

When the winter comes, they migrate to warmer places, such as Mexico and Central America. Broad-tailed Humming species love places with huge quantities of flowers where they can easily find their favorite food nectar.

What Does a Broad-tailed Hummingbird Look Like?

# Size, Weight, and Mother Like Appearance

Broad-tailed Hummingbirds can grow up to 3.5 to 4 inches (9-10 cm) in length and weigh between 2.8 to 4.5 grams. Broad-tailed Hummingbirds look like moths because of their fast wing movements and hovering flight around flowers.

# Color Variations

Broad-tailed Hummingbirds have beautiful colors. Males have a bright greenback and crown with a stunning rose-red throat. On the other hand, female broad-tailed hummingbirds have a green back and a white belly with some red spots on their throat. Both males and females have a unique side. Their colors can look different depending on the light.

# Call

Broad-tailed Hummingbirds have a variety of calls. Their common call is a series of high-pitched chips. They also make trilling sounds with their wings when they fly. They also make these sounds during the breeding season. They also make these types of sounds to attract females and defend their territory from other species.

What do Broad-tailed Hummingbirds Eat?

Broad-tailed Hummingbirds primarily eat nectar from flowers like red columbine, sage species, Indian paintbrush, and scarlet mint. They also feed from flowers like pussywillows, currants, and glacier lilies. 

Their long tongue allows them to reach deep into flowers to access the sweet nectar. Besides nectar, Broad-tailed hummingbirds also eat small insects and spiders. They get most of their protein and nutrients from these small insects and spiders. They are known to visit hummingbird feeders where they can drink sugar water solutions.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird Male and Female

# Male Broad-tailed Hummingbirds

Male Broad-tailed Hummingbirds are known for their bright color. Males have rose-red gorget and greenback. Males are highly aggressive and territorial. They will aggressively defend their territory and breeding areas. They show amazing displays during courtship. To attract females, they do high-speed dives and rapid side-to-side movements.

# Females Broad-tailed Hummingbirds

Female Broad-bellied Hummingbirds are less colorful compared to males. They have a greenback and a whitish belly with some red spots on their throat. Females make the nest and take of their chick. Females are also territorial and more tolerant of other hummingbirds.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird Mating

The mating behavior of Broad-tailed Hummingbirds is fascinating. Males perform remarkable courtship displays to attract female partners during the breeding season. One of the most amazing displays is the "dive display".

In this display, the male flies high into the air and then dives toward the ground. They also make a loud popping sound with their tail feather while diving. If a female is impressed to see their display, they will mate with them.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird Nest

Female Broad-tailed Hummingbirds make their nest. Their nests are cup-shaped and very small in size of a walnut. Females build the nest with spider silk, plant fibers, and other soft materials. The nests are often placed on tree branches or shrubs. Females make their nests nesting enough to protect against predators.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird Egg

After making nests, Broad-tailed hummingbirds lay two eggs per clutch. The eggs are very small, like the size of a jellybean or a coffee bean. Their eggs are 0.5 to 0.6 inches (1.2-1.5 cm) in length and width are 0.3 inches (0.8-1 cm). The female incubates the eggs for about 14 to 19 days. During these 16 to 19 days mother broad-bellied hummingbird remains in the nest and keeps their eggs warm and safe.

Baby Broad-tailed Hummingbird

After the hatching is complete the baby hummingbirds (chicks) are born blind and featherless. They are fully dependent on their mother for food and warmth. The female broad-tailed hummingbird feeds their baby nectar and insects. Within a few weeks, the chicks develop feathers and grow rapidly.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird Juvenile

Young males may have a few colored feathers on their throats. As they mature, they gradually develop the bright colors of adult males. Juveniles are also more playful and curious than adults.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird Predators

Broad-tailed Hummingbirds face many predators because of their small size and agility. Common predators include:

• Cats: Domestic and feral cats pose a threat to hummingbirds.
• Birds of Prey: Larger birds, such as hawks and owls, may prey on hummingbirds.
• Snakes: Some snake species can climb trees and prey on hummingbird nests.
• Insects: Large insects, like praying mantises, can occasionally capture and eat hummingbirds.

How Long Does a Broad-tailed Hummingbird Live?

The Broad-tailed Hummingbirds have one of the longest lifespans among hummingbird species. The average lifespan of a Broad-tailed hummingbird is 8 to 10 years (according to some sources).

They typically live for about 5 to 10 years in the wild. Some individuals have been known to live up to 12 years. Many factors, such as predation, food availability, climate change, habitat loss, and more environmental conditions, may affect their lifespan.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird Migration

Broad-tailed Hummingbirds are migratory birds. They spend their breeding season in the western United States, including the Rocky Mountains. When the winter comes, they migrate to Mexico and Central America. Their migration routes are often along mountain ranges, where they can find food and water.

Broad-tailed vs Anna's Hummingbird

Broad-tailed vs Rufous Hummingbird

Broad-tailed vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Conclusion

Broad-tailed Hummingbirds are tiny and amazing birds with bright colors. They live in the mountains in the western United States and fly to warmer places in the winter. These birds are small and fast, and they look like tiny jewels flying around. We learned that they drink sweet nectar from flowers and eat tiny insects.

The male birds have bright red throats, while the female birds are not as colorful. The female birds build nests and take care of the baby birds. These hummingbirds have to watch out for dangers like cats, big birds, and snakes. They usually live for about 3 to 5 years. They also travel very far when they migrate, which is incredible for such small birds.

By learning more about Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, we can appreciate how special they are and help keep them safe. Next time you see a hummingbird, remember all the cool facts you learned and enjoy watching these wonderful birds.