Hummingbirds of Arizona: Broad-billed Hummingbird

The Broad-billed Hummingbird:

Size: The Broad-billed Hummingbird is a small to medium size hummingbird at 3.5 to 4 inches with a slightly longer straight - and red - bill.

Identifying Characteristics:  The Broad-billed Hummingbird looks very similar to the slightly smaller White-eared Hummingbird, except that the White-eared has a distinctive white "lightning bolt" above the ear. Both are dark in color with dark blues and greens on breast and back, and both have a red bill which easily separates them from other hummingbirds. The Berylline which is also dark all over has rufous wings and has more green and no blue. The bill of the Berylline appears black, although there is a small amount of red on the lower bill near the chin.  The Berylline also has very distinctive rufous color on the wings which is  clearly visible in flight.

Habitat: Within its range, there is a wide variation in its prefered habitat. It can be found in Mountains, Canyons, Riparian areas,  and Sonoran desert. 

Range: Western Mexico and the Madrean Sky Islands of Southern Arizona. It is the most common hummingbird of northwestern Mexico.

Seasons: March through September in the mountain areas; winters in the lower scrub and sonoran desert.

Where to Find:    The Broad-billed Hummingbird can be found frequently around The Azure Gate (bottom right photo). High probability locations are Ramsey, Miller, Ash, and Madera Canyon. You'll often see them in Patagonia and the San Pedro River feeders too. Any of these locations should produce results. In Madera Canyon, for example there may be as many as 20 or 30 feeding at Kubo Cabins daily. The same is true in Ash, Miller, and Ramsey Canyons.

Comments: The Broad-bill population is much higher than the White-eared so is more often seen. They arrive in the US in large numbers  and always seem to be the most active hummers in the feeding sites. They spend much time chasing each other.  They also take nectar from a variety of flowers and catch insects by hawking and gleaning. As with most hummers they have very long tongues which enable them to get inside flowers -- and feeders (lower left photo).