Hummingbirds of Arizona: Broad-tailed Hummingbird

The Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Broad-tailed Hummingbird feed her young

Male

Male

Size: The Broad-tailed Hummingbird is another medium sized hummingbird up to 4.25  inches and with a slightly smaller straight bill.

Identifying Characteristics: The tail when open is the give-away: white on the outer feathers, then black, then green, and finally bright orange. The male has a rosy red throat, but unlike Anna's, has a green crown. The male looks very much like a Ruby-throated Hummingbird from the East but their ranges don't overlap, so  distinguishing between them is typically not a problem. I am usually skeptical of "reported" sightings of the Ruby-throated in Arizona for this reason.  The female has buffy flanks unlike any of the other hummers except the Calliope and Rufous. The top photo on this page is a male. The hummer on the nest, the hummer feeding its young, and the hummer feeding from the flowers are females.

Habitat: Mountain forests and meadows, desert lowlands.

Range: Western United States and Mexico, although not along the coasts.

Seasons: Here from April through September.

Where to Find: The Azure Gate and most feeders in the Madrean Sky Islands (Miller Canyon, Ash Canyon, Ramsey Canyon, and Madera Canyon). 

Comments: They love flowers, so will share their time between feeders and flowers.  The females are much more plentiful around the feeder sites. Males only come to the feeders occasionally. Keep you eye out for flowers around feeders. Be ready, with your camera, when one comes to take flower nectar.