Quick Answer
Yes, there are a few species of hummingbirds that can be found in Las Vegas and other parts of Nevada. The most common hummingbird species in the Las Vegas area are the Black-chinned Hummingbird and the Costa’s Hummingbird. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Rufous Hummingbird can also be seen during migration. Hummingbirds are attracted to flowering plants, so they can be found in gardens, parks, and other green spaces, especially those with nectar-producing flowers. With proper landscaping and feeding, it’s possible to spot hummingbirds in Las Vegas throughout much of the year.
Hummingbird Species in Las Vegas and Nevada
Black-chinned Hummingbird
The Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) is the most widespread and commonly seen hummingbird in southern Nevada, including the Las Vegas area. This species breeds in Nevada and can be found year-round in some locations, though their numbers increase during spring and fall migration.
The adult male Black-chinned Hummingbird has a black chin and throat, an iridescent purple crown and emerald green back. Females lack the purple crown and have a pale throat with dark speckles on the sides. Both sexes have a thin dark bill and white tips on the outer tail feathers.
These hummingbirds feed on nectar from flowers and flowering shrubs and small insects. They can be attracted to feeders containing sugar water or specialized nectar mixes. Preferred food sources include salvia, penstemon, petunias, and other tubular flowers.
Costa’s Hummingbird
The Costa’s Hummingbird (Calypte costae) is another common species found year-round in southern Nevada, Las Vegas, and other desert regions of the southwest. Males are identified by their vivid purple crown and throat and long, forked tail feathers. Females have a duller green crown, whitish underside and smaller tail feathers.
Costa’s hummingbirds prefer desert washes and oases with flowering plants and small trees. They feed on nectar and small insects. This species will visit flowering plants in gardens and parks and can become regulars at nectar feeders. Preferred food plants include ocotillo, palo verde, agave, and turk’s cap.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is an eastern species that passes through Nevada during migration. In Las Vegas, these hummingbirds are most likely to be seen in spring and fall.
The male Ruby-throat has an iridescent red throat and white breast. Females lack the red throat patch and are identified by their rounded tail with white tips on the outer feathers. These hummingbirds feed on the nectar of flowering trees and shrubs, as well as insects and spiders. They visit feeders with sugar water or commercial nectar.
Rufous Hummingbird
The Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) is a western species that migrates through Nevada in spring and fall. The males are unmistakable with their bright orange-red throats and flanks. Females are green above, whitish below with speckled throats and rufous sides.
These hummingbirds stop to refuel on their migration at areas with suitable flowers and feeders. They prefer nectar from columbine, lupine, paintbrush and other wildflowers. Rufous hummingbirds are feisty and chase off other hummingbirds from feeders.
When and Where to See Hummingbirds in Las Vegas
Here is some information on the best times and places to observe hummingbirds in the Las Vegas area throughout the year:
Spring Migration (March – May)
Spring is an excellent time to spot migrating hummingbird species like Rufous and Ruby-throated hummingbirds stopping through the Vegas area. Resident Black-chinned and Costa’s hummingbirds are also active and establishing breeding territories.
Some top spots for seeing migrating hummingbirds in spring include:
– Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
– Desert National Wildlife Refuge
– Corn Creek Springs
– Springs Preserve
Summer (June – August)
In summer, Black-chinned and Costa’s hummingbirds nesting in the area can still be spotted visiting flowers and feeders, though their activity decreases in the hottest months. Provide shade and clean water along with nectar feeders to help hummingbirds during summer. Prime summer viewing spots include Mt. Charleston and Lee Canyon which offer cooler temperatures and blooming mountain wildflowers.
Fall Migration (September – November)
Fall migration brings another chance to spot out-of-town hummingbird species stopping by the Vegas valley. Rufous and Ruby-throated hummingbirds pass through in late summer and fall. Keep feeders stocked through November to provide fuel for these long-distance migrants. Good areas to spot migrating hummingbirds include Sunset Park, Clark County Wetlands Park and Valley of Fire State Park.
Winter (December – February)
While many hummingbirds retreat south or to Mexico for the winter, some Black-chinned and Costa’s hummingbirds will overwinter in sheltered desert oases, parks and gardens in southern Nevada and the Las Vegas area. Use heaters and provide non-freezing water sources at feeders to help overwintering birds survive cold snaps. Favored winter hotspots include Corn Creek, Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge and Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
Landscaping and Feeding to Attract Hummingbirds
You can make your Las Vegas garden, patio or balcony more attractive to hummingbirds by providing their preferred flowers, trees and feeders:
Flowers
Plant tubular flowers in red, orange, pink and purple hues that provide nectar for hummingbirds:
– Trumpet vine
– Lantana
– Coral honeysuckle
– Columbine
– Penstemon
– Petunia
– Fuchsia
– Salvia
Avoid pesticides which can poison the nectar hummingbirds feed on. Also provide flowering plants that bloom in succession, providing nectar through spring, summer and fall.
Trees and Shrubs
Hummingbirds seek out trees and shrubs for perches, nest sites and more nectar sources:
– Ocotillo
– Mesquite
– Palo verde
– Agave
– Desert willow
– Fremont’s cottonwood
Select native desert-adapted trees suited for Las Vegas that provide shelter from the sun and predators. Place trees and shrubs near nectar flowers and feeders to create a hummingbird-friendly habitat.
Feeders
Nectar feeders provide an excellent source of energy-rich food for hummingbirds. Follow these tips:
– Use a feeder with red or yellow parts to attract hummingbirds.
– Fill with a 1:4 ratio of white table sugar to water. Avoid dye, honey or artificial sweeteners.
– Change nectar every 2-3 days in hot weather, or when it looks cloudy.
– Rinse and clean feeders weekly with hot water and no soap.
– Place feeders in shade with perches and cover from wind. Avoid areas near ants.
– Use feeders with bee guards to limit bees, wasps and ants.
Having multiple feeders in different areas creates more feeding opportunities. Place near windows so you can observe visiting hummingbirds up close. Suspending feeders from trees or shepherd hooks works well.
Hummingbird Behavior, Nesting and Migration
Here are some key facts about hummingbird habits and life cycle that can aid in spotting and understanding them:
Feeding
– Hummingbirds feed mainly on nectar from flowers and feeders, visiting hundreds of blossoms daily. They lick nectar with their long, forked tongue up to 13 times per second.
– They also eat small insects for protein, catching them in flight or pulling them from leaves and branches.
– Hummingbirds need large amounts of energy from nectar and sugar water, typically consuming more than their weight in nectar each day. Their high metabolism requires frequent feeding throughout the day.
Flight and Metabolism
– Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backwards as well as hover in midair by rapidly flapping their wings up to 70 times per second. This allows them to precisely maintain position while feeding on nectar.
– Their energy needs for flight require an extremely rapid metabolism. At rest their heart rate is 250 beats per minute, increasing to as much as 1,260 bpm during flight.
– Hummingbirds are capable of slowing their metabolism and going into torpor at night to conserve energy when food is limited, lowering their body temperature and heart rate.
Migration
– Most hummingbirds that visit Nevada are migratory, traveling hundreds or even thousands of miles between their breeding range and overwintering grounds.
– Ruby-throated hummingbirds make a 2,000 mile nonstop flight across the Gulf of Mexico each fall and spring during migration between Mexico/Central America and their eastern U.S. summer range.
– Rufous hummingbirds famously migrate north to Alaska and Canada each spring, some covering over 3,900 miles on their annual round trips. Their timing and stopover spots are linked to seasonal flower blooming along their migration route.
Breeding and Nesting
– Male hummingbirds return first to breeding areas in spring to establish feeding territories which they defend aggressively from intruders. Females arrive approximately 2 weeks later.
– Hummingbirds perform elaborate courtship displays to attract mates, with plunging dive displays by males. They do not form pair bonds, and males mate with any receptive females that enter their territories.
– The female alone builds the nest out of plant down and spider webs, typically on a small tree branch. She lays 2 tiny white eggs about the size of a jellybean.
– Incubation lasts 14-23 days, and chicks fledge in about 3 weeks. Many hummingbirds raise 2-3 broods over the course of a breeding season.
Unique Hummingbird Adaptations
Hummingbirds have several specialized anatomical and physiological adaptations that enable their distinctive lifestyles:
Bill Shape
– Their long, slender, slightly downturned bill is ideally designed for reaching into tubular flowers and extracting nectar.
– The bill’s tapered shape gives it flexibility to carefully probe flowers and access narrow openings.
– Grooves on the interior of the bill channel nectar via capillary action to the back of the mouth when the bill tip touches nectar.
Tongue Structure
– Hummingbirds have a highly extensible tongue that extends nearly twice the length of the bill. When retracted, it coils back over the skull behind the eyes.
– The forked tip of the tongue allows hummingbirds to efficiently lap up nectar. The edges are fringed, catching more nectar.
– Sticky strands on the tongue tip capture insects for protein. Grooves transport nectar to the throat via capillary action when the tongue contacts nectar.
Wing Design
– Hummingbird wings are uniquely capable of rotary flight, allowing them to hover and fly backwards as well as forwards.
– They have ball and socket wing joints that permit extensive rotational movement. Additionally, their wings are able to pronate (turn horizontally) at the shoulder joint.
– In forward flight, hummingbirds beat their wings in a figure-8 pattern rather than just up and down. This creates lift on both the upstroke and downstroke.
Metabolic Rate
– Hummingbirds have the highest metabolic rate for their size of any warm-blooded animal. At rest, their heart rate can be over 500 bpm.
– They have enlarged hearts and high hemoglobin levels to deliver oxygen to tissues. Their oxygen intake is about 2.5% of their total body volume per minute during flight, compared to only 0.8% in humans.
– They are able to rapidly convert sugar into energy to power their extreme activity levels. Exceptions include specialized adaptations allowing them to go into torpor to conserve energy when food sources are scarce.
Threats and Conservation
The major threats facing hummingbirds, and what’s being done to protect them:
Habitat Loss
– Development, logging, agriculture and other human activities destroy vital hummingbird habitat. This removes food sources and nesting areas.
– Maintaining protected parks, refuges and natural areas provides essential habitat for hummingbirds. Supporting habitat conservation helps offset losses.
Climate Change
– Changing climate patterns and extreme weather events disrupt the timing of flowers and nectar that hummingbirds rely on during migration and breeding.
– Providing supplemental feeding, planting climate-adapted flowers and conserving water can help hummingbirds adapt to a changing climate.
Pesticides
– Chemicals like insecticides and herbicides reduce insect prey and nectar sources for hummingbirds. Pesticides are also toxic if consumed.
– Using organic gardening methods minimizes this hazard. Avoiding pesticide use allows more insects and flowers to thrive.
Window Collisions
– Hummingbirds are vulnerable to fatal collisions with windows and structures, often due to reflective surfaces or vegetation drawing them in.
– Installing screens, decals or UV-reflecting film on windows reduces collisions. Keeping feeders and plants away from windows also helps.
Outdoor Cats
– Free-roaming pet cats are a major source of mortality for many birds, including hummingbirds. Cats hunt and kill adult hummingbirds, chicks and eggs.
– Keeping cats indoors protects local birds. Bells on collars are ineffective at preventing hunting. Supporting ordinances that require cats to be leashed or kept indoors aids conservation.
Summary and Conclusion
In summary, several species of hummingbirds can be found in Las Vegas, Nevada throughout much of the year:
– Black-chinned and Costa’s hummingbirds nest in the area and are present year-round.
– Ruby-throated and Rufous hummingbirds pass through during spring and fall migrations.
– Key spots to see hummingbirds around Las Vegas include parks, nature areas, gardens, and nectar feeders.
– Specific plants like salvia, ocotillo and trumpet vine provide essential nectar for hummingbirds in the desert climate.
– Hummingbirds have unique anatomical adaptations like specialized bills, tongues, wings and high metabolic rates to support their feeding needs and rapid flight.
– Threats to hummingbirds include habitat loss, climate change, pesticides, window collisions, and cats. Conservation measures such as habitat protection, organic gardening, and keeping cats indoors can help protect hummingbirds.
– By landscaping with hummingbird-friendly flowers and providing nectar feeders, Las Vegas residents can attract these special birds and enjoy observing their beauty and fascinating behaviors throughout the year. With a little effort, it is certainly possible for bird enthusiasts to enjoy hummingbirds right in their own Las Vegas neighborhoods.
