Hummingbirds are found naturally only in the Americas. Of the over 300 different species of hummingbirds, more than 140 are found in Brazil alone, making Brazil home to nearly half of the world’s hummingbird species. So while not all hummingbirds hail from Brazil originally, the country is a hotspot for hummingbird diversity.
Quick Answers
Do all hummingbirds come from Brazil? No, not all hummingbirds originate from Brazil. Hummingbirds are found across North, Central, and South America.
What country has the most hummingbird species? Brazil has the most hummingbird species in the world with over 140 different types.
Where do hummingbirds migrate from? Most hummingbirds that migrate travel between Mexico and Central America to the southern United States and Canada for breeding. Some species migrate all the way from Alaska to Mexico or even South America.
Hummingbird Geographic Origins
Hummingbirds are native only to the Western Hemisphere. They are found wild nowhere else in the world outside of the Americas. There are over 300 species of hummingbirds across North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
While Brazil has the highest diversity of hummingbird species, they did not necessarily originate there. The ancestral hummingbirds from which today’s modern species evolved first appeared in South America about 22 million years ago. Over time, they expanded their range northward and adapted to new environments, leading to the speciation that produced the wide variety we see today.
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird that summers in Eastern North America and migrates to Central America in winter likely evolved from ancestral hummingbirds that originally lived in South America. As the hummingbird family branched into new species over tens of millions of years, they dispersed more widely across the Americas.
Hummingbird Diversity in Brazil
Brazil is considered the epicenter of hummingbird diversity, with more recorded hummingbird species than any other country. At last count, Brazil had 143 different species found within its borders. This represents nearly half (about 45-46%) of all known hummingbird species in the world.
Some of the Brazilian hummingbirds include:
- Sapphire-spangled Emerald
- Brazilian Ruby
- Festive Coquette
- Gould’s Jewelfront
- Black Jacobin
- Planalto Hermit
- Green-tailed Goldenthroat
The rich diversity stems from Brazil’s varied habitat and plentiful nectar resources. Tropical rainforests, mountain ranges, savannas, and shorelines provide ideal conditions for many hummingbird species to flourish. The wide array of flowering plant species in Brazil give hummingbirds ample nectar sources.
Important Hummingbird Habitats in Brazil
Some of the key habitats and regions of Brazil that host many unique hummingbirds include:
Atlantic Forest
The Atlantic Forest along the eastern coast of Brazil contains exceptional hummingbird diversity. Over 70 species inhabit this tropical and subtropical moist forest ecosystem. Deforestation has fragmented much of the original forest, but many hummingbirds continue to thrive in the remaining patches.
Caatinga
The caatinga, a semi-arid scrubland and thorn forest habitat in northeastern Brazil, provides important habitat for species adapted to hot, dry conditions. Hermits like the Caatinga Hermit and Visorbearers like the White-vented Violetear occupy this unique biome.
Amazon Rainforest
The mighty Amazon Rainforest contains some of the most remote and pristine hummingbird habitats left in Brazil. Amazonian gems like the Crimson Topaz, the White-chinned Sapphire, and the Gould’s Jewelfront flit through the dense, lush forests.
Pantanal
The tropical wetland environment of the Pantanal provides vital habitat for several declining hummingbird species, like the endangered Black-hooded Visorbearer. Other Pantanal hummingbirds include the Planalto Hermit and the Horned Sungem.
Cerrado
The cerrado is Brazil’s tropical savanna ecosystem. Hummingbirds like the Sombre Hummingbird, Glittering-bellied Emerald, and the Brazilian Ruby thrive in its mix of grasslands, shrublands, and scattered woodlands.
Threats to Brazil’s Hummingbirds
Many of Brazil’s endemic hummingbirds face serious threats to their long-term survival. These threats include:
- Habitat loss from deforestation, agriculture, and development
- Use of pesticides and herbicides that reduce insect and plant food sources
- Climate change altering flowering cycles and causing droughts or fires
- Nest predation from invasive species
Without concerted conservation efforts, more Brazilian hummingbirds may become endangered or go extinct in the coming decades. Protecting key habitats from further destruction and fragmentation is crucial.
Migration Patterns of Brazilian Hummingbirds
Unlike hummingbirds in temperate climates, most species found in the tropics and subtropics of Brazil do not need to migrate significantly. The relatively stable, warm climate allows them to reside year-round in their Brazilian habitats.
However, some hummingbird species do migrate altitudinally within Brazil. For example, the Sombre Hummingbird breeds in upland cerrado habitats during the wet season but migrates downslope to occupy forest edges and gardens during the dry months when flowers are scarce in the cerrado.
A few southern Brazilian hummingbird species may migrate short distances northward in winter. The Brazilian Ruby moves partially into adjacent countries like Bolivia and Paraguay in the colder months. But overall, migration patterns are limited due to Brazil’s equatorial location.
Hummingbird Populations in Urban Brazil
Several Brazilian hummingbird species have adapted well to living in close proximity to humans in urban areas. Some examples include:
- Sapphire-spangled Emerald – Common in parks and gardens in cities like Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro
- Glittering-bellied Emerald – Abundant in outskirts of cities across central and eastern Brazil
- Black Jacobin – Flourishes in urban plantings and feeders across Brazil
- Versicolored Emerald – Resides year-round in heavily populated areas along the coast
- White-throated Hummingbird – Readily visits backyard feeders in developed areas
Providing nectar feeders, planting hummingbird-friendly flowers, and preserving green spaces help support urban hummingbird populations in Brazil’s cities.
Hummingbird Conservation in Brazil
Various conservation initiatives aim to protect Brazil’s rich diversity of hummingbirds, including:
- Protected Areas – Preserving key habitats like national parks and reserves provides safe havens
- Reforestation Projects – Replanting native trees and flowers enhances degraded habitats
- Ecotourism – Birdwatching tours motivate habitat protection and build public appreciation
- Research – Surveys and population monitoring inform conservation actions
- Community Engagement – Educating the public and involving them in conservation increases impact
International groups like BirdLife International partner with local Brazilian organizations to deliver habitat management and community outreach programs focused on hummingbird conservation.
Conclusion
While not all of the over 300 hummingbird species originate from Brazil, the country is undoubtedly the global hotspot of hummingbird diversity. Over 140 species call Brazil home, inhabiting tropical forests, savannas, mountains, and wetlands across the region. Conserving these vital habitats in the face of threats like deforestation and climate change is crucial to protecting Brazil’s spectacular hummingbirds for future generations.
