Is a white-throated hummingbird male or female?

Determining the sex of a white-throated hummingbird can be tricky for beginner birders. However, with some key identification tips, you can easily tell whether a white-throated hummingbird is male or female.

Identifying Features of Male vs Female White-throated Hummingbirds

Here are some of the main physical differences between male and female white-throated hummingbirds:

• Males have a white chin and throat that extends down the chest. Females have a white chin and throat but lack the white extending down the chest.
• Males have a glossy green back and crown. Females have a dull green back and crown.
• Males have bright irridescent reddish-pink patches on the sides of their throats called gorgets. Females lack a gorget.
• Males have forked tail feathers. Female tail feathers are rounded.
• Males are slightly larger than females.

The most noticeable difference is the male’s irridescent gorget. When catching sight of a hummingbird with a flashy reddish-pink throat, it’s a guarantee that it’s a male white-throated hummingbird. Females lack any irridescent coloring on the throat.

Behavioral Differences

In addition to physical features, behavior can also help clue you in to the sex of a white-throated hummingbird:

• Males are territorial and aggressive. They perform courtship displays, chase other males from their territory, and mate with females.
• Females are quieter and non-aggressive. Their focus is caring for their nest and feeding offspring.
• Males visit more flowers throughout the day to feed. Females spend more time at the nest.
• During the breeding seasons, males perform aerial courtship displays to attract females. Displays involve flying in loops and dive-bombing to make chirping sounds with their tail feathers.

If you witness a hummingbird performing a complex aerial display, guarding a territory aggressively, or chasing other birds away from a food source, it’s almost certainly going to be a male. Females are shyer and less conspicuous.

Identification Tips

Here are some tips for identifying the sex of white-throated hummingbirds in the field:

• Look at the throat – a bright irridescent reddish-pink gorget signals a male
• Inspect the back – males have glossy green backs while females are duller
• Examine the tail shape – males have forked tails and females have rounded tails
• Look for behavior like courtship displays or aggressiveness which indicate a male
• Females tend to be quieter and stay near nests more
• Males are slightly larger than females on average

With practice, you’ll be able to tell males and females apart at a quick glance based on the presence or absence of the male’s flashy gorget. The gorget is by far the easiest field mark to spot.

Courtship and Mating

Understanding the breeding behavior of white-throated hummingbirds also helps shed light on differences between males and females:

• Courtship occurs in early spring when the birds return from migration. Males perform elaborate courtship displays to attract the attention of females.
• These displays involve flying up to 100 feet in the air and then diving sharply while making loud chirping sounds with their tail feathers.
• Females observe these displays and select a male to mate with. The strength of the male’s display helps demonstrate his fitness.
• Mating happens quickly, with actual copulation lasting only 3-4 seconds. However, males will continue to mate with other females throughout the breeding season.
• Females alone are responsible for building the nest, incubating eggs, and raising young. Males do not participate in child rearing.
• Females typically have 1-2 broods each spring before migrating south in the fall and winter.

The courtship displays by males are a reliable sign that you are observing a male white-throated hummingbird. Females lack similar ritualized mating behaviors.

Appearance Changes Throughout the Year

When identifying sex, it’s also important to consider seasonal plumage changes:

• In spring and summer when breeding, males have their brightest irridescent gorgets and forked tails
• In fall and winter, the males’ plumage is less vibrant and tail forking is reduced
• Juvenile males lack a gorget entirely in their first year before full adult plumage sets in
• Females look basically the same year-round and lack a gorget at any age

So, if observing a white-throated hummingbird in winter or early spring, the presence or absence of a gorget may be less obvious. In those cases, pay more attention instead to the white throat extending down the chest which is still visible on males.

Conclusion

Telling male and female white-throated hummingbirds apart relies mostly on the presence of the male’s colorful irridescent gorget and more extensive white throat. Females lack any iridescent throat feathers and have a smaller white patch on the throat only. Males also have glossy green plumage, forked tails, and exhibit territorial behavior. With practice identifying these key field marks, distinguishing male from female hummingbirds becomes quick and easy.

FAQs

Why do male and female white-throated hummingbirds look different?

The differences in plumage and size between male and female white-throated hummingbirds is due to sexual dimorphism. Males have evolved more colorful plumage to attract females. Their larger size and aggressive behavior also help them compete for territories and mates. Meanwhile, the duller brown females blend in on the nest, providing camouflage while incubating eggs and caring for young. The differences therefore help optimize reproductive success between the sexes.

How can you tell a male vs female hummingbird apart?

Here are the key differences between male and female hummingbirds of any species:

• Males have bright, irridescent gorgets or throat patches while females have plain throats
• Males have more vibrant iridescent plumage while females are duller brown and green
• Males have forked, pointed tail feathers and females have rounded tails
• Males are aggressive and territorial while females are quiet and shy
• Males perform courtship displays, females do not
• Males are slightly larger on average than females

So look for the presence of a colorful throat gorget as the most reliable indicator of a male hummingbird.

Do male or female white-throated hummingbirds incubate eggs?

Only female white-throated hummingbirds build nests and incubate eggs. Males take no part in nesting, incubating, or raising young. The female alone selects the nest site, builds the tiny nest out of plant down and spider silk, lays 2 tiny white eggs, incubates the eggs for 2 weeks, and feeds the chicks once they hatch. She raises 1-2 broods each breeding season. The energetic cost of reproduction is so high that females do all they can to conserve calories for nesting while males focus energy on displays, territory defense, and mate acquisition.

Do white-throated hummingbird males keep the same mate all season?

No, male white-throated hummingbirds are polygamous and will mate with multiple females in a season. Male hummingbirds provide no parental care and offer no resources to females other than sperm. Therefore, it is in the male’s evolutionary interest to mate with as many different females as possible to maximize his reproductive output. He does not form any pair bond and abandons females after mating.

Why do male hummingbirds have special throat feathers?

Male hummingbirds have specialized throat feathers called gorgets that can reflect light. These irridescent gorgets appear brightly colored as the hummingbird moves in flight. The gorgets serve to attract females and communicate fitness. Females are naturally attracted to males with the largest, brightest gorgets as this may signal better health and stronger genetic quality to be passed on to offspring. Rival males also heed the gorget as a sign of dominance.

Comparison Table of Male vs Female White-throated Hummingbird Features

This table summarizes the main visual and behavioral differences between male and female white-throated hummingbirds. As shown, males can be identified by traits like a gorget, forked tail, and courtship displays, while females lack these markings and spend time caring for offspring instead.

Male White-throated Hummingbird

Here’s a quick recap of how to identify a male white-throated hummingbird:

• Bright irridescent reddish-pink gorget feathers on throat
• White throat patch extending down chest
• Glossy green crown and back
• Forked tail feathers
• Larger size
• Aggressive behavior like chasing and displays
• Polygamous mating with multiple females
• No participation in raising young

If you see a hummingbird that fits the above description, you can confidently identify it as a male white-throated hummingbird.

Female White-throated Hummingbird

Here are the key identification points for female white-throated hummingbirds:

• Plain white throat only, no gorget
• Dull green crown and back
• Rounded tail feathers
• Smaller size
• Shy, non-aggressive behavior
• Builds nest, incubates eggs, and feeds chicks alone

A hummingbird that lacks any colorful throat feathers and displays nesting behavior is almost certainly a female white-throated hummingbird.

Conclusion

Telling male and female white-throated hummingbirds apart comes down to a few key physical differences. Males have colorful gorgets, forked tails, and more white on the throat while only females display nesting behavior and duller plumage. Since males do not participate in child rearing at all, a sure sign of a female is observing one at a nest. With practice observing hummingbirds, identifying their sex at a quick glance becomes easy by focusing on these diagnostic features like the presence of a gorget or rounded tail shape. Whether you’re interested in their courtship behaviors or just curious while out birding, understanding the differences between male and female hummingbirds is a useful identification skill.