The Broad-billed Hummingbird is a small, colorful bird found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. With its vibrant colors, specialized beak, and amazing flying abilities, this species is a delight to observe in the wild. In this article, we will explore the key characteristics that define the Broad-billed Hummingbird and make it unique among North America’s hummingbirds.
Physical Appearance
The Broad-billed Hummingbird gets its name from its noticeably wide, short bill which is adapted for feeding on native flowers and blooms. The bill measures approximately .5 inches long. This species measures 3 to 4 inches from the tip of its bill to the tip of its tail feathers.
Males sport a vibrant emerald green back and crown with a bright metallic green throat patch (called a gorget). The breast and belly feathers are a pale grey-white and the tail feathers are bold black with white tips. In optimal light, the green plumage may appear almost iridescent. Females lack the bold black and white tail plumage and green gorget of the males. Instead, they are overall duller with light grey-green on the back, a pale throat, grey breast, and white tips on the tail feathers. Juveniles resemble adult females.
A key field mark to identify the Broad-billed is its broad black auriculars (feather patch below the eyes) which stand out against the pale head coloration.
Distribution
The Broad-billed Hummingbird is native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. Its breeding range centers on southern Arizona and New Mexico in the US and extends south throughout Mexico.
Some key areas where it can be found in the US include southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and western Texas. The Madrean Sky Islands ecosystem along the US-Mexico border is one location where Broad-billed Hummingbirds are common.
During winter, this species migrates partially south with some birds overwintering in southern Arizona and southern Texas. But its core winter range is in central and southern Mexico.
The Broad-billed Hummingbird occupies desert scrub, woodland, canyon, and montane habitat within its range. It can adapt readily to human-developed areas such as parks and gardens as long as flowering plants are available.
Diet
Like all hummingbirds, the Broad-billed Hummingbird has a specialized diet centered around nectar and small insects or spiders.
Its short wide bill is an adaptation for accessing nectar from specific tubular native flowers. Primary nectar sources include ocotillo, penstemon, aloe, and other desert blooms. This species favors flowers with wider openings that match its bill morphology.
Insects and spiders provide essential protein and fat. The Broad-billed will hawk flying insects in midair and glean spiders and bugs from foliage and branches.
A key survival strategy of the Broad-billed is its adaptability to introduced flowering species and backyard feeders. This provides supplemental food when native flowers are not available. They readily feed on feeders with sugar water, taking advantage of this human-provided food source.
Flight and Metabolism
The flight of the Broad-billed Hummingbird is swift and direct with buzzing wing beats averaging around 15 per second. Its wings are specialized for agile hovering and flying in any direction with precision.
This species exhibits territorial behavior, aggressively defending nectar sources and feeders in its breeding range against intrusions by other hummingbirds. Chases and midair conflicts are not uncommon between competing Broad-bills or with other species.
Like all hummingbird species, the Broad-billed has one of the highest metabolisms of all birds. It must feed frequently, accessing nectar and insects throughout the day to meet its high energy needs.
Its heartrate can reach over 1000 beats per minute. At night, the Broad-billed enters a hibernation-like state called torpor to conserve energy. This lowers its heart rate and breathing dramatically.
Breeding
The breeding season of the Broad-billed Hummingbird generally runs from March through July. As part of its courtship display, the male performs dramatic aerial shows, flying loops and dives to impress watching females.
Females build a small cup-shaped nest out of soft plant down, spider web, and lichen on the branch of a tree or shrub. The outside is camouflaged with bits of bark and lichen. Each nest is only around one and a half inches wide and may be reused for a second brood in a season.
The female lays 2 tiny white eggs which incubate for 14-16 days. The chicks are born helpless, nearly bald, and eyes closed. They develop quickly on a diet of regurgitated nectar and insects provided by the female. After about 3 weeks, the young leave the nest and can fly skillfully.
Migration
The Broad-billed Hummingbird migrates between its southern breeding range and more northern winter range. Birds start moving south in July after the breeding season ends.
Fall migration peaks in late August and September as Broad-bills move south through Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas into Mexico for winter. First arrivals reach the winter grounds in central Mexico by late September.
Spring migration north begins in late February, returning the Broad-billed to Arizona breeding areas by early March. Migration provides access to the most abundant food resources in both its breeding and winter ranges through the seasons.
Some juvenile and adult Broad-bills may overwinter in favorable areas of southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas if adequate flowers and feeders are available. But most migrate south to warmer central Mexico for winter.
Vocalizations
The call of the Broad-billed Hummingbird is a loud single chip note or a rapid series of sputtering chips. These vocalizations are made by both males and females. Males may perform display dives with swooping calls as part of courtship.
Other sounds include whirring wing beats and the rapid clicking of the bill as the tongue flicks in and out during feeding. Broad-bills also produce squeaking and squealing sounds in aggressive encounters with intruding hummers.
Conservation Status
The Broad-billed Hummingbird has a large range and global population estimated at 3.5 million birds. Over the past 50 years, its numbers have declined moderately by about 30% according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey.
However, the overall population remains very large and exceeds the threshold for a threatened or endangered listing. The major threat is likely loss of food sources from urbanization. Climate change impact is uncertain but may affect its specialized high desert habitat in the southwest. Providing nectar feeders and native plantings in developed areas can support local Broad-billed populations.
With sustained conservation measures to preserve key breeding habitats and flowering resources, the long-term outlook for the Broad-billed Hummingbird remains relatively stable. While not considered globally threatened, it benefits from protection of fragile desert ecosystems in the United States and Mexico that sustain its populations.
Key Facts and Characteristics
– Short wide bill adapted for feeding on native blooms
– Males have iridescent emerald green backs and bold black-and-white tail feathers
– Females and juveniles are more muted grey-green above, pale below
– Occurs in desert scrub, canyons, and woodlands of the southwest US and Mexico
– Partially migratory between northern breeding and southern winter ranges
– Diet of nectar and insects; favor flowers with wider tubular openings
– Heartrate of over 1000 beats per minute; enters torpor nightly to conserve energy
– Aggressive in defending feeding territories; will chase intruders
– Female builds delicate cup nest decorated with lichen and bark
– Population has declined moderately but remains very large at 3.5 million birds
Conclusion
In summary, the Broad-billed Hummingbird is a specialist of the arid southwest defined by its diminutive size, wide bill, energetic flight, and pugnacious temperament. This mesmerizing species thrives by accessing a range of flowering plants through the seasons and supplementing its diet opportunistically at backyard feeders. With conservation of fragile breeding habitats and food sources, the Broad-billed should continue lighting up the skies and gardens of the desert southwest with its flashy emerald colors and buzzing wings for years to come.
