The broad-tailed hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus) is a small, fast-flying bird that breeds in mountainous areas of the western United States and winters in Mexico. As their name suggests, male broad-tailed hummingbirds have a broad, rounded tail that makes a loud trilling sound during their elaborate courtship displays. The trilling of the male broad-tailed hummingbird is one of the most distinctive and recognizable sounds of the high mountain meadows and pine forests where these tiny birds breed in the summer months.
In Colorado, broad-tailed hummingbirds can be found throughout the mountains and high valleys west of the Great Plains during the summer breeding season. The melodious trills of the male broad-tailed hummingbird are a regular feature of popular hiking destinations such as Rocky Mountain National Park. Understanding what these trills sound like can help birdwatchers identify broad-tailed hummingbirds by ear.
Description of the Broad-Tailed Hummingbird’s Trill
The trilling vocalization of the male broad-tailed hummingbird has been described as sounding like a high-pitched jingling or ringing. The speed and pitch of the trill varies, but it is typically a continuous string of rapidly repeated notes at frequencies audible to humans.
Ornithologists measure bird vocalizations in kilohertz (kHz) or number of notes per second. Analysis shows that the trill of a broad-tailed hummingbird contains individual notes repeated at a rate of about 30 to 100 notes per second.[1] During the faster trills, the individual notes may be difficult for human ears to distinguish. However, the overall effect is a clear, ringing trill.
Recordings shows that the pitch of the broad-tailed hummingbird’s trill often starts low and increases in frequency. One study found trills sweeps up from about 6 kHz to 12 kHz, although both higher and lower pitches have been recorded.[2] This means the trill is audible to humans, sounding high-pitched but well below the highest frequencies discernible by the human ear (20 kHz).
Audio Examples
To help understand the sound, here are links to audio recordings of the broad-tailed hummingbird’s vocalizations:
[Broad-tailed hummingbird trill #1](https://www.xeno-canto.org/558992)
[Broad-tailed hummingbird trill #2](https://www.xeno-canto.org/117076)
[Broad-tailed hummingbird calls including trills](https://www.xeno-canto.org/315297)
Listen for the jingling, ringing trills made up of rapidly repeated notes. The recordings demonstrate how the trill varies in speed, pitch, and rhythm across different individuals.
When and Why Broad-Tailed Hummingbirds Trill
Male broad-tailed hummingbirds use their trilled vocalizations during the breeding season in connection with courtship. Trills are produced in the following contexts:
– **Chasing females** – Males give trilled chase calls when pursuing females in fast, acrobatic flight. The trills get females’ attention and communicate the male’s interest.
– ** COURTSHIP displays** – Trilled vocalizations are an integral part of male broad-tailed hummingbird courtship displays. Males perform dramatic aerial shows, with swoops and dives synchronized to their trills. The trills seem to accentuate the visual dynamics of their flying.
– **Competing with rivals** – Males trill when chasing competing males from their breeding territories. The trills signal the resident male’s aggression and willingness to fight.
– **Communicating with females** – Trills help keep females aware of a resident male’s presence as the female moves through his territory gathering nesting material and food.
So in summary, the main functions of the broad-tailed hummingbird’s trilled vocalizations are to signal sexual interest and fitness to potential mates and to communicate aggression and territory defense to rivals. The trills draw attention to males during the breeding season.
Where to Hear Broad-Tailed Hummingbird Trills in Colorado
Within Colorado, the best opportunities to hear broad-tailed hummingbird vocalizations occur in the band of mountains and high mountain valleys running north-south across the western half of the state. Good locations include:
– **Rocky Mountain National Park** – Abundant broad-tailed hummingbird habitat along trails and roads winding through montane and subalpine zones.
– **San Juan Mountains** – Rugged peaks around Silverton, Ouray, and Telluride attract breeding broad-tailed hummingbirds.
– **Sawatch Range** – Areas around towns like Leadville, Buena Vista, and Twin Lakes support broad-tailed hummingbirds.
– **Front Range** – Foothills west of cities like Fort Collins, Boulder, and Colorado Springs. Look for birds along creeks and in mountain meadows.
– **Grand Mesa** – Vast tableland in western Colorado with extensive broad-tailed hummingbird habitat.
In these mountainous summer breeding areas, watch for male broad-tailed hummingbirds chasing each other and performing courtship flights from late spring through summer. Listen for ringing trills as the males dive and swoop through the air. Trills are most frequent in the mornings and evenings when the males are most actively courting.
The broad-tailed hummingbird’s high-pitched vocalizations carry surprisingly far in the thin mountain air. However, it takes practice to pick out the trills from wind noise or other bird sounds. Using recordings as a reference can help hikers learn to recognize the distinct jingling trills. With sharp ears attuned to their voice, observers can detect broad-tailed hummingbirds around meadows and ridges even when the birds remain out of sight.
What Else to Listen for
In addition to their trills, male broad-tailed hummingbirds make some other notable sounds during the breeding season:
– **Short squeaking chips** – Males utter sharp “chip” notes while perched. Also given during Aggressive chases.
– **Buzzing wings** – The male’s wings produce an obvious buzzing or whirring noise during his diving courtship displays.
– **Tail-popping sounds** – At the bottom of a dive, a male may rapidly flick his tail open and closed, producing a loud popping or snapping sound.
Females and juveniles are less vocal than adult males. But they occasionally make squeaking or ticking sounds year-round.
So in summary, listen for the following broad-tailed hummingbird sounds:
– Ringing trills
– Squeaking chips
– Buzzing dives
– Tail popping
– Ticking calls
Combining sight and sound cues maximizes chances of detecting broad-tailed hummingbirds in the Colorado Mountains.
Conclusion
The trilled vocalizations of courting male broad-tailed hummingbirds are an iconic sound of high elevation meadows and pine forests in Colorado’s western mountains. These high-pitched jingling trills are made up of rapidly-repeated single notes at frequencies audible to humans.
Understanding the context, timing, and habitat preferred by vocalizing males can help bird enthusiasts recognize the broad-tailed hummingbird’s distinct trill and squeaking chip calls. Sharpening listening skills and referring to audio recordings provides the best opportunity to detect broad-tailed hummingbirds and enjoy their musical trills ringing through the mountains.
