The broad-billed hummingbird (Cynanthus latirostris) is a small hummingbird found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Here are some interesting and fun facts about this colorful little bird!
Appearance
The broad-billed hummingbird gets its name from its noticeably wide bill. The bill is adapted for feeding on agave and yucca flowers.
The male has a metallic green back and crown, a white breast, and a bright red bill. The female is similar but has a lighter reddish bill. Both sexes have a prominent white eyeliner and white tips on the tail feathers.
These diminutive birds reach about 3-3.5 inches in length and weigh only about 0.1 ounces. Despite their tiny size, they have high energy needs and must feed frequently to power their fast wingbeats.
Range
Broad-billed hummingbirds are found across the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Desert regions. Their breeding habitat spans southeastern California, southern Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas in the United States. They migrate south to winter in central and southern Mexico.
During winter and migration, vagrants may be spotted outside the core range. For example, they occasionally wander north to Colorado or east to Louisiana. But these represent a tiny fraction of the overall population.
Within their range, broad-billed hummingbirds inhabit desert scrub, woodlands, canyons, and mountain foothills. They especially favor areas with agave or yucca plants.
Migration
The broad-billed hummingbird migrates between its summer breeding grounds in the U.S. and wintering grounds in Mexico.
Migration takes place in the spring and fall. Males depart the wintering grounds first and arrive at the breeding areas a week or two before females. In the fall, females and young head south before adult males.
These tiny birds are capable of incredible feats on migration. Even with intermittent rest stops, many travel over 600 miles between their seasonal ranges. Given their small size, this represents an immense journey over inhospitable deserts and mountains.
Some key rest stops include desert oases and mountaintops in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. These areas have essential food sources to refuel during the arduous migration.
Diet
As noted above, broad-billed hummingbirds have a bill adapted to eat agave and yucca. They use their wide bills to access nectar from these large flowers. Yucca and agave blooms are also an important food source during migration.
These hummingbirds get most of their diet from flower nectar. They use their specialized tube-like tongues to drink. According to some estimates, they visit hundreds or even over a thousand flowers per day!
Besides nectar, broad-bills also eat small insects for essential proteins. By alternating between insect and flower foraging, they meet their high metabolic demands.
Reproduction
The breeding season for broad-billed hummingbirds runs from March through summer. As with other hummingbirds, elaborate courtship displays precede mating.
Males climb high into the air and then dive down in a U-shape, making a loud chirping sound. If a female is impressed, she may mate with the male.
Females build a tiny cup-shaped nest out of plant down and spider webs. Nests are only about 1 inch wide and may be camouflaged with lichens on the outside. They are placed on a thin tree branch, often an agave stalk.
Females lay 2 pea-sized white eggs. They incubate the eggs for about 14-16 days. When they hatch, the chicks are blind, featherless, and about the size of a bumblebee.
Both parents feed the chicks with regurgitated nectar and insects. After leaving the nest at 18-23 days old, the young birds must quickly learn to forage on their own.
Unique Adaptations
Broad-billed hummingbirds have many specialized adaptations that allow them to survive in the desert. Here are a few of their unique traits:
– Bills adapted for agave and yucca flowers – These wide bills give them exclusive access to certain flower types. The width and length help them sip nectar from large blossoms.
– Double tubed tongues – Their forked tongues have two tubes that zip in and out. This allows them to lap up more nectar with each lick.
– Needle-like wings – Their narrow, pointed wings allow superb aerial agility and hovering. They beat their wings up to 70 times per second!
– Low water needs – They get most of their water needs from nectar. Specialized kidneys allow them to minimize water loss.
– Torpor ability – To conserve energy, they can enter a hibernation-like state called torpor. Their metabolic rate and temperature drop dramatically.
– Migration stamina – Excellent endurance gives them the capability to cross hundreds of miles of deserts and mountains twice per year.
Status and Threats
Broad-billed hummingbirds remain a common species across their range. Partners in Flight estimates a global breeding population of 1.5 million. Their numbers appear stable, and they are classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.
However, they do face some threats from habitat loss and climate change:
– Development – Urban and agricultural expansion can degrade native desert vegetation. This removes crucial food sources and nesting sites.
– Overgrazing – Livestock overgrazing depletes the flowers and plants hummingbirds rely on.
– Climate change – Rising temperatures and altered precipitation may affect food availability. Extended droughts could shrink key oases.
– Pesticides – Chemical use can reduce insect prey populations. Toxins may accumulate in birds or indirectly harm them by decreasing flowers.
To protect broad-billed hummingbird populations, sustainable land use policies are needed. Preserving native desert plants and limiting chemical use in key habitats can help safeguard the species.
Fun Facts
To wrap up, here are a few more fun and fascinating facts about the flashy broad-billed hummingbird:
– Iridescent feathers – Males have brilliant metallic green and red colors from iridescent layered feathers. These structured feathers reflect specific wavelengths of light.
– Fastest bird flight – During courtship dives, males can reach speeds over 60 mph. This makes them one of the fastest flying bird species.
– Bee mimicry – Males make a loud buzzing sound with their wings, possibly to mimic bees and ward off predators.
– Smallest bird nests – Their tiny 1-inch wide nests are some of the smallest bird nests in North America. They are built exclusively by the female.
– Sugar addiction – They have one of the highest metabolic rates of any animal. To fuel their wings, they are essentially addicted to flower nectar, their carbohydrate source.
– Whistling wings – Broad-bills make a high-pitched whistling sound with their wings during flight. This is caused by air pushed through specialized wing feathers.
– Age – In the wild, broad-billed hummingbirds live about 3-5 years on average. The oldest known was 12 years old.
Conclusion
In summary, broad-billed hummingbirds are energetic, acrobatic little birds specially adapted for life in the desert. From their bizarre courtship displays to their marathon migrations, they continue to fascinate scientists and birdwatchers alike. Conserving the native plants and ecosystems these birds rely on will be crucial to ensure their populations remain vibrant for years to come. Their unique traits and importance as pollinators make them a vital part of the southwestern desert ecosystems.
