The broad tailed hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus) is a small hummingbird found in western North America. Like other hummingbird species, the broad tailed hummingbird has an elaborate mating ritual in order to attract a mate and reproduce. The mating behaviors and rituals involve courtship displays by the male, displaying of plumage, defending territory, building a nest, mating, and raising young. Understanding the details of the broad tailed hummingbird’s mating process provides insights into the lives and behaviors of these remarkable birds.
When Does the Broad Tailed Hummingbird Breed?
The broad tailed hummingbird breeds between April and July, though this may vary slightly by location. Here is an overview of the broad tailed hummingbird’s breeding timeline:
| Month | Breeding Behaviors |
|---|---|
| February to March | Males return from winter grounds to breeding sites first and establish breeding territories. |
| April to May | Females return to breeding sites and courtship/mating occurs. |
| May to June | Females build nests and lay eggs. |
| June to July | Eggs hatch and mothers care for young. |
| July to August | Young fledge nest and become independent. |
As this timeline shows, breeding starts when the males return to the breeding sites in early spring. Courtship and mating occurs when the females arrive a few weeks later. The females then build a nest and lay eggs. The eggs hatch after about 2 weeks and the young fledge another 2-3 weeks later.
Courtship Displays
One of the most interesting parts of the broad tailed hummingbird’s mating ritual is the courtship display by the male. Here are some key facts about the male broad tailed hummingbird’s courtship display:
– Courtship displays begin when males return to the breeding sites in February and March.
– The displays are elaborate rituals performed in flight to attract female attention.
– Dives and vertical ascents up to 100 feet are common courtship maneuvers.
– Males fly in looping, u-shaped patterns up to 100 feet in the air.
– Males perch conspicuously and fan/spread their colorful tail feathers.
– Distinct vocalizations and wing buzzing accompany the visual displays.
– Displays go on for the few weeks in the spring when females arrive and mating occurs.
– Each male establishes and aggressively defends a territory used for displays.
The remarkable diving, soaring, and hovering maneuvers by the male broad tailed hummingbird are designed to show off the male’s strength, health, and flying abilities. By displaying his tail feathers, the male also shows females his bright, iridescent plumage. The vocalizations communicate to observing females during the elaborate aerial routines. The vigorous courtship displays are key behaviors that enable the broad tailed hummingbird male to attract a suitable mate.
Male Tail Feathers
As noted, the male broad tailed hummingbird has elaborate and colorful tail feathers that play an important role in courtship displays and attracting females. Here are some key facts about the function and appearance of the male’s tail feathers:
– Tail feathers on the male broad tailed hummingbird are called rectrices.
– Only the central 2 pairs of rectrices are brightly colored iridescent green and red.
– When fanned out, the male’s tail feathers can span over 2.5 inches wide.
– The widened, colorful feathers are highly visible and eye-catching during mating displays.
– Females lack the modified tail feathers and have white tipped rectrices.
– Young males have some color on rectrices, but full color and width takes 1-2 years to develop fully.
– The tail feathers are grown fresh each year after molting season.
– Males take great care of their tail feathers when perching and sleeping.
The male’s tail feathers serve both a practical and aesthetic purpose during courtship. Their bright colors and ability to spread wide makes them easily seen by females. The male can carefully position the feathers to maximize their visibility and effects during displays. The tail feathers are an essential part of the male’s ability to put on an attractive mating display.
Displaying the Gorget
In addition to specialized tail feathers, male broad tailed hummingbirds also have colorful, iridescent throat feathers called a gorget. Here are some key facts about the appearance and function of the gorget:
– The gorget is an iridescent patch of color on the throat.
– The broad tailed hummingbird male’s gorget is bright metallic red.
– Gorget feathers can be puffed out to increase display size.
– When fanned upright, the gorget is highly visible and eye-catching.
– Females lack the bright gorget plumage.
– Like the tail feathers, the gorget is freshly molted each breeding season.
– Males frequently fan their gorgets upright during courtship displays.
– The red gorget stands out against surrounding green foliage.
– Positioning the gorget helps attract female attention.
Along with specialized tail feathers, the male broad tailed hummingbird’s bright red throat gorget provides a distinctive source of color to help attract females. Puffing out the gorget at key moments during aerial displays draws the female’s eye to this vibrant patch. The combined effect of the spreading tail feathers and upright gorget helps the male put on the most dramatic and striking display possible to potential mates.
Defending a Display Territory
In addition to colorful plumage, broad tailed hummingbird males must establish and defend a suitable display territory each breeding season. Here are key facts about their display territories:
– Males return up to a month before females to establish territories.
– Prime locations provide food sources and display perches.
– Boundaries are established and fiercely defended from other males.
– Broad tailed hummingbirds are aggressive and territorial.
– Displays occur in open meadows and mountain clearings.
– Territory size ranges from 0.25 to 1 acre on average.
– Shrubs, trees, and other perches are used during displays.
– Males chase away or fight encroaching males aggressively.
– Fights involve dangerous high speed chases and collisions.
– Dominant males hold the best territories across years.
Holding a high quality breeding territory in a suitable habitat gives a male broad tailed hummingbird the best chance to attract a female. The aggressive defense against intrusions is necessary to maintain exclusive access to the food and display resources that females prefer. Even though small, broad tailed hummingbird males will vigorously defend their breeding territory and ability to display.
Building a Nest
Once mating is complete, the female broad tailed hummingbird must build a nest to lay and incubate the eggs. Here are key facts about broad tailed hummingbird nest building:
– The nest is built by the female with no assistance from the male.
– Nest building occurs from late April through May.
– Nests are small, cup-shaped structures.
– Nest dimensions are approximately 2 inches wide by 1.5 inches deep.
– Nests are made from soft plant down, spider webs, and lichens.
– The outside is camouflaged with lichens and bark bits.
– Attachment is typically to a downward hanging tree limb.
– Nests are usually between 5 to 20 feet off the ground.
– Broad leafed trees and shrubs are preferred nest sites.
– New nests are built each year rather than reusing.
– Building the delicate nest takes between 5 to 10 days on average.
The female broad tailed hummingbird takes sole responsibility for crafting a secure yet concealed nest in which to lay and incubate the eggs away from predators. The nest materials provide insulation and the camouflage helps keep the nesting site hidden. Nest construction is a key part of preparing for the next critical phases of mating.
Mating
Mating between male and female broad tailed hummingbirds takes place in April and May during the female’s brief visit to the male’s breeding territory. Here are some key facts about broad tailed hummingbird mating:
– Usually occurs within one week of the female’s arrival.
– Initiated when female is receptive – signaled by specific chip notes.
– The actual mating is very brief – just a few seconds.
– Usually occurs on a display perch within the male’s territory.
– Male climbs onto the female’s back and briefly copulates.
– Female departs soon after mating is complete.
– A female may mate with multiple males in one season.
– Males provide no care for resulting offspring.
– Female alone responsible for nesting and raising young.
– Male continues displaying to seek additional mates after mating.
The actual act of mating is just one component of the broad tailed hummingbird’s overall breeding ritual. While brief, the mating enables the transfer of sperm that the female will use to fertilize a clutch of eggs. After mating, the male and female go their separate ways – the female to nest and the male to continue displays and mating if possible.
Egg Laying and Incubation
Following mating and nest construction, the female broad tailed hummingbird is ready to lay and incubate a clutch of two small eggs. Here are key details about this process:
– The white eggs are only about 0.5 inches long.
– Clutch size is almost always two eggs.
– Eggs are laid 1-2 days apart in late May or early June.
– The female incubates the eggs alone.
– Incubation lasts between 15 to 18 days.
– The female sits very tightly on the nest during incubation.
– She may briefly leave the nest to forage 1-2 times per hour.
– The eggs can survive short periods of cooling when female is away.
– Constant incubation maintains the needed temperature and humidity.
– Partial incubation starts after laying the first egg.
– Full incubation begins when second egg is laid.
The female alone takes on parenting duties once mating is done. She must carefully incubate the small but fragile eggs to keep the developing chicks alive. Her diligent nest sitting over two weeks is necessary forsuccessful hatching.
Hatching
After 15-18 days of patient incubation by the mother broad tailed hummingbird, the eggs are ready to hatch. Here are some key facts about the hatching process:
– Hatching occurs in late June or early July.
– The chicks use an egg tooth to break out of the shell.
– It takes 1-2 days for both chicks to fully hatch.
– The chicks are only about 1 inch long at birth.
– Their eyes are closed and they have sparse downy feathers.
– Female continues sitting on nest to provide warmth to the hatchlings.
– She also feeds newly hatched chicks with regurgitated nectar and insects.
– If first chick hatches substantially earlier, it may get larger share of food.
– Younger chick sometimes dies within first week after hatching.
– In cases of early death, female may lay new eggs.
Hatching requires significant effort by the small, undeveloped chicks to break out of the egg using a special temporary tooth. Once emerged, the female broad tailed hummingbird must quickly begin caring for the extremely vulnerable hatchlings. This includes providing protection, warmth, and adequate food.
Caring for the Young
Once the chicks have hatched, the mother broad tailed hummingbird must provide complete care for the hatchlings who cannot yet fly or feed themselves. Here are the key aspects of caring for newly hatched hummingbirds:
Keeping Chicks Warm
– Mother stays on nest constantly for first week after hatching.
– Body heat from sitting on nest keeps the hatchlings warm.
– Once feathers emerge, chicks can thermoregulate better.
– If female must leave nest, periods are brief to maintain heat.
Feeding the Chicks
– Mother feeds small batches of regurgitated nectar and insects.
– Chicks beg and compete for most food with loud peeping.
– Feeding occurs as often as every 5-10 minutes from dawn to dusk.
– Chicks can starve within a few hours if mother does not return.
Keeping the Nest Clean
– Mother eats leftover seed sacs and shell fragments.
– She removes fecal sacs produced by the chicks.
– This helps keep the nest clean and reduces smells.
– Nests may be abandoned if they become too soiled.
Protecting from Predators
– Nest site high off the ground helps avoid many predators.
– Mother is very defensive of nest and will attack intruders.
– However, some predators like jays, squirrels, and cats may raid nests.
– Camouflage and stillness help avoid detection when mother is away.
Caring for the chicks encompasses all aspects of keeping the extremely vulnerable hatchlings protected, nourished, and clean until they develop enough to leave the nest. The mother broad tailed hummingbird must provide constant diligent care to raise the chicks.
Fledging
The baby broad tailed hummingbirds remain in the nest where they hatched for 2-3 weeks while completing their development. They then reach the point where they are ready to leave the nest permanently. This milestone is known as fledging. Here are the key facts about the fledging process:
– Chicks fledge 18 to 23 days after hatching.
– Feathers and wings are sufficiently developed for flight.
– Mother prompts fledging by stopping feeding in the nest.
– Chicks make maiden flight attempts from the nest edge.
– First flights are usually clumsy and consist of hovering or gliding.
– Flight skills and maneuverability quickly improve with practice.
– Chicks must fly and feed independently after leaving nest.
– Survival depends on quick mastery of flight and evasion skills.
– Young still rely partially on mother for 1-2 weeks after fledging.
Fledging transforms the chicks from completely dependent nestlings into independent juvenile hummingbirds. Gaining flight abilities opens up new feeding and shelter opportunities outside the tiny nest. By mid summer, the mating cycle is complete and the new fledglings disperse to live on their own.
Conclusion
The broad tailed hummingbird’s intricate mating ritual includes courtship displays, mating, nesting, egg incubation and hatching, and raising and fledging the chicks. This complex process relies heavily on the male attracting a female through elaborate breeding behavior and the female providing complete solo parental care. Understanding the broad tailed hummingbird’s challenging breeding behaviors provides insight into the adaptations and life cycle of these unique birds. The flashy aerial performances by competing males give way to the quiet dedication of nesting and brooding females. Together, these complementary behaviors allow new broad tailed hummingbirds to be hatch and develop successfully each breeding season.
