The broad-tailed hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus) is a small, colorful bird found primarily in the western United States and Mexico. As their name suggests, broad-tailed hummingbirds have a broad fan-shaped tail that distinguishes them from other hummingbird species. These energetic, acrobatic birds are a favorite among birdwatchers and gardeners who live in areas where they are found. If you live in or plan to visit parts of the western U.S., learning more about where broad-tailed hummingbirds live can help you spot these special birds.
Range and Distribution
Broad-tailed hummingbirds breed in and around the Rocky Mountains in a range spanning from southern Montana and Wyoming south through Colorado, New Mexico, and into Arizona. They winter primarily in central and western Mexico.
During the breeding season, broad-tailed hummingbirds are found in high elevation mountain meadows, pine and aspen forests, canyon streamsides, and mountain towns and gardens. They prefer areas with abundant flowers and feeding opportunities.
In the winter, broad-tailed hummingbirds migrate south to the mountains of Mexico. Their winter range includes the Transverse Volcanic Belt across central Mexico. They are found in pine-oak forests, shade coffee plantations, and in gardens seeking nectar flowers.
Breeding Range
The broad-tailed hummingbird breeding habitat covers a wide swath of the Rocky Mountains:
- In Montana, broad-tailed hummingbirds breed sporadically in the southwest part of the state in mountain ranges like the Bitterroot Mountains.
- They can be found during summer in western Wyoming in places like the Salt River Range.
- In Colorado, broad-tailed hummingbirds nest throughout the Rocky Mountains as well as in the San Juan Mountains of the southwest.
- In New Mexico, breeding grounds cover the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Sandia Mountains, and other ranges of the northern and central part of the state.
- Broad-tailed hummingbirds breed in suitable high elevation habitat throughout Arizona such as the White Mountains.
Within their breeding range, broad-tailed hummingbirds seek out meadows, pine and fir forests, aspen groves, riparian areas, and mountain towns where flowers are readily available.
Migration Route
Broad-tailed hummingbirds migrate along the Rocky Mountains flyway to and from their wintering grounds:
- In spring, they follow flowering plants north starting in February and March from Mexico.
- By May, most broad-tailed hummingbirds have reached their breeding territories in the U.S. mountain west.
- In late summer and fall, they migrate back south to Mexico, starting in July and August.
- Their migration route closely follows the Rocky Mountains into Mexico.
This migration route takes them through parts of the southwestern U.S. and the mountains of Mexico, stopping in areas providing nectar before reaching their wintering grounds.
Winter Range
The broad-tailed hummingbird winters in the highland mountains of central Mexico:
- They are most concentrated in the Transverse Volcanic Belt, a high elevation volcanic mountain range that crosses central Mexico.
- Within the Transverse Volcanic Belt, key wintering sites include the eastern Sierra Madre Mountains and the west-central Mesa Central.
- They also winter in smaller numbers into other highland areas of central Mexico such as the Sierra Madre del Sur.
- In these mountain forests, broad-tailed hummingbirds forage in meadows, oak-pine forests, and shade coffee plantations.
Spending winter at these high elevations provides broad-tailed hummingbirds with warmer temperatures and flowering plants.
Identification
Broad-tailed hummingbirds have unique physical features that set them apart from other hummingbird species:
- Size: Broad-tailed hummingbirds are small, only 3 to 4 inches long. They have a wingspan of about 4 inches.
- Bill: Their long bill is straight and averages .6 to .7 inches in length.
- Coloring: Adult male broad-tailed hummingbirds have a bright iridescent rose-red throat, a white breast, and a green back. Females lack the red throat and are more dull green on top with a pale white-gray underside.
- Tail: As their name indicates, these hummingbirds have a very wide fan-shaped tail that can span 1.5 to 1.8 inches. Their tail feathers are edged in black and white.
- Voice: Males make a high-pitched chipping call during the breeding season. Their wingbeats also produce a loud buzzing during display dives.
In flight, the combination of small size, quick wing beats, and wide tail make the broad-tailed hummingbird unmistakable from other western hummingbirds.
Habitat
Broad-tailed hummingbirds use a variety of mountain habitat during breeding and wintering:
Breeding Habitat
During summer, broad-tailed hummingbirds thrive in a number of high elevation settings:
- Mountain meadows with abundant wildflowers
- Pine, fir, aspen, and spruce forests
- Riparian areas along mountain streams
- Parks, gardens, and backyards in mountain towns
They gravitate towards areas that provide dense concentrations of nectar-producing flowers. Irrigated mountain towns often draw in breeding broad-tailed hummingbirds.
Winter Habitat
On their wintering grounds in Mexico, broad-tailed hummingbirds use a mix of habitats:
- Pine-oak and fir forests between 5,000 to 9,000 feet in elevation
- Open meadow clearings in forests
- Coffee plantations, especially those providing shade trees
- Hillside orchards and gardens
The availability of flowers for nectar and insects for food determines which mountain forests and agricultural areas broad-tailed hummingbirds use in winter.
Behavior and Diet
Broad-tailed hummingbirds exhibit specialized behaviors and adaptations related to their diet:
Food and Feeding
To fuel their high metabolism, broad-tailed hummingbirds have a diet consisting of:
- Nectar from flowers of hummingbird-adapted plants
- Small insects such as flies, beetles, spiders, and aphids
- Tree sap from species such as pine and maple
Their long bill and extendable tongue allow them to access nectar from tubular flowers. To get insects, they often hawk flying bugs from perches.
Feeding Behavior
Broad-tailed hummingbirds have some signature feeding behaviors:
- Aggressively defend flower patches and feeders, chasing off other hummingbirds
- Hover in mid-air with rapid wing beats to feed from flowers and feeders
- Perch on branches and poles, sallying out to catch insects
- Use a technique called trap-lining, moving methodically between preferred nectar sources
By defending flower resources, broad-tailed hummingbirds ensure reliable access to the nectar they need.
Adaptations
Broad-tailed hummingbirds have anatomical and physiological adaptations to support their nectar diet:
- Winged flight capable of sustained hovering
- Swift metabolism to convert sugar into energy
- Long, specialized tongue to lap up nectar
- Ability to enter torpor, a sleep-like state, to conserve energy overnight
These adaptations allow broad-tailed hummingbirds to thrive on a mainly liquid diet of nectar from high mountain flowers.
Threats and Conservation
While still relatively common, broad-tailed hummingbirds face threats to their mountain habitat:
Threats
Some key threats and challenges facing broad-tailed hummingbirds:
- Climate change altering flower distribution in mountain habitats
- Drought reducing availability of flowers and nesting materials
- Development encroaching on breeding streams and meadows
- Habitat loss and degradation on Mexican wintering grounds
Research shows climate-driven declines in broad-tailed hummingbird populations in some parts of their range.
Conservation Actions
Efforts to protect broad-tailed hummingbirds include:
- Monitoring populations and researching effects of climate change
- Protecting key breeding and wintering habitat from development
- Promoting sustainable coffee production practices in Mexico wintering grounds
- Educating homeowners and gardeners on providing nectar habitat
Continued conservation work will help ensure thriving broad-tailed hummingbird populations.
Where to See Broad-tailed Hummingbirds
In pursuit of broad-tailed hummingbirds, here are some top spots:
Breeding Grounds
Some prime broad-tailed hummingbird watching sites across their breeding range:
- Colorado: Montrose, Grand Junction, Colorado Springs, Rocky Mountain National Park
- New Mexico: Sandia Mountains, Santa Fe, Taos
- Arizona: Southeastern mountains including Cave Creek Canyon
- Wyoming: Jackson Hole area
- Montana: Around Missoula and the Bitterroot Valley
Migration Hotspots
Look for migrating broad-tailed hummingbirds at these sites:
- San Juan River in New Mexico
- Huachuca Mountains in southeast Arizona
- Summer Lake Wildlife Area in Oregon
Wintering Sites in Mexico
Some top wintering destinations:
- Sierra Chincua near Angangueo
- El Rosario Monarch Preserve
- Zempoala Lagunas
- Parque Nacional Cumbres del Ajusco
Seeing a broad-tailed hummingbird darting through a high mountain meadow or winter pine forest offers an unforgettable glimpse of these remarkable birds. With a combination of suitable habitat, seasonal timing, and a watchful eye, you can find broad-tailed hummingbirds across their range in the American West.
Conclusion
Broad-tailed hummingbirds thrive across montane areas of the western U.S. and Mexico by taking advantage of seasonal flower resources. Their small size belies incredible feats of migration and adaptation. Although they face threats, maintaining mountain habitat and flowers through thoughtful conservation practices will ensure broad-tailed hummingbirds continue brightening these landscapes with their flashy presence. Tracking the zipping flight and cheerful chirps of broad-tailed hummingbirds provides one of the most satisfying and accessible ways to experience wildlife across the American West.
