The Lucifer Hummingbird is a stunningly beautiful bird that lives in parts of South America. With its brilliant iridescent plumage that shimmers in the light, it’s easy to see why this hummingbird gets its name from Lucifer, meaning “light bearer.” But why exactly is this particular hummingbird called the Lucifer Hummingbird? There are a few possible explanations behind the origins of its name.
Physical Appearance
The Lucifer Hummingbird’s most striking feature is its gorgeous coloration. The male has brilliant turquoise-green feathers on its head, back, and belly, with a rich purple-red throat. When the light catches these iridescent feathers just right, they seem to glow from within. The female is more subtly beautiful, with her elegant bronze-green plumage above and pale white and grey below. In flight, both sexes display a distinctive white band at the tip of their long, forked tail. The shimmering colors and radiant “glow” of the Lucifer Hummingbird definitely evoke the imagery of Lucifer, meaning “light bearer” in Latin.
Range and Habitat
The Lucifer Hummingbird is found along the Pacific slope of southwestern Mexico, with a range extending from southern Sinaloa to Oaxaca. It inhabits forest and woodland areas, especially pine-oak forests, and can be found at elevations from 900 to 8000 feet. Like most hummingbirds, the Lucifer Hummingbird prefers areas with plentiful flowering plants and shrubs where it can feed on nectar. Some of its favorite food sources include cypress, thistle, and agave flowers. This range along the lush green Pacific coast of Mexico provides an ideal setting for this radiant bird.
Behavior and Feeding
Like all hummingbirds, the Lucifer Hummingbird has a very fast metabolism and must consume food constantly in order to survive. It feeds mainly on nectar from flowers using its specialized long bill and darting tongue. The bird gets most of the water it needs from the nectar solutions it drinks. Its diet is supplemented with small insects which provide protein and nutrients. The Lucifer Hummingbird uses its lightning-quick reflexes and aerial agility to catch small insects in midair. It also aggressively defends its feeding territories from intruders, displaying its iridescent plumage in dive displays intended to warn and intimidate trespassers. The blazing speed and dazzling displays of the Lucifer Hummingbird bring to mind Lucifer’s origin as a falling star cast down from heaven.
Migration
The Lucifer Hummingbird undergoes a partial migration each year. Populations breeding in the northern parts of its range in Mexico migrate southward after the breeding season is over. Further south, some birds may remain year-round in their breeding range rather than migrating. During the winter months, the Lucifer Hummingbird can be found as far south as El Salvador before returning north again to breed. This seasonal movement and return gives the Lucifer Hummingbird an aura of mystery fitting for a bird named after the fallen archangel Lucifer.
Breeding and Nesting
Male Lucifer Hummingbirds return to their breeding grounds a few weeks ahead of the females. When the females arrive, breeding begins. The male performs a courtship display, flying up and down in a U-shaped arc to attract females. If successful, he will mate with the female. No long-term bond is formed though; the female must build the nest and raise the chicks on her own. She constructs a small cup-shaped nest out of soft plant fibers, spider webs and lichens, binding it together with sticky saliva. The nest is well-camouflaged, built onto a tree branch or other structure. The female lays 2 tiny white eggs and incubates them for about 2 weeks. Once hatched, the chicks are fed regurgitated insects and nectar by the female until they fledge in around 20-25 days. The dedication and devotion required of the female Lucifer Hummingbird to produce new generations of light-bearers is suggestive of Lucifer’s ambition and self-sacrifice.
Taxonomy
The Lucifer Hummingbird’s scientific name is Calothorax lucifer. Calothorax is a small genus containing just two species, the Lucifer and the Purple-crowned Hummingbird. “Calothorax” combines the Ancient Greek words kalos meaning “beautiful” and thorax meaning “chest” – an apt descriptor for these lovely birds. The species name lucifer is the Latin term for “light-bringer” or “morning star,” in reference to the second-born archangel Lucifer who fell from grace and became Satan. While the Lucifer Hummingbird was not the first hummingbird to be discovered, its bright, shimmering plumage likely inspired the use of the name Lucifer.
Kingdom | Animalia |
---|---|
Phylum | Chordata |
Class | Aves |
Order | Apodiformes |
Family | Trochilidae |
Genus | Calothorax |
Species | C. lucifer |
The Legend of Lucifer’s Namesake
The story of Lucifer’s fall from heaven is a cautionary tale found in various mythologies and religious traditions. According to Christian belief, Lucifer was one of the highest-ranking angels serving God in heaven. But Lucifer’s pride led him to rebel against God, seeking to take God’s place. After being cast out of heaven along with other rebel angels, Lucifer became known as Satan or the Devil. Lucifer means “light-bringer” or “morning star” in Latin – his beauty and brilliance evoked the imagery of a bright star shining in the heavens. But after his heavenly light was extinguished following his fall from grace, only darkness remained. Lucifer’s stunning yet vain beauty resulting in exile from paradise find echoes in the radiant namesake Lucifer Hummingbird, a creature of pure natural wonder, unaware of the hubris associated with its namesake.
Alternative Theories on the Origin of the Name
While the Lucifer Hummingbird’s lustrous, glowing plumage seems a fitting inspiration for its name, there are other theories about why this particular bird came to be called Lucifer. One alternative idea looks at a case of mistaken identity. Early Spanish explorers in the Americas called any small, fast-flying birds they came across “hummingbirds,” likening their blurry buzzing wings to mere insects. Some claim that the Lucifer Hummingbird was accidentally named by these colonizers who hadn’t yet grasped the diversity of hummingbirds.
Another conjecture states that Lucifer refers to the hummingbird’s aggressive territorial behavior, linking it with a combative, adversarial figure like the fallen archangel Lucifer warring against God. However, this theory doesn’t have as much backing since this type of behavior is common among many hummingbird species, yet the Lucifer name is unique.
Significance and Symbolism
Regardless of which origin theory holds the most truth, the Lucifer Hummingbird remains a creature of immense symbolic value. Its luminous colors and ethereal glow-like plumage give it an almost supernatural aura. In those brief flashes when the light illuminates its radiance fully, the tiny bird seems to be harnessing otherworldly energy. Ancient Aztec beliefs viewed hummingbirds as embodiments of vigor, energy, joy and the life force. In this capacity, the Lucifer Hummingbird lives up to the mystical hype surrounding hummingbirds in indigenous cultures. With its dashing good looks and spirited personality, the Lucifer Hummingbird is sure to captivate bird enthusiasts and spiritual seekers alike for years to come.
Conclusion
The Lucifer Hummingbird’s brilliant, shimmering plumage makes it clear why this bird earned its name after the fallen archangel Lucifer, meaning “light bearer.” The origin of its name likely stems from the male’s iridescent turquoise-green and crimson feathers that seem to glow with their own inner light when they catch the sunshine. But while the Lucifer Hummingbird was christened after a notorious figure, the creature itself maintains an air of magic and mystique, lighting up the forests of Mexico with its radiant colors, tireless energy, and flashes of fiery spirit. Whatever the full history behind its name, the Lucifer Hummingbird remains a jewel-like wonder among birds. With its gorgeous colors, dynamic displays, and mystical appeal, this special hummingbird will always be capable of bearing its own unique light.