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Which One is the Broad-tailed Hummingbird?

Here are four male hummers with rosy throat patches. Their ranges don't always overlap, but all four of these species live in North America. At first glance, they can seem very similar, but a second look reveals some key visual differences. Can you tell which of these four hummingbirds is the Broad-tailed Hummingbird? 

Four male hummingbirds, all with rosy throats, are compared. Text: Mystery Hummingbird Credits. A copyright Peter Schreck. B copyright Marky Mutchler. C copyright Sean Crockett. D copyright Jim Merritt. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Macaulay Library.

Did you get a good look? Check out the answer by scrolling down...

 


That's right, D was the correct answer!  
A: Ruby-throated Hummingbird

B: Calliope Hummingbird

C: Anna's Hummingbird

D: Broad-tailed Hummingbird

A: The Ruby-throated Hummingbird can look very similar to the Broad-tailed Hummingbird, but lucky for us, these two birds don't overlap in their breeding ranges. Take a look at their eyes; the Ruby-throated Hummingbird has a black patch from eye to chin that the Broad-tailed doesn't share. 

B: The Calliope Hummingbird is the smallest bird in the United States and Canada! This bird has been described as having a "hunched" posture, which you can see here. This male Calliope Hummingbird's throat feathers are more like pointed rays compared to the Broad-tailed Hummingbird. 

C: This is a male Anna's Hummingbird. Note that this bird's shining, rosy coloration extends to the crown, not just the throat. The male Broad-tailed Hummingbird's crown is green. Unlike other hummingbirds that breed north of Mexico, Anna's Hummingbirds really don't migrate much in the fall. See their population dynamics for yourself on eBird!

D: Yes! This is the Broad-tailed Hummingbird. Its green crown, rosy throat, and green and buffy sides give it away. These hearty hummingbirds breed in high mountain meadows at elevations of up to 10,500 feet.

 

Check out the resources below for more hummingbird goodness. 

 

Links to the West Texas Hummingbird Cam.

Nestled in the mountains outside Fort Davis, Texas at an elevation of over 5500 feet, The West Texas Hummingbird Feeder Cam site is perfect for hummingbird lovers. During peak migration, you might spot hundreds of hummingbirds of more than a dozen species migrating through the arid mountains. The West Texas Hummingbird Feeder Cam is sponsored by Perky-Pet®.

Free Poster PDF: Hummingbirds

At least 13 species of hummingbirds, with a beautiful range of plumage, regularly occur in the U.S. and Canada. View them all in this downloadable poster illustrated by Megan Gnekow.