Broad-billed Hummingbird

Overview

The Broad-billed Hummingbird is a resident of arid canyons, washes, and streamside vegetation in the southwestern United States and much of Mexico. Its bright bicolored bill is often the first clue to identification, standing out even at a distance and in poor light when the body's iridescence is hard to judge.

Males show extensive blue-green iridescence across the throat and underparts along with a distinctly forked, blue-black tail, while females are far plainer, identified mainly by the same reddish bill base and a bold white stripe behind the eye.

Feather ID Notes

Male body feathers show a continuous wash of iridescent blue-green from chin through breast, distinguishing them from species with a limited gorget patch. The tail feathers are dark blue-black and notably forked, unlike the squared or rounded tails of many similarly sized hummingbirds.

• Throat/breast feathers: iridescent blue-green, extensive rather than patch-like
• Back feathers: bronzy green
• Tail feathers: blue-black, forked shape
• Bill: coral-red with a black tip, a useful non-feather ID clue Females lack the blue-green underparts, showing gray-white feathering below with green upperparts, and are best told from similar females by the eyestripe and bill color.

Plumage Details

Adult males are the more striking sex, with glittering blue-green feathering covering the throat and breast and a forked black tail. Adult females are duller, gray-white below with green upperparts and a prominent white stripe behind the eye. Immature birds resemble females, with young males gradually acquiring throat iridescence through their first year. No distinct seasonal plumage exists; feather wear and an annual molt refresh the coloration.

Habitat & Range

This species favors desert canyons, arid scrub, and streamside woodland from the southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas) south through much of Mexico. Populations in the northern part of the range are migratory, moving south for winter, while those farther south in Mexico tend to be year-round residents.

Behavior & Field Notes

Broad-billed Hummingbirds feed on nectar from tubular desert and canyon flowers and take small insects on the wing, often hovering low near shrubs and vines. Males perform modest display flights near favored feeding areas and can be territorial around nectar sources. Nests are small cups of plant fiber and spider silk placed low in shrubs or small trees, often near water. Calls include a dry, buzzy chattering note given in flight and while perched.