Species · GBIF taxon 2476844
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Selasphorus platycercusAlso known as Broad-tail
Broad-tailed Hummingbirds animate high-altitude mountain meadows with their glittering rose-magenta gorgets and a distinctive, metallic wing-whistle produced by the males in flight. To survive freezing alpine nights, these tiny birds enter torpor, lowering their body temperature to near-ambient levels to conserve energy. They breed in open pine-oak woodlands and montane forests, following the seasonal bloom of wildflowers northward each spring.
MigratoryHighlandNectar-feeder
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Flower Nectar
- Small Insects
- Tree Sap
Predators
- Sharp-shinned Hawks
- Praying Mantises
- Domestic Cats
ThreatsHabitat loss, climate change shifting bloom times, pesticide use
HabitatsMontane forests, subalpine meadows, pine-oak woodlands
Life span3 to 7 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyTrochilidae
- SpeciesSelasphorus platycercus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Feeder Placement: Hang sugar-water feeders near red tubular flowers to attract them to your yard.
- Listen Closely: Identify flying males by the high-pitched, cricket-like trill made by their wingtips.
- Plant Native: Grow scarlet gilia, columbine, and larkspur to support their high-energy lifestyle.
Competitor Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Key Food Source (c) Dustin Snider, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Dustin Snider · cc-by
Close Relative VJAnderson / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Dan Pancamo / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
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