Blue-throated Hummingbird

Lampornis clemenciae Order: APODIFORMES Family: Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)
Blue-throated-Hummingbird Portrait
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Blue-throated Hummingbird Variations:

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General

Blue-throated Hummingbird: Large hummingbird with bronze-green upperparts, bronze-brown rump, brilliant purple-blue throat, and gray underparts. Tail is dark, occasionally washed with blue-black, and has white corners. Female and juvenile do not show blue on throat.

Range and Habitat

Blue-throated Hummingbird: Breeds in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, and western Texas and spends winters in Mexico. Preferred habitats include pine-oak forests, usually near water; comes down to lower elevations during winter months.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"seep-seep-seep-seep"

Interesting Facts

 The Blue-throated Hummingbird is about three times heavier than the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

 Unlike most North American hummingbirds, they do not have an aerial display. Instead, the male uses several different vocalizations to defend its territory and attract mates.

 Up to three broods per year are possible under ideal conditions; the female usually builds each new nest atop the previous nest, leading to nest "towers" at traditional nest sites.

 A group of hummingbirds has many collective nouns, including a “bouquet", "glittering", "hover", "shimmer", and "tune” of hummingbirds.



Author

Gary Owen Dick

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Range Map for Blue-throated Hummingbird

Related Birds

Broad-billed Hummingbird
Violet-crowned Hummingbird
Green Violet-ear
Plain-capped Starthroat
White-eared Hummingbird
Magnificent Hummingbird
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Family Hummingbird (Trochilidae)_blue
Species Lampornis clemenciae
Length5 - 5.5 Inches
Wingspan7 Inches

Blue-throated Hummingbird

Blue-throated Hummingbird: Large hummingbird with bronze-green upperparts, bronze-brown rump, brilliant purple-blue throat, gray underparts. Tail is dark, occasionally washed with blue-black, and has white corners. Feeds on nectar and insects. Direct and hovering flight with very rapid wing beats.

● Song: "seep-seep-seep-seep"

● Foraging & Feeding: Blue-throated Hummingbird: Feeds on nectar and small arthropods, searching around flowers and leaves for various insects, spiders, and plant lice; prefers hunting in honeysuckle, gilia, and agave. Heavy diet of insects allows it to survive and thrive in areas where more nectar dependant species cannot.

● Breeding & nesting: Blue-throated Hummingbird: Two white eggs are laid in a large cup nest with green mosses woven into the outside wall and fastened to a vertical plant stalk or utility wire, usually over or near water. Incubation ranges from 17 to 18 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Blue-throated Hummingbird: Male Blue-throated Hummingbird is unmistakable. Female is similar to female Magnificent Hummingbird, but has large white tips to tail and white moustache stripe streak.

Flight Pattern

Swift flight with rapid wing beats.
Blue-throated Hummingbird Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Blue-throated Hummingbird: Breeds in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, and western Texas and spends winters in Mexico. Preferred habitats include pine-oak forests, usually near water; comes down to lower elevations during winter months.
BreedingSolitary nester
PopulationVery restricted range in SW U.S., Fairly common in summer
MigrationSome migrate
Weight0.3 Ounces