Broad-tailed Hummingbird – MaleSelasphorus platycerus August – Colorado L=4” ...... WS=5.25”...... WT=0.13 oz Order: Apodiformes (Swifts and Hummingbirds) Family: Trochilidae (Hummingbirds) The Broad-tailed Hummingbird breeds at high elevations in the southern and central Rocky Mountains, eastern California, and Mexico. One identifying characteristic is the male’s shrill buzzing sound that occurs during flight. This buzzing is due to tapered outer feathers on their wings that buzz when air passes through them.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird – FemaleSelasphorus platycerus September – New Mexico L=4” ...... WS=5.25”...... WT=0.13 oz Order: Apodiformes (Swifts and Hummingbirds) Family: Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
Rufous Hummingbird – Male Selasphorus rufous August – Colorado L=3.75” ...... WS=4.5”...... WT=0.1 oz Order: Apodiformes (Swifts and Hummingbirds) Family: Trochilidae (Hummingbirds) Rufous Hummingbirds breed farther north than any other hummingbird, as far north as Alaska. They migrate to Mexico which gives these birds the longest migration, measured in body lengths, of any known avian migration. They have unusually short wings with high wing loading for a hummingbird which could be an adaptation to allow for fast flight during the long migration. Rufous Hummingbirds are aggressive and generally will dominate other hummingbirds, such as the Broad-tailed Hummingbird, when they are in the same locale. This occurs during the Rufous’s migration which passes through the Broad-tailed Hummingbird’s summer territory before the Broad-tailed starts its migration.
