Hummingbird

Hummingbirds (family Trochilidae) are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of its wings (up to 80 beats per second usually, but 200 beats per second during courtship).

They are named for the characteristic hum of this rapid wing motion, and are attracted to many flowering plants such as shrimp plants. Hummingbirds feed on the nectar of these plants.

They are especially attracted to red flowers: hummingbirds can be attracted by feeders stocked with red sugar water. Many species will also take insects.

Male hummingbirds are usually brightly coloured, females duller. The males take no part in nesting. The nest is usually a neat cup in a tree. Two white eggs are laid, which are large compared to the bird. Incubation is typically 14-19 days.

The Bee Hummingbird, Mellisuga helenae, is, at 2.2 grams, the smallest bird in the world. this can be compared with the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris, weight approximately 3 grams, length 7.6 cm (3 in).

Location

Hummingbirds are only found in the Americas. The Black-chinned Hummingbird is the commonest species in the western United States and Canada. Only the Ruby-throated Hummingbird breeds in eastern North America, but occasional members of other hummingbird species ("accidentals" in birding jargon) are seen in the east of North America, sometimes as vagrants from Cuba or the Bahamas.

Taxonomy

In the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy, hummingbirds are separated from the Apodiformes, which also contains the swifts, as a new hummingbird order Trochiliformes.

In Artistic Depiction

The Aztec god Huitzilopochtli is often depicted as a hummingbird.

Species

There are nearly 340 species of hummingbird.

Species list

• Saw-billed Hermit Ramphodon naevius

• White-tipped Sicklebill Eutoxeres aquila
• Buff-tailed Sicklebill Eutoxeres condamini

• Hook-billed Hermit Glaucis dohrnii
• Rufous-breasted Hermit Glaucis hirsuta
• Bronzy Hermit Glaucis aenea

• Band-tailed Barbthroat Threnetes ruckeri
• Pale-tailed Barbthroat Threnetes niger

• Broad-tipped Hermit Anopetia gounellei

• White-whiskered Hermit Phaethornis yaruqui
• Green Hermit Phaethornis guy
• White-bearded Hermit Phaethornis hispidus
• Western Long-tailed Hermit Phaethornis longirostris
• Eastern Long-tailed Hermit Phaethornis superciliosus
• Great-billed Hermit Phaethornis malaris
• Tawny-bellied Hermit Phaethornis syrmatophorus
• Koepcke's Hermit Phaethornis koepckeae
• Needle-billed Hermit Phaethornis philippii
• Straight-billed Hermit Phaethornis bourcieri
• Pale-bellied Hermit Phaethornis anthophilus
• Scale-throated Hermit Phaethornis eurynome
• Planalto Hermit Phaethornis pretrei
• Sooty-capped Hermit Phaethornis augusti
• Buff-bellied Hermit Phaethornis subochraceus
• Dusky-throated Hermit Phaethornis squalidus
• Streak-throated Hermit Phaethornis rupurumii
• Little Hermit Phaethornis longuemareus
• Minute Hermit Phaethornis idaliae
• Cinnamon-throated Hermit Phaethornis nattereri
• Reddish Hermit Phaethornis ruber
• White-browed Hermit Phaethornis stuarti
• Black-throated Hermit Phaethornis atrimentalis
• Stripe-throated Hermit Phaethornis striigularis
• Gray-chinned Hermit Phaethornis griseogularis

• Tooth-billed Hummingbird Androdon aequatorialis

• Green-fronted Lancebill Doryfera ludovicae
• Blue-fronted Lancebill Doryfera johannae

• Scaly-breasted Hummingbird Phaeochroa cuvierii

• Wedge-tailed Sabrewing Campylopterus curvipennis
• Long-tailed Sabrewing Campylopterus excellens
• Gray-breasted Sabrewing Campylopterus largipennis
• Rufous Sabrewing Campylopterus rufus
• Violet Sabrewing Campylopterus hemileucurus
• Rufous-breasted Sabrewing Campylopterus hyperythrus
• White-tailed Sabrewing Campylopterus ensipennis
• Lazuline Sabrewing Campylopterus falcatus
• Santa Marta Sabrewing Campylopterus phainopeplus
• Napo Sabrewing Campylopterus villaviscensio
• Buff-breasted Sabrewing Campylopterus duidae
• Sombre Hummingbird Campylopterus cirrochloris

• Swallow-tailed Hummingbird Eupetomena macrourus

• White-necked Jacobin Florisuga mellivora
• Black Jacobin Florisuga fuscus

• Brown Violet-ear Colibri delphinae
• Green Violet-ear Colibri thalassinus
• Sparkling Violet-ear Colibri coruscans
• White-vented Violet-ear Colibri serrirostris

• Green-throated Mango Anthracothorax viridigula
• Green-breasted Mango Anthracothorax prevostii
• Black-throated Mango Anthracothorax nigricollis
• Veraguan Mango Anthracothorax veraguensis
• Antillean Mango Anthracothorax dominicus
• Green Mango Anthracothorax viridis
• Jamaican Mango Anthracothorax mango

• Fiery-tailed Awlbill Avocettula recurvirostris

• Crimson Topaz Topaza pella
• Fiery Topaz Topaza pyra

• Purple-throated Carib Eulampis jugularis
• Green-throated Carib Eulampis holosericeus

• Ruby-topaz Hummingbird Chrysolampis mosquitus

• Antillean Crested Hummingbird Orthorhyncus cristatus

• Violet-headed Hummingbird Klais guimeti

• Plovercrest Stephanoxis lalandi

• Emerald-chinned Hummingbird Abeillia abeillei

• Tufted Coquette Lophornis ornatus
• Dot-eared Coquette Lophornis gouldii
• Frilled Coquette Lophornis magnificus
• Short-crested Coquette Lophornis brachylophus
• Rufous-crested Coquette Lophornis delattrei
• Spangled Coquette Lophornis stictolophus
• Festive Coquette Lophornis chalybeus
• Peacock Coquette Lophornis pavoninus
• Black-crested Coquette Lophornis helenae
• White-crested Coquette Lophornis adorabilis

• Wire-crested Thorntail Popelairia popelairii
• Black-bellied Thorntail Popelairia langsdorffi
• Coppery Thorntail Popelairia letitiae

• Green Thorntail Discosura conversii
• Racket-tailed Coquette Discosura longicauda

• Red-billed Streamertail Trochilus polytmus
• Black-billed Streamertail Trochilus scitulus

• Blue-chinned Sapphire Chlorostilbon notatus
• Blue-tailed Emerald Chlorostilbon mellisugus
• Golden-crowned Emerald Chlorostilbon auriceps
• Cozumel Emerald Chlorostilbon forficatus
• Canivet's Emerald Chlorostilbon canivetii
• Garden Emerald Chlorostilbon assimilis
• Glittering-bellied Emerald Chlorostilbon aureoventris
• Chiribiquete Emerald Chlorostilbon olivaresi
• Cuban Emerald Chlorostilbon ricordii
• Hispaniolan Emerald Chlorostilbon swainsonii
• Puerto Rican Emerald Chlorostilbon maugaeus
• Coppery Emerald Chlorostilbon russatus
• Narrow-tailed Emerald Chlorostilbon stenurus
• Green-tailed Emerald Chlorostilbon alice
• Short-tailed Emerald Chlorostilbon poortmani

• Fiery-throated Hummingbird Panterpe insignis

• White-tailed Emerald Elvira chionura
• Coppery-headed Emerald Elvira cupreiceps

• Blue-capped Hummingbird Eupherusa cyanophrys
• White-tailed Hummingbird Eupherusa poliocerca
• Stripe-tailed Hummingbird Eupherusa eximia
• Black-bellied Hummingbird Eupherusa nigriventris

• Rufous-cheeked Hummingbird Goethalsia bella

• Violet-capped Hummingbird Goldmania violiceps

• Dusky Hummingbird Cynanthus sordidus
• Broad-billed Hummingbird Cynanthus latirostris
• Blue-headed Hummingbird Cyanophaia bicolor

• Violet-crowned Woodnymph Thalurania colombica
• Mexican Woodnymph Thalurania ridgwayi
• Green-crowned Woodnymph Thalurania fannyi
• Fork-tailed Woodnymph Thalurania furcata
• Long-tailed Woodnymph Thalurania watertonii
• Violet-capped Woodnymph Thalurania glaucopis

• Violet-bellied Hummingbird Damophila julie

• Sapphire-throated Hummingbird Lepidopyga coeruleogularis
• Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird Lepidopyga lilliae
• Shining-green Hummingbird Lepidopyga goudoti

• Blue-throated Goldentail Hylocharis eliciae
• Rufous-throated Sapphire Hylocharis sapphirina
• White-chinned Sapphire Hylocharis cyanus
• Gilded Sapphire Hylocharis chrysura
• Blue-headed Sapphire Hylocharis grayi
• Xantus' Hummingbird Hylocharis xantusii
• White-eared Hummingbird Hylocharis leucotis

• Golden-tailed Sapphire Chrysuronia oenone

• White-throated Hummingbird Leucochloris albicollis
• White-tailed Goldenthroat Polytmus guainumbi
• Tepui Goldenthroat Polytmus milleri
• Green-tailed Goldenthroat Polytmus theresiae

• Buffy Hummingbird Leucippus fallax
• Tumbes Hummingbird Leucippus baeri
• Spot-throated Hummingbird Leucippus taczanowskii
• Olive-spotted Hummingbird Leucippus chlorocercus
• White-bellied Hummingbird Leucippus chionogaster
• Green-and-white Hummingbird Leucippus viridicauda
• Many-spotted Hummingbird Leucippus hypostictus

• Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl
• Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird Amazilia castaneiventris
• Amazilia Hummingbird Amazilia amazilia
• Loja Hummingbird Amazilia alticola
• Buff-bellied Hummingbird Amazilia yucatanensis
• Cinnamon Hummingbird Amazilia rutila

• Plain-bellied Emerald Agyrtria leucogaster
• Versicolored Emerald Agyrtria versicolor
• Rondonia Emerald Agyrtria rondoniae
• White-chested Emerald Agyrtria brevirostris
• Andean Emerald Agyrtria franciae
• White-bellied Emerald Agyrtria candida
• Azure-crowned Hummingbird Agyrtria cyanocephala
• Violet-crowned Hummingbird Agyrtria violiceps
• Green-fronted Hummingbird Agyrtria viridifrons

• Sapphire-spangled Emerald Polyerata lactea
• Glittering-throated Emerald Polyerata fimbriata
• Blue-chested Hummingbird Polyerata amabilis
• Charming Hummingbird Polyerata decora
• Purple-chested Hummingbird Polyerata rosenbergi
• Mangrove Hummingbird Polyerata boucardi
• Honduran Emerald Polyerata luciae

• Steely-vented Hummingbird Saucerottia saucerrottei
• Indigo-capped Hummingbird Saucerottia cyanifrons
• Snowy-bellied Hummingbird Saucerottia edward
• Blue-tailed Hummingbird Saucerottia cyanura
• Berylline Hummingbird Saucerottia beryllina
• Green-bellied Hummingbird Saucerottia viridigaster
• Copper-tailed Hummingbird Saucerottia cupreicauda
• Copper-rumped Hummingbird Saucerottia tobaci

• Snowcap Microchera albocoronata

• Blossomcrown Anthocephala floriceps

• White-vented Plumeleteer Chalybura buffonii
• Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer Chalybura urochrysia

• Blue-throated Hummingbird Lampornis clemenciae
• Amethyst-throated Hummingbird Lampornis amethystinus
• Green-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis viridipallens
• Green-breasted Mountain-gem Lampornis sybillae
• White-bellied Mountain-gem Lampornis hemileucus
• White-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis castaneoventris
• Purple-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis calolaema
• Gray-tailed Mountain-gem Lampornis cinereicauda
• Garnet-throated Hummingbird Lamprolaima rhami

• Ecuadorian Piedtail Phlogophilus hemileucurus
• Peruvian Piedtail Phlogophilus harterti

• Speckled Hummingbird Adelomyia melanogenys

• Brazilian Ruby Clytolaema rubricauda

• Gould's Jewelfront Heliodoxa aurescens
• Fawn-breasted Brilliant Heliodoxa rubinoides
• Violet-fronted Brilliant Heliodoxa leadbeateri
• Velvet-browed Brilliant Heliodoxa xanthogonys
• Black-throated Brilliant Heliodoxa schreibersii
• Pink-throated Brilliant Heliodoxa gularis
• Rufous-webbed Brilliant Heliodoxa branickii
• Empress Brilliant Heliodoxa imperatrix
• Green-crowned Brilliant Heliodoxa jacula

• Magnificent Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens

• Scissor-tailed Hummingbird Hylonympha macrocerca

• Violet-chested Hummingbird Sternoclyta cyanopectus

• White-tailed Hillstar Urochroa bougueri

• Chestnut-breasted Coronet Boissonneaua matthewsii
• Buff-tailed Coronet Boissonneaua flavescens
• Velvet-purple Coronet Boissonneaua jardini

• Shining Sunbeam Aglaeactis cupripennis
• White-tufted Sunbeam Aglaeactis castelnaudii
• Purple-backed Sunbeam Aglaeactis aliciae
• Black-hooded Sunbeam Aglaeactis pamela

• Andean Hillstar Oreotrochilus estella
• Chimborazo Hillstar Oreotrochilus chimborazo
• Green-headed Hillstar Oreotrochilus stolzmanni
• White-sided Hillstar Oreotrochilus leucopleurus
• Black-breasted Hillstar Oreotrochilus melanogaster
• Wedge-tailed Hillstar Oreotrochilus adela

• Mountain Velvetbreast Lafresnaya lafresnayi

• Bronzy Inca Coeligena coeligena
• Brown Inca Coeligena wilsoni
• Black Inca Coeligena prunellei
• Gould's Inca Coeligena inca
• Collared Inca Coeligena torquata
• White-tailed Starfrontlet Coeligena phalerata
• Golden Starfrontlet Coeligena eos
• Golden-bellied Starfrontlet Coeligena bonapartei
• Blue-throated Starfrontlet Coeligena helianthea
• Buff-winged Starfrontlet Coeligena lutetiae
• Violet-throated Starfrontlet Coeligena violifer
• Rainbow Starfrontlet Coeligena iris

• Sword-billed Hummingbird Ensifera ensifera

• Great Sapphirewing Pterophanes cyanopterus

• Giant Hummingbird Patagona gigas

• Green-backed Firecrown Sephanoides sephaniodes
• Juan Fernandez Firecrown Sephanoides fernandensis

• Longuemare's Sunangel Heliangelus clarisse
• Orange-throated Sunangel Heliangelus mavors
• Amethyst-throated Sunangel Heliangelus amethysticollis
• Gorgeted Sunangel Heliangelus strophianus
• Tourmaline Sunangel Heliangelus exortis
• Little Sunangel Heliangelus micrastur
• Purple-throated Sunangel Heliangelus viola
• Royal Sunangel Heliangelus regalis

• Black-breasted Puffleg Eriocnemis nigrivestis
• Glowing Puffleg Eriocnemis vestitus
• Black-thighed Puffleg Eriocnemis derbyi
• Turquoise-throated Puffleg Eriocnemis godini
• Sapphire-vented Puffleg Eriocnemis luciani
• Coppery-bellied Puffleg Eriocnemis cupreoventris
• Coppery-naped Puffleg Eriocnemis sapphiropygia
• Golden-breasted Puffleg Eriocnemis mosquera
• Blue-capped Puffleg Eriocnemis glaucopoides
• Colorful Puffleg Eriocnemis mirabilis
• Emerald-bellied Puffleg Eriocnemis alinae

• Greenish Puffleg Haplophaedia aureliae
• Buff-thighed Puffleg Haplophaedia assimilis
• Hoary Puffleg Haplophaedia lugens

• Purple-bibbed Whitetip Urosticte benjamini
• Rufous-vented Whitetip Urosticte ruficrissa

• Booted Racket-tail Ocreatus underwoodii

• Black-tailed Trainbearer Lesbia victoriae
• Green-tailed Trainbearer Lesbia nuna

• Red-tailed Comet Sappho sparganura

• Bronze-tailed Comet Polyonymus caroli

• Purple-backed Thornbill Ramphomicron microrhynchum
• Black-backed Thornbill Ramphomicron dorsale

• Bearded Mountaineer Oreonympha nobilis

• Bearded Helmetcrest Oxypogon guerinii

• Tyrian Metaltail Metallura tyrianthina
• Perija Metaltail Metallura iracunda
• Scaled Metaltail Metallura aeneocauda
• Fire-throated Metaltail Metallura eupogon
• Coppery Metaltail Metallura theresiae
• Neblina Metaltail Metallura odomae
• Violet-throated Metaltail Metallura baroni
• Viridian Metaltail Metallura williami
• Black Metaltail Metallura phoebe

• Rufous-capped Thornbill Chalcostigma ruficeps
• Olivaceous Thornbill Chalcostigma olivaceum
• Blue-mantled Thornbill Chalcostigma stanleyi
• Bronze-tailed Thornbill Chalcostigma heteropogon
• Rainbow-bearded Thornbill Chalcostigma herrani

• Mountain Avocetbill Opisthoprora euryptera

• Gray-bellied Comet Taphrolesbia griseiventris

• Long-tailed Sylph Aglaiocercus kingi
• Violet-tailed Sylph Aglaiocercus coelestis
• Venezuelan Sylph Aglaiocercus berlepschi

• Hyacinth Visorbearer Augastes scutatus
• Hooded Visorbearer Augastes lumachella
• Wedge-billed Hummingbird Augastes geoffroyi

• Purple-crowned Fairy Heliothryx barroti
• Black-eared Fairy Heliothryx aurita

• Horned Sungem Heliactin bilopha

• Marvelous Spatuletail Loddigesia mirabilis

• Plain-capped Starthroat Heliomaster constantii
• Long-billed Starthroat Heliomaster longirostris
• Stripe-breasted Starthroat Heliomaster squamosus
• Blue-tufted Starthroat Heliomaster furcifer

• Oasis Hummingbird Rhodopis vesper

• Peruvian Sheartail Thaumastura cora

• Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird Tilmatura dupontii

• Slender Sheartail Doricha enicura
• Mexican Sheartail Doricha eliza

• Bahama Woodstar Calliphlox evelynae
• Magenta-throated Woodstar Calliphlox bryantae
• Purple-throated Woodstar Calliphlox mitchellii
• Amethyst Woodstar Calliphlox amethystina

• Slender-tailed Woodstar Microstilbon burmeisteri

• Lucifer Hummingbird Calothorax lucifer
• Beautiful Hummingbird Calothorax pulcher

• Vervain Hummingbird Mellisuga minima
• Bee Hummingbird Mellisuga helenae

• Ruby-throated Hummingbird[?] Archilochus colubris
• Black-chinned Hummingbird[?] Archilochus alexandri

• Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna (see images 1, 2, 3)

• Costa's Hummingbird Calypte costae

• Bumblebee Hummingbird Atthis heloisa
• Wine-throated Hummingbird Atthis ellioti

• Calliope Hummingbird Stellula calliope

• Purple-collared Woodstar Myrtis fanny

• Chilean Woodstar Eulidia yarrellii

• Short-tailed Woodstar Myrmia micrura

• White-bellied Woodstar Chaetocercus mulsant
• Little Woodstar Chaetocercus bombus
• Gorgeted Woodstar Chaetocercus heliodor
• Santa Marta Woodstar Chaetocercus astreans
• Esmeraldas Woodstar Chaetocercus berlepschi
• Rufous-shafted Woodstar Chaetocercus jourdanii

• Scintillant Hummingbird Selasphorus scintilla
• Glow-throated Hummingbird Selasphorus ardens
• Volcano Hummingbird Selasphorus flammula
• Broad-tailed Hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus
• Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus
• Allen's Hummingbird[?] Selasphorus sasin

External Links

• The Hummingbird Web Site (http://www.portalproductions.com/h/index)