Broad-tailed Hummingbird
A species of Selasphorus Scientific name : Selasphorus platycercus Genus : Selasphorus
Broad-tailed Hummingbird, A species of Selasphorus
Botanical name: Selasphorus platycercus
Genus: Selasphorus
Photo By Kati Fleming , used under CC-BY-SA-3.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
Though tiny, the broad-tailed Hummingbird is one of the largest of all North American hummingbirds. This tough species is well adapted to freezing night temperatures—when the night falls, it slows its heart rate and drops its body temperature, hibernating until the morning. Fast and acrobatic like all hummingbirds, it is able to achieve 50 wingbeats per second.
Size
10 - 11 cm
Life Expectancy
14 years
Nest Placement
Tree
Clutch Size
2 eggs
Number of Broods
16 - 19 days
Nestling Period
21 - 26 days
Feeding Habits
Broad-tailed Hummingbird predominantly consume nectar from tubular flowers, including larkspur and scarlet gilia. They adapt their feeding to include less-typical choices like pussy willow during migration. Broad-tailed Hummingbird supplement their diet with small insects for protein, feeding them to their young and gleaned from various sources, such as leaves and spiderwebs. Occasionally, they may consume sap from sapsucker wells as a nectar alternative.
Habitat
Broad-tailed Hummingbird predominantly inhabits montane and subalpine regions, thriving in elevations ranging from 5,000 to 10,500 feet. Favoured environments include meadows, pinyon-juniper, pine-oak woodlands, and montane scrubs. They are also found in evergreen forests and aspen or spruce stands. These birds prefer areas where there is an abundance of flowering plants for foraging, including open areas with flowers, grasslands, and during migration, they utilize highland meadows. In winter, broad-tailed Hummingbird occupies pine-oak forests and tropical highlands in Mexico, including dry thorn forests.
Nest Behavior
The solitary female broad-tailed Hummingbird constructs the nest, stretching the material with her body. Building takes 4–5 days, with continuous additions during incubation. Nesting may involve reusing and refurbishing old nests, and egg-laying and chick rearing are solely the female's responsibility.
Nest Characteristics
Broad-tailed Hummingbird's nest is cup-shaped, constructed from spiderwebs, gossamer, lichen, moss, and bark. Located 1–5 feet above ground, usually on evergreen or aspen branches, it measures about 2 inches in outer diameter, 0.8 inches inside, and can stretch as chicks grow.
Dite type
Nectivorous
People often ask
Migration Overview
This species exhibits partial migration, depending on the northern range during winter. The specific migration route used by the broad-tailed hummingbird remains unknown, although migrating populations winter in southern Mexico or Guatemala and return to their breeding area in spring. Males arrive first to the breeding range, followed by breeding females. Some populations of the broad-tailed hummingbird in southern Mexico and Guatemala do not migrate, a variation in behavior called "sedentary".
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird Feeder Type
Nectar Feeder
Sounds
WingBuzz
Recording location: Mexico
Call
Recording location: United States
Behavior
Broad-tailed Hummingbird exhibit dynamic behaviors, engaging daily in proficient aerial insect hunting and nectar foraging, often by hovering with rapid wingbeats. Vigilantly patrolling their domains, males assertively expel intruders. Their mating ritual is a spectacle, with males executing impressive dives accompanied by a distinct trill as part of their courtship, though they do not participate in nesting or rearing young. Both sexes may enter a state of torpor under cold conditions to conserve energy, showcasing an adaptation for survival. Known for promiscuity, males may mate with multiple partners each season, prioritizing territory and mating over parental care.
Distribution Area
The broad-tailed hummingbird is found from Guatemala to Mexico, and western United States and Western Canada during summer, while wintering regions are mainly in southern Mexico and Guatemala. 
Species Status
This species conservation status is “Least Concern ”, indicating it is not an endangered species, having a wide range and moderate population size, although one survey indicated a 52% decline in population between 1966 and 2015. It appears to be adapted to human-modified habitats.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Swifts and hummingbirds Family
Hummingbirds Genus
Selasphorus Species
Broad-tailed Hummingbird 
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