Hummingbirds: Tiny Marvels of Flight
Text and photos by Heather Cline
Hummingbirds are my favorite of all birds. I tell my husband on a regular basis that 'I want all their business' and he has indulged my little obsession by creating a bird oasis in our yard, complete with feeders, trees, plants, flowers and water features. They seem to enjoy it and reward us by coming by every day. I never get tired of watching their aerial acrobatics, courting behavior and territorial displays. This post focuses on 10 species that I have been fortunate enough to watch and photograph in - and - beyond my backyard. I hope you enjoy!
Identification note: I use a combination of Merlin, eBird, All About Birds and Audubon when identifying birds. However, I still make mistakes so if you see a bird mis-identified in this post, please let me know so I can correct it. I do not enjoy spreading lies. :)
Allen's
These birds hug the west coast from Oregon, California, Western Arizona, and into Mexico. They strike a very similar resemblance to the Rufous Hummingbird (near the bottom of this post) with their coppery-orange feathers. Male Allen's Hummingbirds are very territorial, protecting their feeding areas and even driving away much larger birds such as kestrels and hawks.
 
Allen's Hummingbird (male), Santa Cruz California |
Anna's
Anna's are the most common species where I live and along the west coast. Their range pushes a little farther east than Allen's and up into Canada. The image below is a female I recently spotted visiting flowers for nectar very close to home. The males perform courtship displays in our yard, flying high into the air then swooping straight down, creating a unique sound with their feathers. To see more images, including the striking male with his iridescent pink feathers, check out my hummingbird gallery.
Anna's Hummingbird (female), Carmichael California |
Black-bellied
The black-bellied has a unique color pattern with a mostly black body, inhabiting a thin stretch of land across Costa Rica and Panama. This is one of the most striking birds I saw on a trip to Costa Rica. Among many species of hummingbirds, the black-bellied has the ability to fly forwards, backwards, hover, and upside down. They use their flight talents to attract mates and protect their territories.
Black-bellied Hummingbird (male), Costa Rica |
Broad-billed
This bird is just: wow! With it's brilliant green and turquoise body and red bill, it really commands attention. I only saw this bird in one area of Arizona, very close to the Mexico border, around 5,000 feet in elevation. A very willing model, these birds sat on a branch for me several times - perhaps well aware that their beauty should be captured on film as often as possible!
Broad-billed Hummingbird (male), Green Valley Arizona |
Coppery-headed Emerald
This little bird looks like a piece of jewelry to me. It is a species endemic to Costa Rica, found in cool, wet, highlands. During the breeding season, males form small groups called leks to display and chase each other.
Coppery-headed Emerald Hummingbird (male), Costa Rica |
Costa's
While not quite in full display here, the male Costa's hummingbird can dazzle you with a full head of purple when the light hits their feathers just right. I think he's pretty handsome no matter what. Like other species of hummingbirds, the Costa's has a high metabolism rate which requires a large intake of nectar on a daily basis. A unique feature of the Costa's is their ability to enter a torpid state by reducing their heart rate from 500-900 beats per minute all the way down to 50 beats per minute, when overnight temperatures are low.
Costa's Hummingbird (male), Borrego Springs California |
Green-crowned Brilliant
The Green-crowned brilliant is the most common hummingbird I saw in Costa Rica and are known for their vibrant green plumage. They were particularly protective over their food sources and worked tirelessly to drive other competing hummingbirds away.
Green-crowned Brilliant Hummingbird (male), Costa Rica |
Rivoli's
The first time I saw a Rivoli's, I thought holy moly - that is the biggest hummingbird I have ever seen! They are one of the largest in the United States and also impress with their color coordinated feathers. These birds can be found in the southernmost parts of Nevad and Arizona, but mostly into Mexico. While the average lifespan for hummingbirds is between 3-5 years, the Rivoli can live up to 11 years.
Rivoli's Hummingbird (male), Green Valley Arizona |
Rufous
The Rufous has a wide range across western United Staes and into Canada and Mexico. I often see these birds in the southern California desert in the spring, visiting the flowering shrubs and cacti. Given their vast range compared to other hummingbirds, it's no surprise that they have one of the longest migrations at up to 3,000 miles.
Rufous Hummingbird (male), Tucson Arizona |
Violet Sabrewing
The Violet Sabrewing is another large hummingbird, commonly found in Costa Rica and Panama, with beautiful purple feathers. It is one of the few hummingbirds that doesn't have 'hummingbird' in its name. The name "Sabrewing" comes from the shape of their outer wing feathers, which are curved and thickened, resembling a sabre.
Violet Sabrewing Hummingbird (male), Costa Rica |
I hope you enjoyed this hummingbird tour. If you'd like to see hummingbirds where you live, try putting out feeder with nectar (1 part sugar to 4 parts water - no food coloring) and see who comes to visit! To see more hummingbird images, please check out my hummingbird gallery.
