• Broad-tailed hummingbirds, Selasphorous platycercus, are one of the 366 species of the Trochilidae Family which are found only in the Western Hemisphere.

• They are the most common of the four hummingbird species found in Colorado and they range throughout the forests and meadows of the higher altitudes in the western US, nesting as high as 10,700 feet.

• The magenta gorget and the tell-tale trill of the male’s wings are the most distinguishing characteristics. Female and juvenile broad-tails have a few spots on their pale throats, a pale eyering, and buffy flanks.

• At only 4 inches long and 3.6 grams, these hummingbirds can live up to 12 years.

• Whether hovering or flying, the hummingbird’s wings beat 50-80 times per second!

• They migrate to Colorado from Guatemala and Mexico. The males migrate first and stake out their territories before the females arrive, often to the same place each year.

• When it’s time to head back south in August to September, the males leave first.

• Broad-tailed hummingbirds feed on flower nectar, insects, sap from sapsucker sap wells, and sugar water from feeders.

• In cold weather, a hummingbird may go into torpor where it will sit (sometimes at a feeder) very still, slowing its heart-rate and lowering its temperature to save energy.

• The males are known for their dazzling mating displays where they zoom straight up as high as 60 feet and then dive straight down, wings loudly trilling, to impress the female.

• The female creates her small cup-shaped nest using spider webs and plant down for a soft lining. The outside of the nest is camouflaged with bits of lichen, moss, and bark and are usually 1-15 feet off the ground. The female incubates her two half-inch eggs for 16-19 days. As the chicks grow, the nest stretches to accommodate their size, and they fledge at 21-26 days.

• Broad-tailed hummingbirds are considered common and widespread, but like most birds, declining. Cats are significant predators.

• We can help the birds (and enjoy their antics) by hanging hummingbird feeders (4 parts water, 1 part white sugar) between mid-April and mid-September. It's also essential to keep the feeder clean especially during warm months to prevent mold which can harm the hummingbirds.

Sources: volunteer Leslie Dixon, Sibley's Field Guide to Western Birds of North America, Wikipedia