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What types of hummingbirds are found in Utah? There are 11 species of hummingbirds found in Utah: Allen'sAnna’s Black-chinnedBlue-throated Mountain-gemBroad-billedBroad-tailed Calliope Costa’s Rivoli's AKA MagnificentRuby-throatedRufous These 11 hummingbird species found in Utah are further categorized into 3 groups: (Year-Round/Residents), (Seasonal), (Rare/Vagrant). Year-Round/Native Hummingbirds in Utah: This hummingbird classification is defined as hummingbirds that are year-round residents residing in Utah 365 days a year. Hummingbird Utah sightings from the most to the least seen. Year-RoundOut of 10,000Out of AllAnna's5695.7%Costa's1471.5%SeasonalBlack-chinned4,87748.8%Broad-tailed3,19032%Rufous9649.4%Rare/VagrantCalliope2402.4%Broad-billed90.09%Ruby-throated20.02%Rivoli's AKA Magnificent1Tiny %Blue-throated Mountain-gem00Allen's00 Even though the year-round residents (the Anna’s and Costa’s) are only a small number of hummingbirds seen in Utah, they do stay in Utah year-round. During the spring, summer, and fall, there is a big influx of Black-chinned and Broad-tailed hummingbirds and they are the vast majority of hummingbirds seen during these three seasons; however, they leave when winter sets in leaving only the year-round residents (the Anna’s and Costa’s hummingbirds) to voluntarily over-winter in Utah. Even though sighting maps do not show any current sightings of the Blue-throated Mountain-gem or Allen’s hummingbirds in Utah, top-ranking Google sites include these two hummingbirds as Utah hummingbirds. Year-Round/Native Hummingbirds in Utah This hummingbird classification is defined as hummingbirds that are year-round residents residing in Utah 365 days a year. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for Utah states that Anna’s and Costa’s hummingbirds can be found year-round. The most likely hummingbirds to be seen in a Utah winter are the Anna’s or Costa’s hummingbird; they are year-round residents but are rarely seen at any time of the year. They are the fourth and fifth most common hummingbirds seen in Utah with a percentage of 5.7% and 1.5% respectively of all hummingbirds seen in Utah. Hummingbirds are much more tolerant of cold weather than most people would expect. According to eBird.org, some banded hummingbirds have been documented in temperatures of -9 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill of -36 degrees Fahrenheit.See my article: 3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded Some Utah hummingbird admirers leave hummingbird feeders up all winter long to provide life-nourishing nectar for year/round native residents: the Anna’s and Costa’s hummingbirds. This selfless act also provides nectar to other injured or older hummingbirds that are unable to migrate.See my article: 11 DIY Ways to Keep Hummingbird Nectar From Freezing Anna's hummingbirds are predominately a west coast bird found all along the California, Oregon, and Washington coast and all the way up to Alaska and Canada. On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in Utah, 569 will be of the Anna’s hummingbird. Out of all hummingbird sightings in Utah, 5.7% will be Anna’s hummingbirds.See Utah Anna’s sightings map Anna’s hummingbirds are year-round residents of Utah because they can tolerate the cold winters even though they only have a small number of hummingbird sightings in Utah. According to eBird.org, some banded hummingbirds have been documented in temperatures of -9 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill of -36 degrees Fahrenheit. Anna’s hummingbirds are named after Anna Massena, Duchess of Rivoli. They are the only hummingbirds to stay year-round on the Pacific Coast. These hummingbirds live in a Mediterranean climate with moderate wet winters and hot dry summers. Male Anna's hummingbirds are the only hummingbird species in North America with a red crown. They are identified as mostly green, gray, and magenta in color. The males have a flashy and colorful iridescent magenta gorget and crown. Their size ranges from3.5 inches to 4.3 inches in length and they weigh 2.4 to 4.5 grams. The gorget on a male hummingbird is named after the protective metal piece in a suit of armor that covers the wearer's throat to prevent injury when in battle. Since male hummingbirds are very aggressive with each other when fighting for their own territory, this name is appropriate and fitting to describe their physical attributes. Note: The iridescent magenta gorget and crown with a metallic green shiny back. Female Anna’s hummingbirds are overall not as colorful as the males, appearing pale green in color. Females can also have a gorget, but it is a smaller patch of magenta. Females tend to have a pale white line over each eye that makes them distinctive. Female Anna’s hummingbirds raise their young with no help from the males. See my article: Hummingbird Parents: (Mating to Nesting) See my article: Baby Hummingbirds: (Egg to Fledgling) Juvenile Anna’s hummingbirds, both male, and female look more like adult females until they are differentiated as the male begins to acquire the bright red/magenta gorget. Note: This Anna’s hummingbird could be a juvenile in those awkward teenage years or it could be during a molting stage. Baby Anna’s hummingbirds are easily identified by their white “fluffy butt” feathers that will disappear as they age. Note: This baby/juvenile male Anna's hummingbird is beginning to show his magenta head feathers near his temple along with some faint color starting to show on his gorget. Also, notice the newly white fluffy down feathers near his bottom as well as the nice fat reserves he has accumulated by being fed by his diligent mother. https://youtu.be/qsOE9ZK02Wo The courtship and dive displays performed by Anna’s hummingbirds are theatrical and entertaining. From the beginning to the end, the full dive display lasts 12 seconds.See my article: Hummingbird Dance: 5 Interpretive Explanations Unlike many northern temperate hummingbirds, male Anna's hummingbirds sing during courtship along with making vibrations with their tail feathers to attract a female. Anna's hummingbirds protect their territory with elaborate dives targeted towards predatory birds and even towards people they perceive to be threatening. They hybridize and readily crossbreed with other hummingbird species, such as the Black-chinned, Costa’s, and Rufous hummingbirds. During a capture and release banding operation in Arizona, the oldest living recorded male Anna’s hummingbird was 8 years and 2 months.See my article: 3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded Costa’s hummingbirds are predominantly a southwestern bird found in the corners of California, Nevada, Arizona, and Mexico. On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in Utah, 147 will be of the Costa’s hummingbird. Out of all hummingbird sightings in Utah, 1.5% will be Costa’s hummingbirds.See Utah Costa’s sightings map Costa’s hummingbirds are year-round residents to Utah because they can tolerate the cold winters even though they only have a small number of hummingbird sightings in Utah. According to eBird.org, some banded hummingbirds have been documented in temperatures of -9 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill of -36 degrees Fahrenheit.See my article: 3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded Costa's hummingbird was named in 1839 by Jules Bourcier to commemorate Louis Marie Pantaleon Costa, the French ornithologist who was an avid collector of hummingbirds. Male Costa's hummingbirds are identified by their bright reddish-purple cap (head feathers) and gorget (throat feathers). Their gorget has long streaming throat feathers on both sides of their face, similar to a Calliope hummingbird. They have light greenish gray underbelly with green backs and flanks. Their size is 3-3.5 inches in length and weigh 2-3 grams. Note: Preening flight feathers is an important daily routine to maintain hygiene and to keep the feathers flexible, strong, in alignment, and parasite-free. Female Costa’s hummingbirds are not as vibrant as the males and usually do not have iridescent feathers. They have a grayish-light green back with a dusty white underbelly. Female Costa's hummingbirds migrate north from Mexico to breed in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. They are a desert-dwelling species and build their nests in open areas with scarce vegetative cover. They have been known to nest on the tops of cacti. The thorns of the plant act as a deterrent to predators that may attempt to eat the eggs or nestlings. Their habitat consists of desert scrub and washes including grasslands where they thrive on desert plants or ocotillos. They are known to interbreed or cross breed producing hybrids between Anna’s, Black-chinned, Blue-throated, Broad-tailed, and Calliope hummingbirds. Juvenile Costa’s hummingbirds, both male, and female look more like adult females until they are differentiated as the male begins to acquire the iridescent feathers that are typical of this species of hummingbird. Note: His bright throat feathers are slowly coming in. Baby Costa’s hummingbirds are easily identified by their white “fluffy butt” feathers that will disappear as they age. Male Costa's hummingbirds are extremely territorial and can come across as being the meanest sheriff in town, especially when defending “their” feeders. Their aggressive conduct is equivalent to the known quarrelsome and combative behaviors of the Rufous hummingbird. See my article: Why Hummingbirds Chase Each Other: Is it Friend or Foe? Although Costa's hummingbirds will defend nectar sources amongst themselves, they are subordinate to larger hummingbirds and will defer to them if challenged. Very little is known about Costa's hummingbirds and their short migratory habits in comparison to other hummingbird species. These hummingbirds have no known predators, however, the largest threat to Costa's hummingbirds is human encroachment in the form of the desert being plowed and cleared for settlement and grazing. During a capture and release banding operation in California, the oldest living recorded female Costa’s hummingbird was 8 years and 9 months when captured and released in 2001 and again in 2009.See my article: 3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded Seasonal Hummingbirds in Nevada This hummingbird classification is defined as hummingbirds that temporarily pass through Utah as part of their migratory pattern during spring and fall migration. Hummingbirds travel north to breed during spring migration and travel south during fall migration to winter in Mexico and Central America. Some seasonal hummingbirds may remain in Utah for the entire winter by choice, injury, or old age. Black-chinned hummingbirds are a migrating species and are considered the hummingbird of the West. On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in Utah, 4,877 will be of the Black-chinned hummingbird. Out of all hummingbird sightings in Utah, 48.8% will be Black-chinned hummingbirds.See Utah Black-chinned sightings map Black-chinned hummingbird's scientific name is in commemoration of Dr. Alexandre, a French doctor who was the first to discover the species in Mexico. Male Black-chinned hummingbirds are identified by their royal purple gorget, showing a small glimmer of color right near the neckline like a buttoned-up shirt. Since the male purple gorget or throat color is minimal, at times they can appear to look all black. They have metallic green on their backs and flanks with white on their underbelly. Their dark tail is forked and their bill is black. Their size is 3.25 inches to 3.5 inches in length and weighs 2.8-5.6 grams. Note: Photo taken in Utah County, Utah Female Black-chinned hummingbirds do not have a gorget or iridescent feathers and are less vibrant than the males. They have a white underbelly and a dark rounded tail with white tips and beige margins on the dorsal feathers that turn dark black as they mature. Their head and back reflect the dull metallic marbled colors of beige, greens, whites, yellow-green, and dark browns, looking similar to the scales found on a snake. Juvenile Black-chinned hummingbirds, both male, and female look more like adult females until they are differentiated as the male begins to acquire the iridescent feathers that are typical of this species of hummingbird. Baby Black-chinned hummingbirds are easily identified by their white “fluffy butt” feathers that will disappear as they age. Note: Photo taken in Utah County, Utah https://youtu.be/LCLLTCXBpBE Black-chinned hummingbirds breed east of the Cascade mountain range. They are known to make their nests near larger more active bird nests, reducing the chance of predators around the nest by using a decoy strategy. Black-chinned hummingbirds have the smallest known genetic material of all living vertebrates or mammals. Because of their small size, they are at risk of being preyed upon by larger insect-eating birds.See my article: 10 Common Things That Kill Hummingbirds While typically a territorial species, if Black-chinned hummingbirds find themselves in an area with a large population of hummingbirds and food sources, their territorial behavior reduces, and they will play nice and share. They hybridize and readily crossbreed with other hummingbird species. Black-chinned hummingbirds can live up to 10 years, which is extremely long in comparison to other birds and animals of similar size. During a capture and release banding operation in Texas, the oldest living recorded female Black-chinned hummingbird was 11 years and 2 months old.See my article: 3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded The Broad-tailed hummingbird travels frequently to the United States near the southern Mexican border. They usually reside in Mexico and as far south as Guatemala during the winter. On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in Utah, 3,190 will be of the Broad-tailed hummingbird. Out of all hummingbird sightings in Utah, 32% will be Broad-tailed hummingbirds.See Utah Broad-tailed sightings map Male Broad-tailed hummingbirds have an iridescent ruby-red gorget. Both males and females Broad-tailed hummingbirds have green topside and pale underbellies with bright white eye rings and broadly rounded tails. Their size is medium build and ranges from 3.3 inches to 3.8 inches in length and weighs 3.6 grams. Note: Photo taken in Springville, Utah Female Broad-tailed hummingbirds do not have a gorget or iridescent feathers and are less vibrant than the males. They have green topsides from their head to their tail and pale to beige underbellies with bright white eye rings and broadly rounded tails. Juvenile Broad-tailed hummingbirds, both male, and female look more like adult females until they are differentiated as the male begins to acquire the iridescent feathers that are typical of this species of hummingbird. Baby Broad-tailed hummingbirds are easily identified by their white “fluffy butt” feathers that will disappear as they age. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck8eIbj_EmY The Broad-tailed hummingbird travels frequently to the United States near the southern Mexican border. They have a migrant and non-migrant population that begins in the south of Mexico. The ones that migrate north to breed will do so during spring migration and will pass through Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and reach as far north as Montana. Once the breeding season is complete, Broad-tailed hummingbirds will depart and begin their southbound fall migration to winter in Mexico and meet up with their non-migrant population. See my article: Hummingbird Migration in Utah The Broad-tailed hummingbird favors habitats in the understory of mature forest woodlands such as pine and oak groves. They chose to nest on the branches of trees and have been known to return to the same nesting ground each year, roughly 70% of the time. Their breeding time coincides with the peak time of flowering native plants for maximum food resource availability. Their favorite nectar-producing flower plants include Red Columbine, Indian Paintbrush, Sage varieties, Currants, and Scarlet Mint. They hybridize and readily crossbreed with other hummingbird species, such as the Costa’s hummingbird. They are promiscuous and do not form any kind of a pair bond between male and female birds and again the female raises the young alone. The Broad-tailed hummingbird has suffered a decline in population since the 1990s, but presently, its population is stable, and it has been shown to have adapted to human habitat encroachment. During a capture and release banding operation in Colorado, the oldest living recorded female Broad-tailed hummingbird was 12 years and 2 months.See my article: 3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded Rufous hummingbirds are migratory birds and are seen in Utah. On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in Utah, 964 will be of the Rufous hummingbird. Out of all hummingbird sightings in Utah, 9.4% will be Rufous hummingbirds.See Utah Rufous sightings map The Rufous hummingbird gets its name from the Latin word rubrum meaning “red” which is used to describe its reddish-brown coloring. Male Rufous hummingbirds display an iridescent orange-red gorget with rusty-colored flanks and tail. They have a white to beige underbelly and a black bill. Males can also have green plumage with specks of green color on their rustic-looking backs or on the crown of their head along with chocolate brown dorsal feathers. Their size is 2.8 inches to 3.5 inches in length and weigh 3.2 grams. Note: The iridescent orange-red gorget. Female Rufous hummingbirds have similar coloring as the males but do not have a gorget or iridescent feathers making them less vibrant. However, some females can have stippling or specs of color near their throat line looking similar to a juvenile which can cause confusion out in the field. They are slightly larger than the males in anticipation of producing offspring. They have one of the northernmost breeding ranges of any hummingbird in the world; migrating north from Mexico and nesting as far north as Alaska to breed during the summer months. They are polygamous and will mate with several partners in a season. See my article: Hummingbird Parents: (Mating to Nesting) See my article: Baby Hummingbirds: (Egg to Fledgling) Juvenile Rufous hummingbirds are so similar in coloring and temperament to Allen’s hummingbirds that they are practically indistinguishable in the field. Therefore, identification is established by range rather than appearance. Juvenile male Rufous hummingbirds have a rustic look with small iridescent orange specks of color on their throats. Note: His throat feathers are slowly coming in, displaying a few dots of color near his neckline and showing the first stages of adolescence. Note: Preening flight feathers is an important daily routine to maintain hygiene and to keep the feathers flexible, strong, in alignment, and parasite-free. https://youtu.be/abP9L9WAHIY https://youtu.be/95sw56FgqUI Sharp irritated chirps. An unwanted guest may be near. Rufous hummingbirds make the longest migration of any bird in the world. They travel making a clockwise circuit of western America every year that is approximately 3,900 miles. This migratory pattern during the seasons coordinates their arrival perfectly while catching nectar and blooming flowers throughout the year, fueling their bodies for their long journey. Rufous hummingbirds are highly territorial and aggressive towards other hummingbirds and animals. They are fearless and have a reputation for being feisty and chasing away not only other hummingbirds but even large birds and rodents from their favorite feeders. The female mothers have been known to even attack squirrels and chipmunks that come too close to their nest. Rufous hummingbirds have excellent memories and have been known to investigate the location of an old hummingbird feeder years after the feeder has been removed. Their flying acrobatic skills can outmaneuver all other hummingbird species, making them extremely competitive at feeders. Rufous hummingbirds hybridize and readily crossbreed with other hummingbird species, such as the Anna’s hummingbird. Hummingbird enthusiasts are extremely valuable when they plant flowering plants to attract hummingbirds and provide feeders with homemade hummingbird nectar to contribute to a successful migration. These welcoming habitats provide and ensure safe travels as well as a reliable sanctuary for rest and refueling during their journey. Due to habitat loss in the Pacific Northwest, Rufous hummingbirds are listed at "near threatened" status by the IUCN red list of threatened species. During a capture and release banding operation in British Columbia, the oldest living recorded female Rufous hummingbird was 8 years and 11 months.See my article: 3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded Rare/Vagrant Hummingbirds in Utah This hummingbird classification is defined as hummingbirds residing in a group outside of their normal geographic range. Not only do these species of hummingbirds have a wide variety of specific geographic ranges, but they are also known to sometimes interbreed with each other creating hybrids. These hummingbirds are out of their normal area of occupancy but have been documented as being seen in Utah. Calliope hummingbirds are a migrating species and a rare visitor to Utah. On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in Utah, 240 will be of the Calliope. Out of all hummingbird sightings in Utah, 2.4% will be Calliope hummingbirds.See Utah Calliope sightings map Calliope hummingbirds are named after a Greek mythological muse, who represented poetry and eloquence. Calliope means "beautiful voice" in ancient Greek. Male Calliope hummingbirds are easily identified by their iridescent purple crown and long striking spaced outline row of feathers that project down the sides of their throat. Like many hummingbirds, the backs are metallic green and these birds measure 3 inches in length and weigh 2-3 grams. Female Calliope hummingbirds do not have a gorget or iridescent feathers and are less vibrant than the males. The crown or the top of their head is gray-green in color. The flanks which are the sides and underbelly or behind the wings are buff in color. Juvenile Calliope hummingbirds, both male and female, look more like adult females until they are differentiated as the male begins to acquire the iridescent feathers that are typical of this species of hummingbird. Note: His bright throat feathers are slowly coming in. Baby Calliope hummingbirds are easily identified by their white “fluffy butt” feathers that will disappear as they age. https://youtu.be/8Xju6rGxYj4 Like many hummingbirds, Calliopes communicate not just by their song, but also by manipulating their feathers during flight to make different buzzing noises that act as a form of language and communication. When a female is quietly perched, the male will passionately fly back and forth and engage in a “U” shaped courtship display to gain her attention. During his presentation, the male hummingbird will produce a vocal serenade while swinging his body from side to side in front of the female.See my article: Hummingbird Dance: 5 Interpretive Explanations Male Calliope hummingbirds establish a breeding territory and mate with every available female hummingbird that accepts his courtship. They hybridize and readily crossbreed with other hummingbird species, such as the Costa’s hummingbird. During nest construction, the female Calliope chooses the tops of pine cones as her building site. She will also dismantle nests from previous seasons and recycle them in her new nest along with stealing materials from the nests of other birds in order to construct her own. Therefore, female Calliopes are often chased and attacked by larger and more aggressive hummingbirds such as Allen’s and Rufous hummingbirds. To avoid these attacks, the Calliope maintains a relatively low profile in comparison to other species. Calliope hummingbirds are the smallest long-distance migratory bird in the world. Their migratory patterns mimic Rufous hummingbirds with spring migration. During northbound spring migration, they pass through the Pacific Flyways. On their southbound journey in the fall, they pass through the Pacific and Rocky Mountain Flyways towards their wintering destination in Mexico. See my article: Hummingbird Migration in Utah Because Calliope hummingbirds have a more restricted wintering range than most hummingbirds, they are particularly vulnerable to habitat loss and natural disasters, such as climate change and wildfires. During a capture and release banding operation in Idaho, the oldest living recorded female Calliope hummingbird was 8 years and 11 months old when she was captured twice, once in 2007 and again in 2014.See my article: 3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded Broad-billed hummingbirds are a Mexican species and a rare visitor to Utah. They do travel frequently to the United States near the southern Mexican border, however, most of their population stays year-round in Mexico and Central America. On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in Utah, 9 will be of the Broad-billed hummingbird. Out of all hummingbird sightings in Utah, 0.09% will be Broad-billed hummingbirds.See Utah Broad-billed sightings map Male Broad-billed hummingbirds feature a bright blue-green gorget that spreads back towards its shoulders. Juvenile males show off a full charcoal dark gray body with flecks of metallic blue on their throat and a light green neck and backside. They sport a long beak that is bright orange-red accented with a signature black tip. Their size ranges from 3.25 inches to 4 inches in length and weigh 3-4 grams. Female Broad-billed hummingbirds usually are more drab-looking than the males and usually do not have iridescent feathers. They have a completely dark bill and a longer white accent above the eyes. They are identified as having a predominantly metallic green topside with a white underbelly. Their tails are dark in color and forked. Juvenile Broad-billed hummingbirds, both male, and female look more like adult females until they are differentiated as the male begins to acquire the iridescent feathers that are typical of this species of hummingbird. Baby Broad-billed hummingbirds are easily identified by their white “fluffy butt” feathers that will disappear as they age. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itorZjk2TNc Broad-billed hummingbird nests are distinguishable because they do not decorate the outside of their nests with lichens but instead choose to construct their nests with outside grass fibers, bits of leaves, and bark while using spider webs to glue and hold the nest together. The nest the female builds hangs on a single long slender branch. Hummingbirds are extremely territorial and can come across as being the meanest sheriff in town, especially when defending “their” feeders. They will fight over territory to protect nectar sources full of hummingbird-friendly flowering plants. See my article: Why Hummingbirds Chase Each Other: Is it Friend or Foe? Astonishingly, unlike other hummingbird population counts, the Broad-billed hummingbird has shown an actual general population increase in recent years. In Arizona, the oldest recorded male Broad-billed hummingbird was 9 years and 1 month old when he was captured and released from a banding operation.See my article: 3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded Ruby-throated hummingbirds dominate Eastern North America, therefore are extremely rare vagrants to Utah. On average, out of 10,000 hummingbirds, Utah will see 2 Ruby-throated hummingbirds. Out of all hummingbird sightings in Utah, 0.02% will be Ruby-throated hummingbirds.See Utah Ruby-throated sightings map The Ruby-throated hummingbird's scientific name originated from Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish botanist, who first listed this scientific classification as “Trochilus colubris”. Its name changed over a hundred years later and was reclassified by Ludwig Reichenbach, a German botanist, to “Archilochus colubris”, which is its current scientific name, meaning “top thief” or “sky spirit/sun-god bird”. Male Ruby-throated hummingbirds have a striking iridescent blood-red gorget, stopping at the neckline. He is identified with a dull metallic green topside, a light gray underbelly, and black wings. The Ruby-throated hummingbird is a smaller species of hummingbird weighing less than 4.5 grams or 2 U.S. dimes and is 2.8 to 3.3 inches in length. Their lifespan is approximately 3-5 years. Female Ruby-throated hummingbirds have a white throat with some light stippling and are typically larger than the males. The oldest female Ruby-throated hummingbird has been recorded at 9 years, almost double that of the male. However, the average lifespan of a Ruby-throated hummingbird is approximately 3-5 years. Juvenile male and female Ruby-throated hummingbirds during their initial stages of life resemble their mother exhibiting a white throat with light stippling. As the males mature, they begin to display a few specks of color near their neckline and eventually their bolder red throat feathers become more dominant and stately displaying a colorful gorget. Note: His throat feathers are slowly coming in, displaying a few dots of color near his neckline and showing the first stages of adolescence. Note: This juvenile Ruby-throated hummingbird is struggling with a bee or wasp situation at the feeder.See my article: Bees On My Hummingbird Feeder: (9 Tips To Get Rid of Them) Note: These two juvenile Ruby-throated hummingbirds are playing nice and sharing a feeder. This could be because they are siblings or just getting the courage to find food on their own. Baby Ruby-throated hummingbirds are easily identified by their white “fluffy butt” feathers that will disappear as they age. Note: The newly white fluffy down feathers on this baby Ruby-throated hummingbird’s bottom. Also, notice the nice fat reserves they have accumulated by being fed by their diligent mother which will sustain them through adolescence. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGgIzIm0SnY There are two migration routes for the Ruby-throated hummingbird during the spring and fall migrations. The first migration route is a direct but exhausting nonstop journey southwest over the Gulf of Mexico to Mexico and then down to Central America for the winter. The flight distance over the Gulf of Mexico is over 500 miles. Although this is the direct “short” route, there are numerous obstacles faced by these birds. Some obstacles include not being able to rest, having no means to refuel or eat, and having to avoid the dangerous tropical Atlantic hurricanes while flying to their destination. To make matters worse, depending on how you look at it, they migrate during the dark hours of the night or are taking the “Red-eye flight”. Researchers believe their small size makes the energy expenditure of their grueling trans-oceanic migration pattern more taxing for males than for females even though they both double their body’s fat prior to making the migration across the Gulf of Mexico. The second migration route is over 2,000 miles, flying along the coastline outlining the Gulf of Mexico. Although this is the “long” route, it allows the opportunity to rest and refuel even though there are fewer food source guarantees along the way. Scientists are unclear and continue to investigate why one group of birds would prefer to take one route over the other. Ruby-throated hummingbirds prefer open woodlands and are often seen in parks, gardens, and backyards. They are solitary birds except during mating periods when they are fiercely territorial and aggressive towards hummingbirds of other species. Even though these hummingbirds have an aggressive side they can still be eaten by predators such as large invertebrates, praying mantises, orb-weaver spiders, and dragonflies.See my article: 10 Common Things That Kill Hummingbirds During a capture and release banding operation in West Virginia, the oldest living recorded female Ruby-throated hummingbird was 9 years and 1 month old.See my article: 3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded Rivoli’s hummingbirds are predominantly found in Mexico, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, therefore they are considered extremely rare in Utah. A very tiny percentage of all hummingbird sightings in Utah will be Rivoli’s. On average, out of 25,000 hummingbird sightings, only 1 will be Rivoli’s hummingbirds.See Utah Rivoli’s sightings map Although they do travel frequently to the United States near the southern Mexican border, most of their population stays year-round in Mexico and Central America. The Rivoli's hummingbird (pronounced: rivo-lee) aka the “Magnificent” hummingbird has undergone several name changes. It was changed to the “Magnificent” hummingbird in 1983 then to “Refulgent” hummingbird only to have the “Rivoli's” hummingbird name return in 2017 when the species was split into two variations (Rivoli's and Talamanca). Rivoli's hummingbird is named in honor of Francois Victor Massena, the Duke of Rivoli, by the ornithologist Rene-Primevera Lesson. Male Rivoli’s hummingbirds are somewhat dark in color except when they are shown in bright daylight, where their violet crown, bright blue-green gorget, and white eyespots are more apparent through iridescence. They are 4.3 to 5.5 inches in length and weigh 6-10 grams. They are considered the second largest hummingbird in the United States, behind the Blue-throated Mountain-gem which is the largest. Female Rivoli’s hummingbirds are slightly duller in color than the males showing a bronzy green topside and dull gray underbellies with bright white eye accents. Juvenile Rivoli’s hummingbirds, both male, and female look more like adult females until they are differentiated as the male begins to acquire the violet crown, bright blue-green gorget, and white eyespots that are typical of this species of hummingbird. Note: He still displays some white fluffy feathers near his bottom from when he was a baby suggesting he is not a full adult, however, is in the later stages of adolescence. Baby Rivoli’s hummingbirds are easily identified by their white “fluffy butt” feathers that will disappear as they age. https://youtu.be/LBqEVlu2__Y They prefer to live in ravines while feeding in open meadows and will nest in trees overhanging streams and creeks. Their breeding habitat consists of building nests in evergreen coniferous trees such as pine, fir, and juniper. Rivoli's hummingbirds hybridize with other species of hummingbirds, even though it is rare, with Berylline, Broad-billed, Blue-throated Mountain-gem, and Violet-crowned hummingbirds. During a capture and release banding operation in Arizona, the oldest living recorded male Rivoli’s hummingbird was 11 years and 2 months.See my article: 3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded The Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbird aka Blue-throated hummingbird is a Mexican species and does not appear on the sighting maps of Utah, however, Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbirds are identified as a Utah hummingbird by one of Google’s top ranked websites. The best way to discover and locate Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbirds is to visit the “sky island” mountain ranges of southeastern Arizona or the Chisos Mountains of Texas. Male Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbirds feature a bright iridescent cobalt blue gorget and dramatic white stripes over both of its eyes. His wings and tail are dark with the tips of his tail painted white. Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbirds expose a dull greenish-gray color all over its body emphasizing more patches of a grayish-emerald green on their head, neck, and the top part of the shoulder where the wing attaches. Their size is 4.3 inches to 4.7 inches in length and weigh 8.1-8.6 grams. Female Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbirds usually are more drab-looking than the males and usually do not have iridescent and distinctive blue throat feathers. They have a double white stripe on their face with gray underparts. Juvenile Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbirds, both male and female, look more like adult females until they are differentiated as the male begins to acquire the iridescent feathers that are typical of this species of hummingbird. Baby Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbirds are easily identified by their white “fluffy butt” feathers that will disappear as they age. https://youtu.be/YaZgvcgygVY According to The Cornell Lab, Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbirds are 3x heavier than the Ruby-throated hummingbird. This species is the largest hummingbird species to nest in the United States. Partially because of their large size, Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbirds have the slowest recorded wingbeat rate of any known hummingbird. It takes a lot longer and more effort for a hummingbird with an extended wingspan to flap their wings in a figure-eight motion than it does for a smaller, more petite hummingbird. Think of it visually on a larger scale between a Bald eagle’s wingspan ranging between 5.9-7.5 feet in length and a crow ranging between 2.8-3.3 feet in length. It takes more effort to be in motion for one over the other. Most North American hummingbirds have a courtship dance to entice a female and catch her attention before mating. Male Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbirds are an exception to the rule and do not show an aerial display. However, the females make an identifiable call and a sequence of short flights to the male signaling he has been chosen and she is ready for copulation. Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbirds are mountainous birds that prefer to nest on rock overhangs or on human residential structures. They are known to return to the same nest each year, stacking new nests on top of old nests until they resemble a tall tower. Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbirds become aggressive and territorial over flower types with higher sugar content and will violently defend them from invaders, which is typical for most hummingbirds. They are heavily insectivorous due to the energy necessities of their size, and as a result, eat more insects than any other hummingbird species. They hybridize with other hummingbird species holding little to no judgment on choosing a larger species, such as the Rivoli’s aka Magnificent hummingbird or a smaller species, the Anna’s, Black-chinned, and Costa’s hummingbirds with which to procreate. During a capture and release banding operation in Arizona, the oldest living recorded male Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbird was 7 years and 11 months.See my article: 3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded Allen’s hummingbirds do not appear on the sightings map of Utah, however, Allen’s hummingbirds are identified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a Utah hummingbird as well as by the Utah Birds Records Committee. The common name of Allen's hummingbird is in commemoration of Charles Andrew Allen (1841-1930), an American collector and taxidermist. Male Allen’s hummingbirds are green-backed with a green forehead and rust-colored flanks, rump, and tail. When their tail feathers are fanned out you can see their chocolate-colored tips. The gorget of the male Allen’s hummingbird is an iridescent orange-red, however, in darker lighting, it can appear chocolate brown. Allen's hummingbirds are 3.3 inches to 3.5 inches in length and weigh 2-4 grams. Note: The iridescent orange-red gorget. Female Allen’s hummingbirds have similar coloring as the males but do not have a gorget or iridescent feathers making them less vibrant. However, some females can have stippling or specs of color near their throat line looking similar to a juvenile which can cause confusion out in the field. See my article: Hummingbird Parents: (Mating to Nesting)See my article: Baby Hummingbirds: (Egg to Fledgling) Allen’s hummingbirds commonly reside and nest along the west coast and winter in Mexico. Their nesting season is perfectly timed to when the regions have the most rainfall which helps provide prolific nectar-producing flowers for their offspring. Juvenile Allen’s hummingbirds, both male, and female look more like adult females until they are differentiated as the male begins to acquire the iridescent feathers that are typical of this species of hummingbird. Note: The gorget can appear chocolate brown in certain lighting. Also, notice there are still white fluffy down feathers near his bottom suggesting he is not a full adult, however, is in the late stages of adolescence. Note: This juvenile male Allen’s hummingbird is on a tomato cage defending a feeder.Notice there are still white fluffy down feathers near his bottom as well as some stippling around his throat and not a full gorget has matured, suggesting he is not a full adult, however, is in the early stages of adolescence. Juvenile Allen's hummingbirds are so similar in coloring and temperament to a Rufous hummingbird that they are practically indistinguishable in the field. Therefore, identification is established by range rather than appearance. Baby Allen’s hummingbirds are easily identified by their white “fluffy butt” feathers that will disappear as they age. Note: He is diligently defending a nearby feeder. Notice the difference in stages from the last photo on a tomato cage to the present photo on a light wire. They both have white “fluffy butt” feathers, however, you can clearly see an age difference. Note: On a tomato cage and hiding in a tomato plant near a feeder. https://youtu.be/bOWWxXWAVbs Male Allen's hummingbirds perform a striking, quick back-and-forth courtship dance resembling the movement of a pendulum. They have one of the most complex territorial dive displays of any North American hummingbird.See my article: Hummingbird Dance: 5 Interpretive Explanations Male and female Allen's hummingbirds are not social birds. They do not associate with one another outside of breeding. Similar to a Rufous hummingbird, Allen's hummingbirds are highly territorial and aggressive towards other hummingbirds and larger predatory birds such as hawks. https://youtu.be/Xobr5MRKAII Sharp irritated chirps. An unwanted guest may be near. During a capture and release banding operation in California, the oldest living recorded Allen’s hummingbird was 5 years and 11 months old when she was first captured in 2004 and again in 2009.See my article: 3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded Is Utah Attractive to Hummingbirds? Utah attracts hummingbirds because of its semi-arid to desert climate and its diversity in elevation from 2,180 feet above sea level at Beaver Dam Wash to 13,534 feet above sea level at King’s Peak.Forests covers 26.6% of the state and agricultural land covers 19.8% of the state. The average rainfall annually is 17.3 inches. Utah’s year-round hummingbirds, the Anna’s and Costa’s, do not migrate out of state, but they do migrate vertically up and down elevations, migrating to their preferred temperature. On average, Utah’s daytime temperatures are above freezing all 8 months of the year.The night-time temperatures drop below freezing in November, December, January, and February to Fahrenheit temperatures of 30 degrees, 22 degrees, 21 degrees, and 25 degrees respectively.See my article: Should I keep My Hummingbird Feeders Out During the WinterSee my article: 11 DIY Ways To Keep Hummingbird Nectar From Freezing The hottest months of the year in Utah are June, July, and August, all with daytime high temperatures of 82, 90, and 88, degrees Fahrenheit respectively.See my article: How to Cool Hummingbird Nectar in Hot Weather Hummingbirds play an important part of Utah’s agriculture.Hummingbirds are the second most important pollinator, only exceeded in importance by the honeybee. Utah’s agriculture consists of grain crops such as wheat, barley, and corn; vegetable crops such as onions, potatoes, and dry beans; and fruit crops of apples, cherries, and peaches. See my article: Hummingbird Migration in Utah Happy Hummingbird Watching!

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