General

Blue-throated Hummingbird: Large hummingbird with bronze-green upperparts, bronze-brown rump, brilliant purple-blue throat, and gray underparts. Tail is dark, occasionally washed with blue-black, and has white corners. Female and juvenile do not show blue on throat.

Range and Habitat

Blue-throated Hummingbird: Breeds in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, and western Texas and spends winters in Mexico. Preferred habitats include pine-oak forests, usually near water; comes down to lower elevations during winter months.

Breeding and Nesting

Blue-throated Hummingbird: Two white eggs are laid in a large cup nest with green mosses woven into the outside wall and fastened to a vertical plant stalk or utility wire, usually over or near water. Incubation ranges from 17 to 18 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Blue-throated Hummingbird: Feeds on nectar and small arthropods, searching around flowers and leaves for various insects, spiders, and plant lice; prefers hunting in honeysuckle, gilia, and agave. Heavy diet of insects allows it to survive and thrive in areas where more nectar dependant species cannot.

Readily Eats

Sugar Water, Commercial instant nectars

Vocalization

Blue-throated Hummingbird: Song is a loud "seep", often repeated and uttered in flight or while perching.

Similar Species

Blue-throated Hummingbird: Male Blue-throated Hummingbird is unmistakable. Female is similar to female Magnificent Hummingbird, but has large white tips to tail and white moustache stripe streak.