General

Buff-bellied Hummingbird: Medium-sized hummingbird with iridescent green upperparts, head, throat, and upper breast, and buff lower breast and belly. Slightly forked tail is dark chestnut-brown with cinnamon-brown undertail coverts. Bill is slightly decurved and red with a black tip. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Buff-bellied Hummingbird: Common in southeast Texas and Mexico. Preferred habitats include open woodlands, shrublands, scrubs, and citrus groves.

Breeding and Nesting

Buff-bellied Hummingbird: Two white eggs are laid in a nest made of plant fibers, fine stems, shreds of bark, and spider webs, lined with plant down, and covered outside with lichens and flower petals. Female incubates eggs for about 14 days.

Foraging and Feeding

Buff-bellied Hummingbird: Feeds primarily on nectar but takes some insects.

Vocalization

Buff-bellied Hummingbird: Call is a high-pitched, repeated "siik"; also gives a hard 'chip."

Similar Species

Buff-bellied Hummingbird: Rufous Hummingbird has a straight black bill and lacks green head and breast.