Bumblebee Hummingbird

Atthis heloisaOrder: APODIFORMESFamily: Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)

Breeding Location:

Forests, coniferous, Desert, semi, Canyons, Shrubs

Breeding Type:

Polygamous, Solitary nester

Breeding Population:

Rare

Egg Color:

White

Number of Eggs:

Incubation Days:

15 - 16

Egg Incubator:

Female

Nest Material:

Lichen, spider webs, plant down, bark fiber, moss.

Migration:

Nonmigratory

Overview

Bumblebee Hummingbird: One of the smallest hummingbirds at 2.75 inches with green upperparts, sides, and white underparts. The gorget is violet-red and the rounded tail is green with a rufous base. This bird can hover in a horizontal positon with it's tail cocked vertical as it feeds on nectar.

Range and Habitat

Bumblebee Hummingbird: Native to montane forests of Mexico north to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Has been spotted twice in the Huachuca Mountains of southern Arizona.

Breeding and Nesting

Bumblebee Hummingbird: Two white eggs are laid in a cup-shaped nest of lichen, spider webs, plant down, bark fiber, and moss. Female builds the nest 3-20 feet above the ground in the limb of a conifer. Eggs are incubated by the female for 15-16 days. Young fledge at 18-22 days.

Foraging and Feeding

Bumblebee Hummingbird: Hovers to feed on nectar from flowers. Catches insects in midair, and plucks insects and spiders out of webs. Feeds and perches at low to mid-levels. This bird can hover in a horizontal position with its tail cocked vertical as it feeds on nectar.

Readily Eats

Sugar Water

Vocalization

Bumblebee Hummingbird: Has a high-pitched repetitive "chip" and a thin drawn-out "ssssssssiu" usually given by a perched bird.

Similar Species

Bumblebee Hummingbird: Calliope Hummingbird is smaller, male has violet and white streaked gorget, notched tail lacks rufous feathers with white tips, female has less white on tips and no rufous at base of tail feathers. Costa's Hummingbird has no rufous on base of tail, male has violet on crown and forehead, female has white underparts, lacks streaking on throat.

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Bumblebee Hummingbird

● Song: "chip", "ssssssssiu"

● Foraging & Feeding: Bumblebee Hummingbird: Hovers to feed on nectar from flowers. Catches insects in midair, and plucks insects and spiders out of webs. Feeds and perches at low to mid-levels. This bird can hover in a horizontal position with its tail cocked vertical as it feeds on nectar.

● Breeding & nesting: Bumblebee Hummingbird: Two white eggs are laid in a cup-shaped nest of lichen, spider webs, plant down, bark fiber, and moss. Female builds the nest 3-20 feet above the ground in the limb of a conifer. Eggs are incubated by the female for 15-16 days. Young fledge at 18-22 days.

● Similar species: Bumblebee Hummingbird: Calliope Hummingbird is smaller, male has violet and white streaked gorget, notched tail lacks rufous feathers with white tips, female has less white on tips and no rufous at base of tail feathers. Costa's Hummingbird has no rufous on base of tail, male has violet on crown and forehead, female has white underparts, lacks streaking on throat.

Flight Pattern

Swift flight on rapid wing beats.

Bumblebee Hummingbird Body Illustration_2

● Range & Habitat: Bumblebee Hummingbird: Native to montane forests of Mexico north to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Has been spotted twice in the Huachuca Mountains of southern Arizona.

^BreedingPolygamous, Solitary nester

^PopulationRare

^MigrationNonmigratory

^Weight0.1 Ounces

Field Guide to Birds of North America
Bird name:

Field Guide to Birds of North America