Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Selasphorus platycercus
Silhouette: Ferran Sayol · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderApodiformes (Swifts and Hummingbirds)
- FamilyTrochilidae (Hummingbirds)
- GenusSelasphorus (Rufous, Allen's, and Allied Hummingbirds)
- SpeciesSelasphorus platycercus (Broad-tailed Hummingbird)
About the Broad-tailed Hummingbird
The broad-tailed hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus) is a medium-sized hummingbird species found in highland regions from western United States and Western Canada to Mexico and Guatemala. Medium in size, the broad-tailed hummingbird is 4 inches (10 cm) in length and possesses an overall wingspan of 5.25 inches (13.3 cm). Weighing around 3.6 grams (0.13 oz), the female tends to be slightly larger than the male. Adults of both sexes show an iridescent green back, white eye ring and a rounded black tail projecting beyond their wing tips, from which their name was inspired.
This species shows sexual dimorphism, which means that male and female have different characteristics. The male possesses a characteristic bright rose-red gorget. An identification characteristic is the white eye ring. The female can be distinguished from the male by her paler coloration, cinnamon flanks, and spotted cheeks absent in the male.
The broad-tailed hummingbird produces several different sound patterns. This bird's call sounds like a sharp "cheet", which is repeated "cheet cheet cheet cheet...". Hummingbird wing beats have also been found to be a communication signal... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Broad-tailed Hummingbird in Grand Teton National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Grand Teton National Park
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 2 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Joshua Tree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Broad-tailed Hummingbird in Grand Teton National Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Broad-tailed Hummingbird sighting in Grand Teton National Park, based on 834 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Broad-tailed Hummingbird in Grand Teton National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for Broad-tailed Hummingbird in Grand Teton National Park in our monthly data.