Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Selasphorus platycercus
- 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 →
Closest Relatives at Saguaro National Park
Rufous Hummingbird
Selasphorus rufus
Calliope Hummingbird
Selasphorus calliope
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
Broad-billed Hummingbird
Cynanthus latirostris
Costa's Hummingbird
Calypte costae
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Archilochus alexandri
White-eared Hummingbird
Basilinna leucotis
Blue-throated Hummingbird
Lampornis clemenciae
Violet-crowned Hummingbird
Leucolia violiceps
Lucifer Hummingbird
Calothorax lucifer
Rivoli's Hummingbird
Eugenes fulgens
White-throated Swift
Aeronautes saxatalis
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rocky Mountain National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 3 | Grand Teton National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Grand Canyon National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Guadalupe Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Zion National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Big Bend National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Yellowstone National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 11 | Death Valley National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 12 | Joshua Tree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Broad-tailed Hummingbird in Saguaro National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Broad-tailed Hummingbird sighting in Saguaro National Park, based on 462 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Broad-tailed Hummingbird in Saguaro National Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for Broad-tailed Hummingbird in Saguaro National Park in our monthly data.