Broad-Billed Hummingbird (Cynanthus latirostris) lives in desert scrub woodland across North America. It feeds on nectar & insects. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
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Fascinating facts about the Broad-Billed Hummingbird
Just 8-10 cm long, the broad-billed hummingbird fits on the tip of a ruler, yet its wingspan stretches to about 13 cm, letting it hover like a living helicopter. Males tip the scales at 3-4 g, only a fraction of a penny, while females are a shade lighter. This feather-light frame, combined with a wing beat of roughly 70-75 beats per second, powers its rapid aerial maneuvers and underpins its role as a high-energy pollinator in desert and oak woodlands.
In the U.S., broad-billed hummingbirds squeeze two breeding rounds into a single summer: one from mid-April to late June, and another from July to mid-August, perfectly matching peak nectar flows. Females build nests low, usually within two metres of the ground, often just 1.1 m high, and lay two white eggs measuring 12 × 8 mm. This tight schedule maximises chick survival in habitats where flower resources flare and fade quickly.
Broad-billed hummingbirds sip nectar from red or red-and-yellow blossoms, favoring plants like ocotillo and paintbrushes, but they also snatch insects mid-air. Their metabolism forces them to gulp five to ten meals an hour, consuming 1½-3 times their own weight in sugary fluid each day. This voracious intake fuels their rapid wing beats and keeps them aloft, illustrating the extreme energy demands of hummingbird life.
Broad-billed hummingbirds belong to the emerald clade, a branch that split 10-15 million years ago and now holds the most species diversity among hummingbirds. First described in 1827 by William Swainson, the bird's name combines Latin words for "broad" and "billed."
Northern birds pack their tiny bodies and head south, beginning their journey in early November and racing back by early March. This seasonal trek links desert canyons of Arizona with the lush valleys of Guerrero and Baja California Sur.
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In the arid landscapes of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, the Broad-Billed Hummingbird darts with iridescent splendor, its emerald throat patch glimmering like a shard of gemstone as it pursues the sweet nectar of desert blooms. With a rapid, almost frantic beat of its wings, this tiny avian dynamo hurtles through the air, its broad, black bill slicing through the desert's warm, dry breeze as it seeks out the succulent secrets of the cactus flowers. As it flits from bloom to bloom, its very existence is a testament to the boundless energy and unbridled joy that defines the hummingbird's fleeting, whirling world.
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