Length: 4.25 inches | Wingspan: 5 inches | Seasonality: Rare Visitor |
ID Keys: Rosy throat (male), green back and sides, light underparts, female with rufous on sides. |
Despite
often inhabiting high open mountain meadows, the Broad-tailed Hummingbird is
often heard without being seen, as its wings make an odd metallic trilling when
in flight (audio found below). Highly territorial, they will fiercely defend select patches of
wildflowers, with the most common opponent being each other.
2) WhatBird - Broad-tailed Hummingbird
3) Audubon Field Guide - Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Click on the map below for a higher-resolution view |
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South Dakota Status: Historically, the species was considered relatively common in the Black Hills. They are still regularly seen in a few locations in southwestern South Dakota. Given the close proximity of breeding populations in Wyoming, it is possible there are more Broad-tailed Hummingbirds than are being reported in the state. |