The Broad Billed Hummingbird Facts and Fun!
Today we are looking at some facts about the Broad-billed Hummingbird. Diet, Range, Favorite Plants, Habitats, & More!
Diet & Favorite Plants
Broad‑billed hummingbirds feed mainly on nectar and small insects. Their preferred flowers tend to be tubular and brightly colored.
Plants they commonly visit
Based on field observations and habitat descriptions:
-Agave — used where available, especially in desert canyons.
- Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) — a major nectar source in their desert range.
- Penstemon species — abundant in canyons and foothills.
- Hummingbird‑friendly garden plants in the U.S. portion of their range:
- Salvia
- Trumpet flowers
- Desert honeysuckle
- Red yucca
- They also take small insects for protein, often catching them in flight.
Habitat & Where They Live
Broad‑billed hummingbirds are primarily a Mexican species, with a smaller breeding presence in the U.S.
Core habitat
- Northwestern Mexico — their main range.
- Southwestern United States— especially southern Arizona, southwest New Mexico, and west Texas in spring and summer.
- Occasionally reported in southern California.
Habitat types
They prefer:
-Canyons and arroyos
- Foothills and streambeds
- Desert scrub and chaparral
- Flower‑rich ravines and gardens
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Nesting Behavior
Broad‑billed hummingbirds' nest in areas tied closely to food availability.
Nesting details
- They nest in canyons, foothills, and streamside vegetation.
- Nests are typically placed low to moderately high in shrubs or small trees.
- They build small cup nests of plant fibers, spider silk, and lichens — typical of hummingbirds.
Migration & How Far North They Travel
Broad‑billed hummingbirds are **short‑distance migrants**.
U.S. seasonal presence
- Southern Arizona: March–September (main breeding area).
- North and west of their breeding range:
- Very small numbers may appear in central Arizona and southern California, mainly in fall and winter.
- Their northernmost regular limit is southern/central Arizona.
- Occasional vagrants have been recorded slightly farther north, but these are exceptional and not part of normal migration.