Lucifer Hummingbird Identification

The Four Keys to ID

• Size & Shape

  The Lucifer Hummingbird's most distinctive features are its curved bill and narrow, forked tail. The large head and heavy, downcurved bill seemingly overbalance this bird's small, tapered body. The tail is very long and narrow, extending well beyond the wingtips.

  Relative Size

  sparrow-sized or smaller

  Measurements

  • Both Sexes
• Color Pattern

  Adult males have a green back with a purple gorget that looks dark when it’s not catching the light. The breast is dingy and whitish. Females are warm buffy below with green backs. Their cinnamon wash is particularly intense on the breast and throat. Overall, females are buffier below than other similar species of hummingbirds. Immature males show a few spots of purple on the throat in the late summer.

• Behavior

  Lucifer Hummingbirds feed on the nectar of flowering desert plants and sugar solution in hummingbird feeders. They are particularly fond of agave flowers when they are available. They will come into feeders, but they have a low rank among the other species and are often chased off by other hummers.

• Habitat

  Look for Lucifer Hummingbirds in dry canyons and hillsides of desert habitats with ocotillo and century plant. Lucifer Hummingbirds are most frequently sighted in the summer in Ash Canyon, Huachuca Mountains, southeast Arizona, or near Portal, Arizona. The species also breeds in Texas, in Big Bend National Park and in the Davis Mountains. Your best bet for finding one on your own is to watch flowering agaves in Big Bend National Park.