photo by Phil Swanson

Selasphorus platycercus
L 4″ (10 cm).

Song or calls:
Listen (NGPC audio)

Adult males make a unique loud musical trill with their wings in flight.

Description: Metallic green above. Rounded tail. Male has rose red gorget and white underparts with green sides. Female has speckled throat; pale cinnamon flanks; and broad green tail shows rufous on outer feathers.

Habitat: Migrants can be found in open plains, forest clearings, and mountain parklands. Sometimes appear in gardens and at hummingbird feeders.

Where in Nebraska: Occasional fall migrant in extreme western parts of the state. Most sightings are from Dawes and Scotts Bluff Counties.

Field Notes: Known to nest in the same tree or bush year after year,a phenomenon known as philopatry.

Fun Facts: One female Broad-tailed Hummingbird holds the North American age record for hummingbirds at 12 years old.

 
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