Xantus's Hummingbird

Xantus's Hummingbird is a specialty of Baja California, with an extremely limited home range.  They are less likely to wander than many hummingbirds, yet at least two records occur north of Mexico.  One found in California attempted to nest, although the nest failed to produce young.  Another individual was curiously found much farther north, in British Columbia.  The species is closely related to the White-eared Hummingbird, which shares many of the same plumage characteristics.

Habitat: Preferred habitat is dryland shrubs, thick shrubby forests, forest edges, and suburban areas.  They evidently have adapted fairly well to a human presence within their range.

Diet: Typical diet of Hummingbirds, feeding heavily on nectar.  Insects can comprise a large portion of the diet.

Behavior: Xantus's Hummingbirds are less aggressive than many hummingbird species, and are less likely to strongly defend feeding areas from other hummingbirds. .

Nesting: The nest is built with plant material interwoven with spider silk, with the outside of the nest covered in lichens.  Nest placement is anywhere between 3 and 20 feet in height.  As with many hummingbird species, the female alone builds the nest, incubates the eggs, and raises the young..

Song: Song a series of short rather non-musical notes.

Migration: Xantus's Hummingbirds are permanent residents in their normal range.  However, there are some short-distance movements in conjunction with availability of flowering plants. The species is not known to wander widely, and very few records have occurred outside their normal range.

Interactive eBird map: Click here to access an interactive eBird map of Xantu's Hummingbird sightings

Feeders: Will attend hummingbird feeders

Similar Species: White-eared Hummingbird

Conservation Status: At present, Xantus's Hummingbird seem to have stable populations, and they are quite common in their normal range.  They apparently adapt well to a human presence. However, their range in Baja California is extremely limited, and any major disturbance in their home range could thus impact a large portion of the Xantus's Hummingbird population.

Further Information: 1) Cornell's Neotropic Birds - Xantus's Hummingbird

2) WhatBird.com - Xantus's Hummingbird

Image Information: Colored pencil drawing by Terry Sohl

 

Click below for a higher-resolution map

South Dakota Status: Non-resident in South Dakota

Additional Xantus's Hummingbird Images
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