Hummingbirds

Depending on who is asked there are between 330 and 352 species of hummingbirds in the world.  There are 112 species of hummingbirds in all of North America, with 26 species observed north of Mexico, 17 of these have bred in the United States and Canada, 12 of have been observed in California. Kern County is home to 4 breeding species and is visited each year by 2 migrants and on occasion by 2 vagrants.

The Portuguese name for "hummingbird" literally translated means "flower-kisser." Hummingbirds beat their wings at a rate of 40-80 per second. The heart rate for a hummingbird is between 500 and 1260 beats per minute during the day and drops to below 50 during the night.

During peak migration in late July and early August the Kern River Valley is visited by thousands of migrating hummingbirds each day. Volunteers with the Kern River Preserve fill hummingbird feeders each morning to the delight of visitors.

Come see what makes the Kern River Valley the Hummingbird Capitol of California during the 10th Annual Hummingbird Celebration on August 9, 2008 at the Kern River Preserve.

NOTE: If you want to know about your local hummingbirds, when they arrive, nesting status, how much to feed or even your local species, please contact your local chapter of the Audubon Society. I cannot answer questions regarding birds in other areas, my knowledge is limited to the Kern/Tulare County region of California.

Taxonomic Classification

Kingdom: Metazoa (=Animalia)

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves (birds)

Order: Apodiformes - Swifts, and Hummingbirds
Family: Trochilidae - Hummingbirds

Anna's Hummingbird

Calypte anna

A breeding resident throughout the county. Relatively common in appropriate habitat year round.

If you see a hummingbird in winter, it is almost certainly an Anna’s, as a few over-winter. When seen in bright sunlight, the male has an iridescent red throat, forehead, and crown. The female lacks, or has little, red color but still has a green back like the male and a grayish belly.

Range:  Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Archilochus alexandri

Common to abundant nesting species throughout the valley portions of the county. Less common in the desert. It arrives by mid-April and heading south from late July through mid-September. The male has a black throat bordered on the bottom by a purple then white collar. The female is green backed with a white belly. 

Noticeably smaller than the resident Anna’s, differs with a longer (appearing slightly decurved) bill, call note, display flight, a black-and-white tail pattern, and wing-whir. Black-chinned Hummingbirds flip and spread their tail frequently while hovering.

Range:  British Colombia, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, California, Mexico

Calypte costae

A breeding resident in the desert portions of the county.  Uncommon near towns in the desert year round.

These tiny, plump hummers have deep purple throat feathers that stick out on either side like outrageous sideburns - called gorgets. The female, which lacks the purple throat, is distinguished mostly by her small size, long bill,  and plump appearance.

Smaller than Black-chinned, has a distinctive call note, a distinctive flight display, a black-and-white tail pattern, and a distinctive wing-whir. Costa’s is said to have a short, rounded tail with wingtips that extend beyond the tail tips when perched.

Range: California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Mexico

Calliope Hummingbird

Stellula calliope

A breeding resident in the mountain portions of the county.  Uncommon in during migration.

It is the smallest bird found in the United States and Canada. Calliopes usually arrive on territory the last third of April and early May. Calliopes rarely show up at feeders on the Valley floor. This species is very small, has a distinctive call note, has a very short bill, a very short (rounded) tail, and buffy sides. Calliope is said to hold its tail very still and above the horizontal plane when hovering.

Range:  British Columbia, Alberta, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, California, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah

Rufous Hummingbird

Selasphorus rufus

A spring / summer / fall migrant throughout the county. The Aztecs considered the hummingbird to be the god of war. It is easy to see why if you watch a Rufous Hummingbird guarding a feeder.  During southbound fall migration (mid-July through mid-September) they are the most abundant hummingbird around. They are easily identified by the way they spread their rufous tails when in hovering flight. In both Rufous Hummingbird and Allen’s Hummingbird look for extensive rufous (rusty orange) in the tail, varying degrees of rust color along the flanks and back, and presence of varying degrees of rust color in the throat. 

Range:  Alaska, Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta, Montana, Washington, Oregon, California, Ohio

Selasphorus sasin

An uncommon spring / summer / fall migrant through the mountains of the county.

They are virtually impossible to identify in comparison with Rufous Hummingbirds unless by an expert doing so in the hand. Come to a scheduled hummingbird banding session at the Kern River Preserve in July or August to study the subtle differences in tail pattern, tail feather shape, tail feather width, and other identification characteristics of these two species. 

Range:  Oregon, California, Mexico

Broad-tailed Hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus

A rare visitor to Kern County.

Range:  Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, California, Arizona, Texas, Mexico, Guatemala

WASH YOUR HANDS BEFORE AND AFTER!

Use hummingbird feeders that are easy to clean.

• 4 cups of water to one cup of sugar - boiled then cooled. No dye is necessary.

Wash hummingbird feeders thoroughly with vinegar and water, and rinse completely, every time you refill them. [Every day in hot weather and every three days in cooler weather.]

Plant a hummingbird garden. Hummingbirds enjoy many flowering plants especially the red varieties. Penstemon, fuchsia and gilias are three that come to mind immediately. These are native to my region and grow with little care or fuss. Try to find plants native to your region for ease of growing.

See Rick Hallowell's diary of a nesting Costa's Hummingbird in Ridgecrest.

See Lanny Chambers fantastic website for information on hummingbirds in North America. http://hummingbirds.net

Endangered or Threatened Hummingbirds of the World

See Joshua Fall's website on hummingbirds and their nests.

For further reference check out these books and videos:

Hummingbirds of North America, Sheri L. Williamson, Houghton Mifflin Co.
A Peterson series book, this is a wonderful tool for field identification with close-up color photographs, accurate illustrations, and detailed descriptions. Covering 31 North American species, with more than 250 color photos and 33 maps, this is the most comprehensive field guide to hummingbirds. Introductory chapters cover the natural history of hummingbirds, ways to attract and feed them, and major hot spots in the United States and Canada for observing these fascinating birds. The 31 color plates illustrate 28 species, 7 hybrid combinations, 3 forms of albinism, and 4 species of sphinx moths often mistaken for hummingbirds. Species accounts provide in-depth information on plumage, molt, songs and calls, wing sounds, similar species, behavior, habitat, distribution, taxonomy, and conservation concerns. Detailed, up-to-date range maps show breeding, non-breeding, and year-round distribution, migration routes, and records outside expected areas of occurrence. For a few widespread migratory species, separate maps illustrate expected spring arrival dates.

Hummingbirds of North America: A Photographic Guide (A Volume in the AP Natural World Series) (A Volume in the AP Natural World Series), Steve Howell, Academic Press. A comprehensive photographic guide to the identification of all 24 species of hummingbirds to be seen as breeders or vagrants in North America. Steve Howell, a well-known and respected bird tour leader and author, has made a particular study of the finer points of hummingbird recognition and has specially chosen over 200 stunning photographs to complement the information given in his text. Some species feature as many as 14 photographs each. A detailed introduction covers the basics of hummingbird anatomy and plumage variation, allowing the observer to effectively focus on points that are of value in the field. New field marks are provided and old myths dispelled in this ground breaking and essential new guide.

Advanced Birding - Kenn Kaufman, Houghton Mifflin. For hummingbird identification tips consult pp. 160-170, 172, of this field guide cover in detail...the problem, preliminary points, tail shape & pattern, bill shape, back color, voice, actions, size, small plain species (face & tail patterns, female and immature Anna's, Costa's, Black-chinned, and Ruby-throated), the Selasphorus complex (female and immature Broad-tailed, Rufous, Allen's, Calliope, adult female underside comparison, Rufous Hummingbird variation, Rufous & Allen's tail comparison), and the problem of the likelihood of hybrid hummingbirds.

Hooked on Hummingbirds DVD and video - Tom Kaminski's DVD is an excellent 53-minute documentary about the Hummingbirds of North America. Filmmaker Tom Kaminski combines breathtaking footage in real-time and slow motion with an educational narrative, reminiscent of a PBS production. He employs unique footage, such as an EKG of a human heart sped up to hummer speed, to provide excellent comparisons that make this DVD great viewing material for a school classroom or bird club. Mostly California species are shown in the first half, while in the second, eastern species like the Ruby-throated (including one being banded and one that is leucistic), Rufous and Buff-bellied Hummingbirds are covered.

Hummingbirds of North America DVD and Video - Peregrine Video Productions - Advanced Birding Video Series with Jon l. Dunn. Nesting footage of 17 species of hummingbirds. 3-D animated range maps. 3-D animated display flights. Original paintings of spread tails. Audio of chip notes and songs. Thousands of slow motion, split-screen and stop-action effects. A menagerie of colors composed of birds, original paintings, graphics & flowers; often the ecologically important, native flower. See hummingbirds in their natural habitat, video footage from mostly natural settings.

Accommodations    Events   Spring Nature Festival   Autumn Nature & Vulture Festival    Hummingbird Banding Results    

Feeding Hummingbirds     KRV Hummingbird Finding Guide     Hummingbird Garden

Copyright © 1998-2009 Nature Alley. All rights reserved.

page updated 02-Jan-2009