Hummers

By Linda G. Donahue

Imagine flapping your hands up to 70 time a second. The hummingbird does the equivalent, hence its name, from the sound produced by the extreme rapid beating of its wings. The family Trochilidae's diminutive members are aeronautical wonders, uniquely able to hover and fly backward, side to side, and even upside down. They use spiderwebs to bind their tiny nests, which hold pea-sized eggs.

Some believe these improbably beautiful and nimble creatures were the natural models which, embellished by generations of storytellers, became the mythical fairies.

Of 338 species in this remarkable family, only 16 breed in the lower 48 states. Three of them live most of the year in Southern Nevada: the broad-tailed hummingbird, Costa's hummingbird, and the black-chinned hummingbird.

At 4 to 4 inches long, the broad-tailed hummingbird is the biggest of the lot. The more colorful male distinguishes itself with a green crown, back, and upper tail feathers, and gleaming rose-red throat feathers, called a gorget. "This species is found throughout the West," said Cris Tomlinson, a Nevada Division of Wildlife biologist. "(They) can usually be seen from late March or early April to October in meadows on Mount Charleston, glades, open vegetation, and thickets."

The two other species that make Southern Nevada their home are more suited to desert habitats. Costa's hummingbird measures about 3 inches long with a full helmet of glistening amethyst, a green luminescent back, and dark green tail feathers. The black-chinned hummingbird can grow to 3 inches long, and the male has an iridescent violet band around its neck that may look black to the casual observer. Both can be found in washes, chaparral, dry canyons around riverbeds, and at backyard feeders.

The smallest hummingbird in the continental United States can often be seen in mountainous areas of Utah. The male calliope, 2 to 3 inches long, is distinguished by metallic magenta feathers that extend across a white throat. It has a gold-green back and brownish-gray tail feathers.

Three other species make an appearance in northern Arizona, though it's not their preferred territory: Anna's hummingbird, Allen's hummingbird, and the Lucifer hummingbird. Anna's displays a head of crimson, gray underparts and a green back. Allen's wears reddish side, rear, and tail feathers, and a brilliant orange-red throat and back, which is spotted with green. The Lucifer hummingbird is similar to Costa's except its crown is grayish-green. Its rare downcurved bill makes it easy to spot.

Linda G. Donahue is an outdoor enthusiast living in the Overton area.

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