Birds diurnal

Broad-billed Hummingbird

Cynanthus latirostris

A jewel of the desert canyons, the Broad-billed Hummingbird captivates with its brilliant sapphire throat and signature crimson bill. This vocal and bold little bird is a favorite for backyard observers across the American Southwest.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

straighten

Size

Length: 3.2–3.9 in (8–10 cm); Wingspan: approx. 5 in (13 cm); Weight: 0.1–0.14 oz (3–4 g)

palette

Colors

Males feature a brilliant emerald-green body with a vibrant sapphire-blue throat and a bright red bill. Females have grayish-white underparts, a dusky mask with a white stripe behind the eye, and a bill that is less intensely red than the male's.

visibility

Key Features

Broad, bright red bill with a black tip
Iridescent sapphire-blue gorget (throat) on males
Dull gray underparts and white eye-stripe on females
Frequent 'chi-dit' vocalizations while hovering

When You’ll See Them

schedule

Activity pattern diurnal

brightness_5

Peak hours Sunrise to 10:00 AM and 3:30 PM until dusk

calendar_month

Season March-August (in the U.S.); Year-round (in Mexico)

restaurant

Diet Specializes in nectar from colorful tubular flowers like desert honeysuckle, agave, and ocotillo. They also consume significant amounts of small insects and spiders, which they catch in mid-air or 'glean' from the surface of leaves to get essential protein.

park

Habitat Found in desert canyons, riparian woodlands, and suburban gardens across the Southwestern United States and Mexico.

bar_chart
Loading activity data...

Behavior

The Broad-billed Hummingbird is one of the most charismatic and vocal hummingbirds in the desert Southwest. Unlike many other species that remain silent while foraging, the Broad-billed is known for its constant 'chi-dit' chatter, making it easy to locate even before you see it. They are remarkably bold and will often approach humans or other animals out of curiosity, especially near established feeding stations.

During the breeding season, males perform spectacular U-shaped aerial displays to attract mates, diving from heights of up to 40 feet. Despite their small size, they are quite territorial and will aggressively defend a patch of flowers or a feeder from larger hummingbirds. They are strictly diurnal, spending their days in a high-energy cycle of foraging and short bouts of resting on exposed twigs.

photo_camera EverydayEarth exclusive

Camera Tips

To capture the stunning iridescence of a Broad-billed Hummingbird, placement is everything. Position your camera within 12 to 18 inches of a nectar feeder or a cluster of native tubular flowers like Penstemon or Salvia. Because these birds move with incredible speed, ensure your camera is set to its highest shutter speed or 'Sports/Action' mode. If your AI camera allows for pre-roll or burst capture, enable it; this ensures you catch the bird as it enters the frame rather than just its tail feathers as it leaves.

Lighting is the 'secret sauce' for photographing this species. To make the male's sapphire throat and emerald body 'pop,' try to position your camera so the sun is behind you, shining directly onto the bird's chest (front-lighting). If the light is behind the bird, the gorget will appear black instead of blue. Early morning or late afternoon sun provides the warmest, most dramatic tones for their red bills.

If you are using a feeder as a lure, consider a perch-style feeder. Broad-billed Hummingbirds are more likely to sit still for a few seconds if there is a comfortable place to rest while they drink. This pause is your best opportunity for a high-detail AI trigger. In peak summer heat, ensure the nectar is fresh (changed every 2 days) to keep them returning to the exact same spot for your camera.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Broad-billed Hummingbird.

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Lacks the red bill of the Broad-billed; males have a black throat with a purple base and a white chest.

White-eared Hummingbird

Features a much more prominent, thick white stripe behind the eye and a more heavily spotted green breast.

Blue-throated Mountain-gem

Much larger than the Broad-billed with a black bill and large white tips on the outer tail feathers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Broad-billed Hummingbirds follow a bimodal activity pattern, with peak foraging occurring in the first three hours after sunrise and again in the late afternoon before dusk. They are strictly diurnal and will go into a state of torpor at night to conserve energy.

The best way to attract them is by planting native nectar-producing plants such as Desert Willow, Agave, and Ocotillo. They are also frequent visitors to hummingbird feeders filled with a 4:1 water-to-sugar ratio. Providing a water mister or a shallow moving-water feature can also draw them in for bathing.

Their diet is a mix of high-energy nectar and protein. They feed on the nectar of tubular flowers and sugar-water from feeders. To meet their protein needs, they hunt small flying insects like gnats and midges, often catching them in mid-air (hawking).

Yes, particularly in Southern Arizona and parts of New Mexico. They have adapted well to suburban environments that provide plenty of ornamental flowering plants and supplemental feeders, often becoming year-round residents in warmer urban microclimates.

The most immediate giveaway is the bill: the Broad-billed has a bright red bill with a black tip, whereas the Black-chinned has a completely black bill. Additionally, the male Broad-billed has an entirely green body and blue throat, while the Black-chinned has a white breast and a black/purple throat.

Record Broad-billed Hummingbird at your habitat

Connect a camera to start building your own species record — AI identifies every visitor automatically.

Join free Identify a photo