The Blue-throated Hummingbird is a visitor to Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains. It is a larger hummer of the species, with green and bronze on the upper part and a purplish-blue throat. The dark tail is blue to black, with white edges. This hummingbird feeds on both insects and nectar.
Unlike many hummingbird species, the Blue-throated Hummingbird does not perform aerial displays during courtship. Instead, the male has special sounds it makes to attract potential female mates and to defend their territory.
If conditions are perfect, they can breed up to three times per year. They keep the same nesting spot, but build a new nest on top of the old nest, creating a very tall nest that is easy to spot.
To attract hummingbirds to your back yard, try planting hummingbird magnet plants such as penstemon, red salvia, Mexican oregano and other plants that have tubular or red flowers.
Reference: The Nature of Madera Canyon by Douglas W. Moore, Friends of Madera, 1999; whatbird.com
Comments