Living Bird Magazine
Blue-throated Mountain-gemLampornis clemenciae
- ORDER: Caprimulgiformes
- FAMILY: Trochilidae
The largest hummingbird found north of Mexico, the Blue-throated Hummingbird is also one of the most vocal hummingbird species, and its high-pitched, monotonous peeps are a signature sound of summer. They are found in streamside habitats in mountain canyons, as far north as southeastern Arizona, where they are frequent visitors to feeders and usually the dominant hummingbird species.More ID Info
- Colibrí Gorjiazul (Spanish)
- Colibri à gorge bleue (French)
- Cool Facts
- The female Blue-throated Hummingbird gives a special call that appears to indicate that she is ready to mate. She makes a series of short flights that appear to be a display to the male before copulation.
- As might be expected for the largest North American hummingbird species, the Blue-throated Hummingbird beats its wings about half as fast as the smaller species. Still, it manages to beat them 23 times a second while hovering.
- The Blue-throated Hummingbird is about three times heavier than the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
- Unlike most North American hummingbirds, male Blue-throated Hummingbirds do not have an aerial display. Instead, the male uses several different vocalizations to defend its territory and attract mates.
- These birds will mob predatory birds as big as Northern Goshawks, sometimes working cooperatively to drive away the predator.
- The oldest known Blue-throated Hummingbird was a male, and at least 7 years, 11 months when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in Arizona.