Like many “western” hummingbirds, the broad-tailed is increasingly found in late fall and winter in the southeast. Polytypic (2 ssp.; nominate in North America). Length 3.5–4"; bill 16–20 mm.

The western counterpart of the ruby-throated, the black-chinned regularly pumps its tail. Monotypic. Length 3.3–3.8"; bill 16–22 mm. Best marks for all ages are narrow inner primaries and ...

The male ruby-throated hummingbird does indeed have a striking red throat, though the female of the species does not. You would have to look quickly to see either, however, as these speedy little ...

Costa’s generally plainer on throat and underparts, without dusky throat spotting. See black-chinned hummingbird.

His hummingbird photographs were first published in the November 1960 issue of National Geographic. For a study of male Cuba’s bee hummingbirds’ mating displays, scientists captured the birds ...

The largest is the nine-foot-tall ostrich. The smallest is the two-inch-long bee hummingbird. Everything about the anatomy of a bird reflects its ability to fly. The wings, for example ...

This story appears in the July 2017 issue of National Geographic magazine. When photographer Anand Varma first pitched us a story about hummingbirds in 2011, he says we told him: “That’s boring.

This story appears in the January 2018 issue of National Geographic magazine ... of just two people in the United States to hold it. Hummingbirds are killed—possibly by slingshot—and ...