The Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird (Eugenes fulgens) is a medium-sized hummingbird native to Mexico and parts of the southwestern United States. With its bright turquoise crown and throat, it is one of the most colorful hummingbird species found in North America.
Physical Description
The Turquoise-crowned hummingbird measures between 3.5 to 4 inches in length and weighs around 3 to 4 grams on average. The male has vibrant iridescent turquoise feathers on the crown and throat. The lower throat and chest are a dull white merging into grayish underparts. The back and tail are metallic green. The females lack the bright turquoise crown and throat feathers, instead having pale gray underparts with white tips on the tail feathers. The bill of both sexes is straight and black.
Geographic Range
The Turquoise-crowned hummingbird is found predominantly in the mountainous regions of Mexico including parts of the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental mountain ranges. Its range extends into the Madrean Sky Islands and mountains of southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and western Texas in the United States. Within Mexico, it occupies elevations between 6000 to 9800 feet above sea level. In the U.S, it is found at 4000 to 8000 feet.
Habitat
This species occupies pine-oak and fir forests, canyon streamsides, and meadows with scattered trees and shrubs. It prefers areas with plenty of flowering plants and nesting sites. In winter, some birds may move to lower elevations.
Feeding
Like all hummingbirds, the Turquoise-crowned hummingbird gets most of its energy from drinking nectar from flowers using its long extendable tongue. It takes nectar from tubular flowers such as firecracker flowers, Indian paintbrush, and various sage species. It also feeds on small spiders and insects, catching them in flight or gleaning them from foliage. A study in Arizona found that crane flies, true bugs, and spiders made up a majority of the insect prey.
Breeding and Nesting
Males establish feeding territories during the breeding season and put on aerial displays to attract females. Their display consists of flying in U-shaped or oval patterns while making a ticking vocalization. Courting pairs participate in flight rituals passing objects back and forth.
The female builds a small cup-shaped nest out of plant down and spider webs, attached securely to a branch. She lays two tiny white eggs and incubates them for 14-19 days. The chicks fledge about 20-26 days after hatching. The female cares for the young without any assistance from the male. They may raise two or three broods over the course of a breeding season.
Migration
Those that breed in the northern part of the range migrate south to Mexico for the winter. Further south they are residential throughout the year. Migrating birds leave the breeding grounds starting August through October and return in April and May.
Threats and Conservation Status
The Turquoise-crowned hummingbird remains a fairly common species over its habitat range and its population is believed to be stable. However, there are some potential threats. Development and logging activities in mountain forests can degrade their breeding habitat. Prolonged drought also negatively affects plant food sources. The species has been evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Protecting forest habitats and providing artificial feeders with sugar water especially during migration and winter can help supplement their diet.
Interesting Facts
– The turquoise crown color only appears on adult males. Juvenile males lack this bright color until their first molt at around one year old.
– To keep their rapid metabolism fueled, hummingbirds must eat half their body weight in nectar each day and visit hundreds or even over a thousand flowers.
– They have remarkably long tongues which they use like drinking straws to lap up nectar. Their tongues even have forked tips which helps collect more nectar.
– Hummingbirds can hover in place by rapidly flapping their wings up to 70 times per second. This allows them to stay suspended while feeding on flowers.
– They utilize torpor, a state of decreased physiological activity, to conserve energy. Their metabolism slows down and body temperature drops during cold nights.
– Their feet are very small relative to their body size and used primarily for perching rather than walking or hopping.
– To compensate for their small size, hummingbirds are very territorial. They will aggressively chase other hummingbirds from their feeding areas.
– This species is known to hybridize with other hummingbirds such as the Broad-tailed hummingbird where their ranges overlap. The offspring exhibit intermediate plumage traits.
– Their heartbeat can reach up to 1,200 beats per minute and they can have a breathing rate of 250 breaths per minute during flight.
– Hummingbird species found in North America are the smallest birds on the continent. Many tropical species found in Central and South America are even smaller.
– Female hummingbirds build a nest without any help from the male. The nest is made of spider webs, plant down, lichens and moss. It stretches as the chicks grow.
– Baby hummingbirds hatch with their eyes sealed shut. They depend completely on their mother for food and care.
– Most hummingbirds live 3-5 years but the record lifespan in the wild is over 12 years for a female Broad-tailed hummingbird.
– Predators of hummingbirds include birds like hawks and falcons as well as mammals like cats and rodents. Bullfrogs and robberflies may eat fledglings.
– High speed filming shows their wings move in a figure-eight pattern which generates lift more efficiently than a strict up and down flapping.
– Their wings are able to rotate at the shoulder joint which allows greater maneuverability and hovering ability.
– Male hummingbirds don’t participate at all in raising young. Their sole focus is on courting females and defending territory.
– Females have the unique ability to build their nests with very little materials. The nests are tiny enough to fit in the palm of a hand.
– Hummingbird vision can perceive ultraviolet light which helps them locate nectar guides on flowers and see patterns on potential mates.
– Their long slender bills are perfectly adapted for accessing nectar from tube-shaped flowers that many insects cannot reach.
The vibrant Turquoise-crowned hummingbird is a fascinating species exhibiting incredible adaptations for hover-feeding on nectar. They play a key role as pollinators in their delicate mountain ecosystems. Protecting their pine forest habitats will ensure these colorful hummingbirds continue to brighten the landscapes of Mexico and the American southwest.