Dusky Hummingbird

The dusky hummingbird, Phaeoptila sordida, is a diminutive avian jewel endemic to Mexico. This species, a member of the emerald tribe Trochilini, is distinguished by its modest size, ranging from 9 to 10.6 cm in length. Males, slightly heavier, weigh around 4.3 grams, while females tip the scales at approximately 3.4 grams. The males boast a striking red bill with a contrasting black tip, while females have a duller red bill with a dark tip. Both sexes exhibit upperparts of bronze green to greenish bronze, with a more brownish or grayish hue on the crown and uppertail coverts. The tail is a subtle greenish bronze or grayish brown with a dusky base. Unlike many of their kin, they lack an iridescent throat patch, instead featuring a deep gray throat with greenish flecks. Their underparts are a lighter shade of gray, leading to buffy undertail coverts, and they possess distinctive white leg tufts.

Identification Tips

When attempting to identify the dusky hummingbird, look for the bright red bill with a black tip in males and a duller red bill in females. Note the lack of an iridescent gorget, which is common in other hummingbird species. The dusky cheeks and grayish streak behind the eye are also key features. In females, observe the blackish blue band near the end of the outer tail feathers and the brownish-gray tips.

Habitat

The dusky hummingbird thrives in arid scrub and semi-open to open landscapes dotted with trees. It is a creature of elevation, found between 900 and 2,200 meters above sea level.

Distribution

This species is a resident of southwestern Mexico, with its range extending from Michoacán and Morelos to Oaxaca.

Behaviour

The dusky hummingbird is known to forage for nectar in the mid to upper levels of trees, favoring the flowers of various columnar cacti and agave. It exhibits a distinctive tail spreading and wagging behavior while feeding. In addition to nectar, it also consumes small arthropods.

Song & Calls

The dusky hummingbird's vocal repertoire includes a quiet, dry, chippering warble thought to be its song. It also emits dry, slightly buzzy chips and a chattering call, softer and more liquid or spluttering than that of the broad-billed hummingbird.

Breeding

Breeding activities have been observed in various months, with nests being small cups of plant fibers lined with soft down and camouflaged with leaf and bark bits. These nests are typically situated between 1.2 and 2 meters above the ground in shrubs. Details on incubation and fledging periods remain elusive.

Conservation Status

The IUCN has classified the dusky hummingbird as Least Concern. It enjoys a fairly extensive range and a population of at least 50,000 mature individuals that appears to be stable, with no immediate threats identified.