Our Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds are revered in Mesoamerican cultures. To the Maya, the hummingbird (ts’unu’um) is sacred, fashioned from jade by the gods as a messenger of thoughts, wishes, and love. To the Aztecs (Huitzilopochtli from Nahuati), the sun and war god, embodying dead warriors. In Mexico there are 58 species, 12 of which are endemic. Nine species occur regularly in the Lake Chapala area, but two are by far most common—Violet-crowned and Broad-billed hummingbirds (pictured in this article). Both species forage primarily on nectar and arthropods throughout the year. Hybrids have been reported, though rarely.
The Violet-crowned (Ramosomyia violiceps) [VCHU] is the slightly larger of the two (weighing less than a 10 peso coin!) and the more aggressive (war-like). Distinguished from other species by its immaculate white underparts, iridescent bluish-violet crown, and red bill with a black tip. The sexes are similar although the crown iridescence may be slightly brighter in males. Though sexes are indistinguishable, based upon behavior of other hummers, females are presumed to do all the incubation. Weight ~5 gms, (two pesos!). It is mostly resident throughout its range along the Pacific slope from the southern-most U.S., through Sonora and Jalisco south to Oaxaca. As with some other hummingbird species, the distributional range of VCHU appears to be expanding northward.
Broad-billed Hummingbird (Cynanthus latirostris) [BBHU], is smaller than the VCHU at only 3 to 4 grams, but like the VCHU has a red bill. Sexes are dissimilar (dimorphic). The male plumage shimmers in iridescent and metallic blues and greens throughout. The female is duller with some iridescence on the back and tail, gray underparts, and a black-and-white facial pattern. The distributional range is similar to the VCHU, breeding populations throughout most of Mexico are resident, but prone to wandering and occurs occasionally as far north as Canada, as a vagrant. More northerly populations (in the southern US and northern Mexico) are migratory moving southward in winter months.
As befits the Aztec’s god of war, the larger VCHU is more aggressive and tends to dominate, especially at feeders. Watching the behavior at our feeders is entertaining. The VCHU, in particular, seems to spend as much or more energy chasing others from its chosen feeder as he does foraging. BBHU is invariably subordinate.
Other species that occur regularly in our area include Ruby-throated, Black-chinned, Rufous, Broad-tailed, White-eared, Berylline, and Mexican Violetear hummingbirds.
