Forest and Rangeland Birds of the United States

Natural History and Habitat Use

Magnificent Hummingbird -- Eugenes fulgens
(formerly Rivoli's Hummingbird)


RANGE: Breeds in western Colorado, and from southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and western Texas south to Panama. Winters in Mexico and Central America, though a few remain at Arizona feeders.

STATUS: Rare in Colorado, elsewhere uncommon to common.

HABITAT: Found above 5,000 feet in deciduous woods along streams, and in pine or oak woods on mountain slopes and ridges.

SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Flowers for nectar.

NEST: Builds nest on a horizontal branch from 20 to 55 feet above the ground. Uses a variety of trees for nesting, including cottonwoods, mountain maples, sycamores, alders, walnuts, pines, and Douglas-fir.

FOOD: Visits flowers for nectar, including those of agave, iris, and bright-red salvia. Also eats leaf bugs, aphids, leafhoppers, parasitic wasps, beetles, flies, moths, and spiders.

REFERENCES: Cottam and Knappen 1939, Johnsgard 1983b, Kaufman in Farrand 1983b, Terres 1980.


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