Blue-throated Mountain-gem Identification Guide

Key Field Marks

• Size & shape: A large hummingbird, about 11-13 cm (4.3-5 in), notably bigger and more robust than most North American hummingbirds, with a long, slightly decurved bill and a broad, rounded tail.
• Plumage: Overall dark bronzy-green to grayish-green upperparts and grayish underparts; note the bold facial pattern of a white postocular (behind-eye) stripe and a dark stripe below it bordered by more white, giving a distinctly striped face.
• Throat (male): Iridescent, deep blue gorget (the source of the name), which can look black in poor light and only flashes vivid blue at the right angle.
• Tail: Broad, dark tail with prominent white corners/tips, especially visible when the tail is fanned or the bird is perched with tail flicking.
• Behavior: Often perches for extended periods on low branches with a fairly upright posture, fanning and flicking its large tail; feeds at flowers and sap wells, and is notably aggressive, often dominating feeders over smaller hummingbird species.

Similar Species

• Magnificent (Rivoli's) Hummingbird: Also large and dark, but male shows a green (not blue) throat and a purple crown, and lacks the bold white facial stripes of Blue-throated Mountain-gem.
• Female/immature Magnificent Hummingbird: Both lack strong gorget color, but Blue-throated shows more contrasting white face stripes and larger white tail corners.
• Broad-billed Hummingbird: Smaller, with a mostly red bill and blue throat in males, but much smaller overall size and a different tail pattern separate it.
• The large size, bold white facial striping, and broad tail with big white corners are the most reliable marks distinguishing this species from other regional hummingbirds.

Where & When to See It

• Range: Found from the mountains of the southwestern United States (southeastern Arizona, New Mexico, west Texas) south through the highlands of Mexico to Nicaragua.
• Habitat: Shady mountain canyons with running water, sycamore and oak woodland, and streamside vegetation, typically at middle to higher elevations.
• Season: In the U.S. portion of its range, present mainly from spring through fall (roughly April-September/October), withdrawing south for winter, though a few may linger; more consistently resident in Mexico and Central America.

Voice & Song Cues

• Gives a distinctive, loud, sharp seek or peek call note, often repeated persistently and audible well before the bird is seen.
• Also produces a variety of chip and squeak notes during interactions at feeders or flowers, often used in aggressive encounters with other hummingbirds.
• The insistent, penetrating call note is often the quickest way to detect this species in shaded canyon habitat.