Rivoli's Hummingbird

Rivoli's Hummingbird, formerly known in North America as the Magnificent Hummingbird, is a large, robust hummingbird of mountain forests along the U.S.-Mexico border. Adult males appear mostly blackish at a distance, but at close range and in good light reveal a glittering emerald-green throat and a violet-blue crown, set against a dark green body. Females are considerably plainer, with a green back, grayish underparts, and a pale grayish throat lacking iridescence.

Its large size relative to most North American hummingbirds, combined with its preference for shaded mountain canyons, makes it one of the specialty birds sought out in the sky island mountain ranges of the Southwest.

Key Field Marks

• Notably large hummingbird, appearing dark or blackish at a distance
• Male: glittering green throat, violet-blue crown, otherwise dark green body
• Female: green back, gray underparts, plain pale throat
• Slightly decurved, long black bill

Similar Species

• Blue-throated Mountain-gem is similarly large but shows broad white tail corners and bold white facial stripes, which Rivoli's lacks.
• Black-chinned and Broad-billed Hummingbirds are both considerably smaller.
• Female Rivoli's are best identified by large size and plain gray throat in combination with mountain canyon habitat.

Habitat

This species favors shaded, humid pine-oak and fir forest canyons, often near streams, at moderate to high elevations in its limited U.S. range.

Range

In the United States it is found mainly in the mountains of southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and the Chisos Mountains of west Texas, with a much broader range through the highlands of Mexico and Central America south to Nicaragua.

Migration

U.S. populations are largely summer visitors, arriving in spring and departing south into Mexico by autumn, though it is a year-round resident farther south in its range.

Behavior

Males defend rich nectar sources in shaded canyons and can be seen chasing off both rival hummingbirds and other species from favored flowering shrubs or feeders.

Voice

Calls include a sharp, high-pitched "chip" or "tsip," often repeated in a rapid series during chases.

Feeding

Rivoli's Hummingbirds feed on nectar from a variety of native mountain flowers and readily visit hummingbird feeders, along with catching small insects on the wing.

Nesting

Females build a large, deep cup nest of moss, bark strips, and spider silk, usually saddled on a sheltered branch in a shaded canyon.