Rivoli's Hummingbird

Rivoli's Hummingbird (Eugenes fulgens) is a heavyweight of the hummingbird family, tying with the Blue-throated Mountain-gem as one of the two largest hummingbird species regularly found north of Mexico. Formerly known as the Magnificent Hummingbird before being taxonomically split from the Central American Admirable Hummingbird (Eugenes spectabilis), this species is a jewel of high-altitude montane environments. With its long, straight bill, sluggish-looking but powerful wingbeats, and brilliant iridescence, it represents a highly sought-after sighting for birders visiting the mountain canyons of the American Southwest.

Rivoli's Hummingbird is immediately recognizable by its sheer size, which is nearly twice that of common species like the Ruby-throated or Rufous Hummingbird.

Male Identification Marks

• Crown: Brilliant metallic violet-purple crown, which can appear dark or blackish in poor light.
• Gorget (Throat): Striking, iridescent emerald-green throat shield.
• Body: Very dark overall, showing a bronze-green back and a dark, blackish chest and belly.
• Post-ocular Spot: A small, crisp white stripe or spot immediately behind the eye.
• Bill: Exceptionally long, slender, and straight.

Female Identification Marks

• Upperparts: Bronze-green to dull olive-green.
• Underparts: Mostly dull gray, with subtle pale scaling on the feathers.
• Post-ocular Spot: A prominent white stripe behind the eye, bolder than that of the male.
• Tail: Green tail with dark outer feathers tipped in bold white or pale gray.

Similar Species

• Blue-throated Mountain-gem: This species is similarly large and shares the southwestern montane habitat. However, the Blue-throated has a much bolder white stripe behind the eye, a distinct white malar stripe on the cheek, a solid blue throat (in males), and very large, prominent white corners on its tail.

Rivoli's Hummingbird is a bird of the highlands, typically found at elevations between 5,000 and 9,000 feet (1,500 to 2,700 meters) in the northern part of its range.

• Primary Habitat: Steep-sided mountain canyons, shady pine-oak woodlands, coniferous forests, and moist montane riparian corridors.
• Geographic Range: Resident year-round through the highlands of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. It is a migratory breeder in the sky islands of southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and western Texas (the Chisos Mountains).
• Migration: Northern populations migrate south into Mexico for the winter, though a small number may linger in the extreme southwestern United States at low-elevation feeders.

Due to its large size, Rivoli's Hummingbird has a distinct flight profile compared to smaller hummingbirds. Its wingbeats are slower and more audible, producing a soft, low buzzing sound rather than a high-pitched hum.

Vocalization

Its voice is relatively quiet. The most common call is a sharp, dry, high-pitched chip or tsip, often given while foraging or in flight. It does not possess a complex song, but males will occasionally emit a series of rapid, thin chips from high perches.

Feeding & Foraging

• Nectar Sourcing: Rather than aggressively defending a single patch of flowers, Rivoli's Hummingbirds are frequent "trap-liners." They travel along a regular, established route of widely dispersed flowering plants, including salvias, columbines, agaves, and penstemons.
• Insect Foraging: They are highly adept at catching small insects (gnats, midges, and small flies) mid-air using a technique called hawking, and they regularly glean spiders and insects from leaves, tree bark, and spiderwebs.
• Feeder Etiquette: At artificial feeders, they often dominate smaller hummingbirds due to their size, though they are frequently subordinated by the even more aggressive Blue-throated Mountain-gem.

Nesting & Breeding

The female builds a cup-shaped nest high in a tree canyon, often 10 to 40 feet above the ground, frequently placing it on a horizontal branch over a creek. The nest is composed of moss, plant down, and leaves, bound tightly with spider silk, and decorated with lichen for camouflage.