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Broad-tailed Selasphorus platycercus
A Rocky Mountain breeder in the United States, Broad-tailed typically spend the winter in Mexico. At first glance, adult males could almost be mistaken for Ruby-throats. But closer inspection shows grass-green
backs, hot pink gorgets, and a long, unforked tail. Females have a cold face with a pale eye ring, pale rufous sides, and the throat has columns of light-gray or light-bronze spots. The
sides of immature males usually are a brighter rufous and their throats more heavily spotted.
Although a larger bird than either Rufous or Calliope, Broad-tails can be dominated by these more assertive species. Their mild manners and upright posture when perched bring to mind one word -- elegant! Adult males also have modified tips on their outer wing feathers that create a high-pitched trill. The call notes are louder than Calliope and sweeter than Rufous.
Allen's Selasphorus sasin
Overall, this bird is very similar in appearance to Rufous Hummingbirds, but its breeding range is one of the most limited, found only along the Pacific coast from southern Oregon to southern California.
Allen's Hummingbirds winter in a relatively small area of southern Mexico.
In adult male Allen's, the most distinctive feature that differs from Rufous is its all green back, with rufous only in the rump and tail. Female and immature Allen's generally cannot be discerned from Rufous unless one gets a really close look at the tail. When spread open, the tail feathers are shorter and thinner than Rufous' tail feathers. Also, similar to Rufous are the Allen's call notes and wing trills.
Calliope Stellula calliope
Our most diminutive hummer, the Calliope is a mountain breeder in the Cascades and Rocky Mountains. Its traditional winter range is southwest Mexico.
Adult males have a unique gorget, with long magenta feathers that look like streamers. Females and immatures are less striking, often lacking any distinguishing features other than their small size, short needle-thin bill, and short tail.
Calliopes cock their tail upward when feeding at flowers. They also have a humpbacked posture when perched. Calliope's call note is similar to the tic of Rufous, but softer and less metallic.
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