United States Department of Agriculture Maintaining and Improving Habitat for Hummingbirds in Nevada and Utah A Land Manager’s Guide Forest Service National Headquarters Introduction Food Hummingbirds play an important role in the food Hummingbirds feed by day on nectar web, pollinating a variety of owering plants, some of from owers, including annuals, perenni- which are speci cally adapted to pollination by hum- als, trees, shrubs, and vines. Native nectar mingbirds., Some hummingbirds are at risk, like other plants are listed in the table near the end pollinators, due to habitat loss, changes in the distribu- of this guide. ey feed while hovering or, tion and abundance of nectar plants (which are a ected if possible, while perched. ey also eat by climate change), the spread of invasive plants, and Rufous Hummingbird nest insects, such as fruit ies and gnats, and pesticide use. is guide is intended to help you provide Courtesy of Martin Hutten will consume tree sap, when it is avail- and improve habitat for hummingbirds, as well as other able. ey obtain tree sap from sap wells pollinators, in Nevada and Utah. While hummingbirds, like all birds, have the basic hab- drilled in trees by sapsuckers and other Western columbine—Aquilegia formosa Courtesy of Gary A. Monroe itat needs of food, water, shelter, and space, this guide is focused on providing food—the hole-drilling birds. USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database plants that provide nectar for hummingbirds. Because climate, geology, and vegetation vary widely in di erent areas, speci c recommendations are presented for each ecoregion in Nevada and Utah. (See the Ecoregions in Nevada and Utah section, below.) is guide also provides brief descriptions of the species that visit Nevada and Utah, as Water well as some basic information about hummingbird habitat needs. Hummingbirds get adequate Whether you’re involved in managing public or private lands, large acreages or small water from the nectar and in- areas, you can make them attractive to our native hummingbirds. Even long, narrow sects they consume. However, pieces of habitat, like utility corridors, eld edges, and roadsides, can provide import- they are attracted to running ant connections among larger habitat areas. water, such as a fountain, Hummingbird Basics sprinkler, birdbath with a mister, or waterfall. In addi- In general, the hummingbird species of tion, insect populations are Nevada and Utah are migratory, general- typically higher near ponds, ly wintering in the southwestern US and streams, and wetland areas, Mexico and then travelling to this region, as so those areas are important well as further north, in search of summer food sources for humming- breeding habitat. Rufous hummingbirds will birds. migrate as far north as Alaska in the summer, relying on habitat and nectar plants through- out Nevada and Utah to fuel their journey. Moab Utah river. Anna’s and Costa’s Hummingbird can be Courtesy of Marguerite Meyer found year-round in the far southern parts of Nevada and extreme southwestern Utah. For hummingbird species to thrive, they need to Hummingbird Species in Nevada and Utah Utah fall colors. nd suitable habitat all along their migration Courtesy of Marguerite Meyer routes, as well as in their breeding, nesting, Following are brief descriptions of the hummingbird species most commonly found in and wintering areas. Even small habitat patches along their migratory path can be Nevada and Utah, as well as a list of other species that are uncommon or rare visitors. critical to the birds by providing places for rest and food to fuel their journey. 2 Maintaining and Improving Habitat for Hummingbirds in Nevada and Utah Maintaining and Improving Habitat for Hummingbirds in Nevada and Utah 3 Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna) RANGE—Black-chinned Hummingbirds occur in RANGE— e Anna’s Hummingbird is the largest hummingbird on the West Coast. all ve Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs) in Nevada Once a chaparral specialist, it is now a year-round resident of the Paci c coast, from and Utah, which are BCR’s 9, 10, 15, 16, and 33. (See southern British Columbia to northern Baja California. Since the mid-1930s, its range the Bird Conservation Regions section, below.) ey has expanded greatly, likely due to its e ective use of non-native plants and feeders in are found in all parts of Nevada and Utah, as they urban and suburban areas. is species is a year-round resident in urban environments use this region for breeding in the summer. ey are in southern Nevada (i.e., Las Vegas). Anna’s Hummingbird occurs in two Bird Conser- most common in areas below 6000 feet and inhabit vation Regions (BCRs) in Nevada, which are BCRs 9 and 33, and generally does not a variety of habitats associated with water (less than occur in Utah. 1/2 mile), including canyons and gulches, riparian NESTING— is species begins nesting corridors, open woodlands, oak and scrub areas, and in winter (November/December) after the urban settings. Black-chinned—male arrival of the winter rains, from sea level up to NESTING—Habitat includes canyons or oodplain Courtesy of Scott Carpenter 5,700 feet. In summer, they inhabit shrubland riparian communities, especially near sycamore or communities such as chaparral-oak areas and cottonwood. In urban areas, they prefer settings with tall trees and many owering brushy riparian areas, as well as urban and sub- shrubs and vines. After breeding, they may move to more elevated mountain habitats urban areas. After breeding, they may move to to feed on nectar-producing owers. Many will move to or stay in urban areas, where higher elevations (up to 11,000 feet) in search owering plants and feeders are attractive. Typically arriving in April, they migrate of nectar plants. ey do not migrate long south in August. distances. Instead, like tropical hummingbirds, they migrate up and down in elevation, dif- APPEARANCE—Unlike other North American hummingbirds, the wingtips of the ferent populations migrate to di erent places, Black-chinned Hummingbird look relatively broad and curved when the bird is at rest. Anna’s Hummingbird—male and some populations (especially in cities) are Courtesy of Jim Cruce While hovering, they pump their tail almost constantly. e adult male is dull green sedentary. to emerald green above, pale gray to whitish below, becoming dull green on the sides. It has a velvety black gorget with an iridescent purple band below; the purple band APPEARANCE—Males are more can look black in poor light. White on the breast extends around the sides of the neck, vocal than any other North Amer- contrasting strongly with the all-dark head. e central two tail feathers are green; the ican hummingbird. e male has a others are black, often with a purplish sheen. dry, scratchy, buzzy song that it sings throughout the year, but especially e adult female is dull green to golden green above and pale gray below. e sides are during the breeding season, Novem- gray-green and often have a tawny or cinnamon-colored patch on the lower ank. e ber-June. Adult males (and some throat of the female can be un- young males) have an iridescent marked or have dusky streaking or rose/red crown and gorget with spotting in the center of the gorget. elongated feathers projecting to the e tail is greenish or blackish, sides. Males turn their head from with the three outer pairs of tail side to side as they sing, ashing feathers broadly tipped with white. their iridescent head as a signal to Immature birds look similar to adult other hummingbirds. ey have a females; refer to a eld guide for green back and are grayish below. more information. Outer tail feathers are gray, darker Black-chinned—female Anna’s Hummingbird—female Courtesy of Scott Carpenter Courtesy of Scott Carpenter at the edges. e tail extends well 4 Maintaining and Improving Habitat for Hummingbirds in Nevada and Utah Maintaining and Improving Habitat for Hummingbirds in Nevada and Utah 5 beyond the wingtips. APPEARANCE— e male Costa’s Hummingbird has an iridescent violet crown and Adult females also have a green back and grayish underparts. Gorget (throat) mark- gorget that runs along both sides of its throat. Both males and females have green up- ings vary from bronzy gray mottling to a central splotch of rose/red feathers. Very perparts. Females have a white throat and underparts, with occasional violet feathers. rarely, rose feathers may occur on the crown. e tail extends to or beyond the wing- Calliope Hummingbird (Selasphorus calliope) tips. Tail feathers are broad, rounded, banded in dull gray-green, blackish, and white. Immature birds look somewhat similar to the adult females, although immature males e Calliope Hummingbird is the smallest breeding bird in North America and is the have heavier mottling in the gorget. e Anna’s Hummingbird typically holds its tail smallest long-distance avian migrant in the world. Calliope Hummingbirds occur in all still while hovering. ve BCRs in Nevada and Utah. Costa’s Hummingbird (Calypte costae) RANGE— ey are common summer residents in northern parts of Nevada and RANGE— e Costa’s Hummingbird is a common species found in hot deserts and Utah, occurring only transiently in the rest other xeric habitats. is species breeds in three major habitat types: Sonoran Des- of the two states as they migrate between ert scrub, Mohave Desert scrub, and California coast. Costa’s Hummingbird can be their summer breeding habitats to the north observed in southwestern Nevada and Utah across the northeastern reaches of the and their wintering habitats in western Mohave Desert, where it is an occasional breeder, such as near Las Vegas.