Blue-throated Mountain-gem Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesBlue-throated Mountain-gem
Male
Large hummingbird. Males have a blue gorget, a white stripe behind the eye, and another one below the eye. White spots in tail flash in flight.
© Graham Gerdeman / Macaulay LibraryArizona, May 23, 2018Male
These large hummingbirds aggressively defend nectar sources, including feeders.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibrarySonora, May 19, 2006Not all videos have sound
Male
Large hummingbird with white outer tail feathers. Note blue throat and gray belly.
© Sergio Rivero Beneitez / Macaulay LibraryOaxaca, November 17, 2020Female
The large white spots in the tail are distinctive in flight.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryArizona, May 01, 1994Not all videos have sound
Male
Distinctive hummingbird in the southwestern United States with a blue throat, gray belly, and dark tail with white spots.
© Bryan Calk / Macaulay LibraryArizona, May 23, 2017Female
© marvin hyettArizonaFemale
Typically nests under an overhang such as a rock wall or streambank, but also nests under eaves of buildings.
© Gregory Griffith / Macaulay LibraryArizona, May 01, 1995Not all videos have sound
Male
Found in edges of evergreen forests in the highlands of Mexico and in the shady understory of deciduous forests near creeks in the southwestern United States.
© Paul Wolter / Macaulay LibraryArizona, August 01, 2016Similar SpeciesRivoli's Hummingbird
Adult male
Adult male Rivoli's Hummingbirds have darker underparts than adult male Blue-throated Hummingbirds. They also have a green throat, not blue like Blue-throated.
© Warren Lynn / Macaulay LibraryArizona, April 01, 2016Similar SpeciesRivoli's Hummingbird
Female
Rivoli's Hummingbirds have longer bills than Blue-throated Hummingbirds. Females/immatures have green central tail feathers as seen from behind on a spread tail, whereas female/immature Blue-throated have black central tail feathers.
© Bob Friedrichs / Macaulay LibraryTexas, August 11, 2016Similar SpeciesBroad-billed Hummingbird
Female/immature
Broad-billed Hummingbirds are smaller than Blue-throated Hummingbirds with a curved bill. Females/immatures have smaller white spots on the spread tail than female/immature Blue-throated Hummingbirds.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryArizona, July 28, 2016Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Hummingbirds(Order: Caprimulgiformes, Family: Trochilidae)
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