Lucifer
Hummingbird
In Latin, lucifer means "light-bearing"
and was applied in Old English to the morning
star. Thus, when William Swainson named this bird
in 1827 he might have been thinking of the
luminous glow of its colors. The male Lucifer's
outer tail feathers are hard and narrow, and hum
loudly during aerial displays. He performs a
zigzagging dance to attract females and repel
other males.
Physical Description
Average weight: male 2.75 g, female 3.08 g.
Female birds are larger than males.
Plumage
Adult male: Metallic green back and crown,
magenta gorget, white breast, buff sides, long
decurved (downward-curving) bill.
Adult female: Green back and crown, white breast
and throat, buff sides, white tips on outer tail
feathers, decurved bill.
Distribution
Observed in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
Winters central Mexico. |