Xantus's Hummingbird
Basilinna xantusii
Stocky, medium-sized hummingbird of the southern half of Baja California peninsula. No similar species in its limited range; endemic. Favors scrubby woodland, pine-oak woods in mountains, desert scrub, gardens; comes to feeders. Both sexes have a black mask, bold and thick white ear-stripe, red base to the bill, and bright rusty tail. Male head and throat often appear black, but in the right light throat flashes brilliant green. Female has pale cinnamon underparts.
Identification
Xantus's hummingbird is 8.5 to 9.5 cm (3.3 to 3.7 in) long. Males weigh an average of 3.5 g (0.12 oz) and females 3.4 g (0.12 oz). Their bills are straight and about 1.7 cm (0.67 in) long; males' are red with a black tip. Females' maxilla is black with a pinkish base and their mandible pinkish red with a black tip. Males have a golden green to emerald green crown, nape, and upperparts with rufous edging on the uppertail coverts. Their forehead and chin are black, their face mostly black with a wide white stripe behind the eye, and their throat iridescent emerald green. Their underparts are cinnamon with some green mottling on the flanks and pale cinnamon undertail coverts. Their tail is rufous chestnut; the innermost pair of feathers have wide iridescent green edges and the other four pairs thin green edges. The females' face is blackish brown with a pale buffy stripe behind the eye. Their forehead is dull brownish and their upperparts iridescent golden green with some rufous edging on the uppertail coverts. The underparts including the throat and undertail coverts are pale to medium cinnamon. Their tail's central pair of feathers are golden green with a rufous shaft and the other four pairs dark rufous that pales towards the end, a black and bronzy green band near the end, and thin white tips.
Taxonomy
Xantus's hummingbird was early placed in genus Basilinna, which predated its discovery, then moved to genus Hylocharis, and then in the early 2000s moved back to Basilinna. It shares that genus only with the white-eared hummingbird (B. leucotis). It is monotypic.<p>It is named for John Xantus de Vesey (Xántus János), a Hungarian zoologist who collected the first specimen.
- Scientific name
- Basilinna xantusii
- Authority
- (Lawrence, 1860)
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Genus
- Basilinna
Range and habitat
Xantus's hummingbird is found from central Baja California south to the peninsula's tip. It has also been recorded as a vagrant twice in California and once in British Columbia. The species inhabits arid woodlands of scrub, oak, and pine-oak at elevations between 150 and 1,500 m (490 and 4,900 ft) and also visits coastal desert, gardens, and feeders.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Xantus's hummingbird's movement patterns have not been fully documented. It breeds in montane forests and after nesting apparently moves as far down as sea level but does not entirely vacate the lower elevation forest. It may move south from the more northerly part of its range and it probably moves locally to be where plants are flowering. Genetic analyses suggested that female birds disperse more than males, resulting in female-mediated gene flow from north to south.<p>Xantus's hummingbird forages for nectar at a very wide variety of flowering plants, shrubs and trees, and feeds at all levels of the vegetation. It defends feeding territories. It has been noted as a major pollinator of madrone (Arbutus peninsularis), a preferred nectar source. In addition to nectar, it also feeds on small insects captured in flight and by gleaning from vegetation.<p>Xantus's hummingbird breeds between July and September or October in the northern part of its range and February to April in the south with a gradient between the areas. The nest is a cup of fine plant fibers, other plant materials, and small feathers bound with spiderweb and decorated with lichen and bark. It is usually suspended from the end of a thin branch within about 1 to 2 m (3 to 7 ft) above the ground or often above water. The female incubates the clutch of two eggs for 15 to 16 days and fledging occurs about 22 days after hatch.<p>The male Xantus's hummingbird sings from within or under a bush, "a quiet, rough, gurgling warble, at times interspersed with rattles...and high, squeaky notes." The species' calls include "a low, fairly fast-paced, dry to slightly wet rattle, trrrrr or trrrt, "slightly tinny to slightly squeaky chips, ts tii-tii-tii, or tsi-ti ti-ti-ti-ti-ti-ti during an aggressive chase, and sometimes "a metallic chi-ti or ti-tink".
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
Large and impressive raptor with a range encompassing much of the Northern Hemisphere. Mostly dark brown; the namesake golden nape can be hard to see, especially from below. Immatures have a white patch on the underwing and a white tail base. Compared to similar immature sea eagles such as White-tailed and Bald Eagle, lacks significant white mottling on the belly. Also note the relatively short-necked profile. Often holds wings in slight V-shape when soaring. Hunts mainly mammals in remote, open country from grasslands and steppes to mountainous areas.
Golden-winged Sparrow
Arremon schlegeli
Beautiful black-helmeted sparrow of forest understory. Contrasting black head, bright yellow bill, white throat and underparts, light gray mantle, yellow-green back and rump, gray wings and tail, and golden shoulders. Female has duller bill and buff-tinged underparts. Found alone or in pairs foraging in the understory of dry to humid forest and scrubby second growth. Vocalization is a high pitched “zeut, zeut, zeee.” The only totally black headed sparrow in its range. Found only in Colombia and Venezuela.
Siberian Pipit
Anthus japonicus
Slender and drab songbird of open country. Brownish above with heavy streaking below. Distinguished from similar-looking (unrelated) buntings by thin bill and lanky appearance with long legs. Walks on the ground with jerky motions and frequently bobs tail. Breeds in tundra, while in winter and during migration, found in cultivation, moist grassland, and wetlands. Flocks are often heard as they pass overhead or flush from a barren field; listen for sharp, high-pitched call notes and look for flashing white outer tail feathers.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.