Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
Broad-tailed Hummingbird vs Rufous Hummingbird
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Broad-tailed Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Broad-tailed Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Broad-tailed Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Broad-tailed Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Rufous Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Rufous Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Rufous Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Rufous Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Broad-tailed Hummingbird vs Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus vs Selasphorus rufus): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
The green mountain hummer and the orange terror. Three rules:
- Male body: green back = Broad-tailed; orange-rufous back and sides = Rufous.
- Male gorget: rose-magenta = Broad-tailed; orange-red = Rufous.
- Attitude: bold = Broad-tailed; relentless, drives off everything = Rufous.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
The whistling mountaineer and the orange hurricane, side by side. KEY rows separate fastest.
| Feature | Broad-tailed Hummingbird | Rufous Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Selasphorus platycercus | Selasphorus rufus |
| Length KEY | 4.3 in (11 cm) | 3.75 in (9.5 cm) |
| Wingspan | 5.3 in (13 cm) | 4.5 in (11.5 cm) |
| Weight | 0.1–0.15 oz (3–4 g) | 0.1 oz (3–4 g) |
| Overall Shape | A Rocky Mountain hummingbird with a broad tail and a whistling wing-trill | The fiery orange hummingbird — small, fierce and far-flying |
| Male Plumage KEY | Iridescent rose-magenta throat, green back, white chest, rufous-washed sides; broad tail | Blazing orange-rufous back, sides and tail with an iridescent orange-red gorget |
| Female Plumage | Green above, white below with rufous flanks and a spotted throat; tail tips white | Green above with rufous flanks and tail base; spotted throat |
| Bill Shape | Long, straight, black | Straight, black |
| Tail | Broad, rufous-based in the male — and it whistles in flight | Rufous with black band and white tips (female); mostly rufous (male) |
| Core Range KEY | Breeds in the Rocky Mountains and Great Basin; winters in Mexico | Breeds the Pacific Northwest to Alaska; migrates through the whole West; winters in Mexico, with many wintering in the Southeast |
| Migration | Long-distance migrant — the classic hummingbird of mountain meadows | One of the longest migrations relative to body size of any bird |
| Feeder Presence | Sugar-water feeders all summer at mountain homes; red penstemon and scarlet gilia | Fiercely defends sugar-water feeders against all comers |
| Favorite Foods | Nectar and tiny insects | Nectar and tiny insects |
| Song KEY | No true song; the male’s wings produce a loud metallic trill in flight | No true song; wings whine in dive displays |
| Flight Call | Sharp “chit” notes | A hard, chattering “tchup-tchup” |
| Population Trend | Stable; returns to the same mountain meadows each May | Declining but still widespread; famously aggressive |
Male Field Marks, Side by Side
Broad-tailed Hummingbird — Male
Selasphorus platycercus
- Rose-magenta throat, rufous-washed sides.
- Wings whistle a metallic trill in flight — unmistakable.
- The hummingbird of Rocky Mountain meadows.
Rufous Hummingbird — Male
Selasphorus rufus
- Blazing orange-rufous overall, orange-red gorget.
- The fiercest bird at any feeder.
- Migrates up the coast in spring, down the mountains in fall.
Female & Juvenile Marks, Side by Side
Broad-tailed Hummingbird — Female
Selasphorus platycercus
- Green and white with rufous flanks and white tail tips.
- Builds a lichen-covered cup on a pine or spruce branch.
- Arrives with the first mountain wildflowers.
Rufous Hummingbird — Female
Selasphorus rufus
- Green with rufous flanks and tail base.
- Just as aggressive as the male.
- Winters farther north than most hummingbirds.
Part-by-Part Anatomy Breakdown
Every part offers a check:
| Body Part | Broad-tailed Hummingbird | Rufous Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Male Back | Green | Orange-rufous |
| Male Gorget | Rose-magenta | Orange-red |
| Wing Sound | Metallic trill in normal flight (male) | Quiet wings; whining dive display |
| Male Tail | Broad, rufous at base | Mostly rufous |
| Female | Rufous flanks, rufous tail base | Nearly identical — green with rufous flanks |
| Aggression | Bold | Relentless — attacks birds many times its size |
| Migration | Rockies to Mexico | Alaska to Mexico — an epic marathon |
Song & Call Comparison
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Selasphorus platycercus
Wing sound: the male’s wings produce a loud, metallic trilling whistle in flight.
Calls: sharp chit notes. (no open recording available)
Rufous Hummingbird
Selasphorus rufus
Calls: hard chattering tchup-tchup notes.
Display: wings whine in steep dive displays. (no open recording available)
Range & Seasonal Presence
The Broad-tailed Hummingbird breeds in the central and southern Rockies, wintering in Mexico.
The Rufous Hummingbird breeds from the Pacific Northwest to Alaska, then funnels down the Rockies in late summer — sharing mountain meadows with Broad-taileds every July and August.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- Broad-tailed: steady mountain feeder bird all summer.
- Rufous: arrives in July and takes over — expect feeder wars.
- Strategy: hang two or more feeders out of sight of each other when Rufous pass through.
- Both: 4:1 sugar water; clean every few days in mountain heat.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
Broad-taileds are confident but civil — display, guard a flower patch, share at slack times.
Rufous Hummingbirds are pure fight — chasing everything that moves, including birds a hundred times their weight.
6-Step Backyard ID Checklist
- Male back. Green = Broad-tailed; orange = Rufous.
- Gorget. Magenta = Broad-tailed; orange-red = Rufous.
- Wing sound. Constant trill = Broad-tailed male.
- Behavior. Nonstop warfare = Rufous.
- Season (Rockies). May-June = Broad-tailed; July-August orange influx = Rufous.
- Females. Nearly identical — call them “Selasphorus sp.” when unsure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell a Broad-tailed from a Rufous Hummingbird?
Male Broad-taileds have a green back and rose-magenta gorget; male Rufous are orange-rufous all over with an orange-red gorget. Behavior helps — Rufous is the one terrorizing every feeder.
Why is the Rufous Hummingbird so aggressive?
It migrates enormous distances and must refuel fast — evolved ferocity at flowers and feeders is the fuel strategy. It will attack birds a hundred times its size.
When do Rufous Hummingbirds pass through the Rockies?
July and August, heading from Alaska and the Northwest down to Mexico — a sudden orange invasion at mountain feeders.
Can females be told apart?
Barely — both are green with rufous flanks. Rufous females average more rufous at the tail base, but in the field they are best left as “Selasphorus sp.”
Do Rufous Hummingbirds winter in the U.S.?
Some do — increasingly along the Gulf Coast and Southeast, where they are the expected winter hummingbird at feeders kept up past frost.
Which one whistles with its wings?
The male Broad-tailed — a metallic trill in normal flight. Rufous males make a whining sound only in their dive displays.
Key Takeaways
- Male Back: Green = Broad-tailed; orange = Rufous.
- Gorget: Magenta = Broad-tailed; orange-red = Rufous.
- Wings: Trilling = Broad-tailed male.
- Attitude: Ferocious = Rufous.
- Season: Summer-long = Broad-tailed; July influx = Rufous.
- Feeders: Two hidden feeders survive a Rufous.