Lucifer hummingbird Calothorax lucifer

Identification Tips:

• Long, thin, decurved bill
• United States ranged restricted to southeastern Arizona and west Texas. Stray elsewhere.

Adult male:

• Purple throat (black in poor light) longest at sides
• White spot behind eye
• Green upperparts
• Grayish underparts with greenish and rusty sides
• Black, forked tail with broad white tips

Adult female:

• Pale throat
• White spot behind eye
• Green upperparts
• Buffy breast
• Pale belly
• Green tail-outer feathers have rusty base, black middle and white tip
• Immature male similar to female but may have a few purple throat feathers

Similar species:

Unlike other North American hummingbirds, the Lucifer Hummingbird has a distinctly decurved bill. The male Lucifer Hummingbird can be told by its purple throat and forked tail. The female has a buffy breast unlike similar species.