Bird GuideHummingbirdsXantus's Hummingbird
Xantus's Hummingbird
Basilinna xantusii

At a Glance

Related to the White-eared Hummingbird but resident only in Baja, this hummingbird is the most distinctive of the few Baja specialty birds. A female of this species once strayed north to Ventura, California, where it actually built a nest and laid eggs that did not hatch. Another once strayed all the way north to British Columbia.
Category
Hummingbirds
Conservation
Low Concern
Habitat
Desert and Arid Habitats, Forests and Woodlands, Shrublands, Savannas, and Thickets
Behavior
Flitter, Hovering, Rapid Wingbeats

Range & Identification

Description

3.25-3.75" (8-9 cm). Very rare visitor from Baja. Male is mostly glittering green with wide white eyebrow, buff belly, reddish in tail, red bill with black tip. Female is duller, with buff extending up onto throat.
Size
About the size of a Sparrow
Wing Shape
Narrow, Rounded, Short
Tail Shape
Notched, Rounded, Square-tipped

Songs and Calls

A low, fast rattle, also high chips (which appear to be a territorial warning).

Climate Vulnerability

Conservation Status