A large hummingbird with iridescent green throat. Restricted to southwestern sky island habitats.

Also called: Rivoli's Hummingbird

Native status: Native to North America

§ Quick facts

SizeBody 7–10 cm (2.8–3.9 in); wingspan 10–13 cm
Weight2.5–5 g
LifespanWild typically 3–5 years
OrderApodiformes
FamilyTrochilidae

§ Encyclopedia

Eugenes is a genus of hummingbirds that inhabit North America.

Source: Wikipedia — Eugenes Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Large, dark hummingbird; male appears blackish with a glittering green throat and a violet crown in good light. Female green above, dingy grayish below with a pale eye stripe.

Similar species. Blue-throated Mountain-gem has a blue throat and big white tail corners; Rivoli's male shows a green gorget and purple crown and lacks the white tail tips.

Voice. A sharp, high 'chip' and thin chatter.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Flower nectar; small insects and spiders for protein.

Behavior. A large hummingbird of high mountain forests in the Southwest borderlands; feeds on nectar and insects and dominates smaller hummingbirds at flowers.

§ Range

Sky islands of southwestern US

§ Habitat

Mountain woodlands

§ Threats

Habitat loss, climate change.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the magnificent hummingbird is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Support southwestern sky island conservation.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
  • National Audubon Society
  • iNaturalist
  • IUCN Red List