Hummingbird-Rufous-tailed
Life History
Food
Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds are nectar-feeders, feeding on Heliconia, banana, and coffee flowers (Greenberg et al. 1997). Since nectar is low in protein, they also feed on small insects (Remsen et al. 1986). This species is also a common visitor to human-made feeders filled with a sugar-water mixture.
Behavior
This species is extremely aggressive and territorial (Stiles and Skutch 1989). They dive at other hummingbirds or large insects (such as butterflies) that invade their feeding area (Primack and Howe 1975, Boyden 1978). While aggressive, they sometimes form loose nesting colonies (Weller 1999). Like many (if not most) other hummingbird species, since their metabolic rates are so high, Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds go into a torpor state at night and on colder days to conserve energy.
Territoriality
Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds can be extremely territorial over preferred feeding sites (Stiles and Skutch 1989). This can include both patches of flowers and man-made feeders.
Sexual Behavior
Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds are polygynous. Males will often become territorial over an area of flowers, presumably for courting a female.
Social and interspecific behavior
This species is aggressive, both towards others of its species and other species. While aggressive, it will sometimes nest colonially. They will often cohabit a man-made feeder with other hummingbirds, though Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds often spend more time chasing off other birds (and insects) than tolerating their presence (personal observation).
Predation
Very few animals are able to prey on adult hummingbirds, but chicks and eggs are vulnerable to nest predators, including domestic cats and small birds of prey.
Reproduction
The breeding season for this species varies greatly due to its large range. In Oaxaca, southern Mexico, breeding is from March-August (Binford 1989). Breeding is from February-November in northeastern Costa Rica (Wolfe 2009). Nesting may be year round in Panama, but with a peak from January-May (Skutch 1931). Nests reported from Colombia in February and August (Hilty and Brown 1986).
Females usually choose small trees or bushes as nesting sites, from 0.6-6 m above the ground (Skutch 1931). The cup nest is usually made from plant fibers, leaves, and cobwebs and is covered with lichen and moss. A new nest will be rebuilt if the original is destroyed (Stiles and Skutch 1989, Weller 1999).
Females usually lay 2 eggs. The incubation period is 15-16 days. Young fledge at around 18- 22 days old, though they will not become independent of their mothers under around day 58 (Skutch 1976). The female provides all of the parental care.
Populations and Demography
The Rufous-tailed Hummingbird global population is estimated to be between 500,000 to 4,999,999 individuals (BirdLife International 2009). While the population trend is undetermined, it is not believed to be decreasing (IUCN 2009). There is no information related to topics such age at first breeding, life span and survivorship, dispersal, or population regulation.
