Lucifer sheartail Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Lucifer sheartail

Male lucifer sheartail
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Calothorax
Species:	lucifer

breeding range Non-breeding range

The lucifer sheartail or lucifer hummingbird (Calothorax lucifer) is a beautiful, medium-sized bird. It is a type of hummingbird. This bird is about 10 cm (4 inches) long. It has green feathers and a slightly curved bill. Its special neck feathers, called a gorget, flare outwards. These hummingbirds live in high places in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. In winter, they fly south to central Mexico.

What Does the Lucifer Sheartail Look Like?
Where Do Lucifer Sheartails Live?
What Do Lucifer Sheartails Eat?
Reproduction and Behavior
Status of the Lucifer Sheartail
Gallery
See also

What Does the Lucifer Sheartail Look Like?

The lucifer sheartail is a medium-sized hummingbird. It is about 10 cm (4 inches) long. It has green feathers and a long, curved bill. You can spot a white stripe behind its eye. Its wings are quite small.

Male lucifer sheartails are very colorful. Their feathers shimmer with iridescent colors. They have a dark, forked tail. Their head is green. A bright magenta (purplish-red) patch covers their throat. This patch is called a gorget. Their belly is white.

Female lucifer sheartails are a bit larger than males. Their feathers are not as bright. They have a pale throat. Their belly feathers are white or light brown. Sometimes, these feathers have a touch of crimson (deep red).

Where Do Lucifer Sheartails Live?

Lucifer sheartails live in deserts and dry areas. They are found in the southwestern United States. This includes parts of southwest Texas, southeastern Arizona, and extreme southwestern New Mexico. They also live in central and northern Mexico.

These birds like places with agave plants. They are often found in the Madrean sky islands. These are mountain ranges in northern Mexico. Their favorite homes are at high altitudes. They live between 3,500 and 5,500 feet (1,067 to 1,676 meters) high. You can find them in canyons, on mountain slopes, and in dry riverbeds. These areas have desert shrubs and cacti.

When winter comes, these hummingbirds fly south. They migrate to central Mexico.

What Do Lucifer Sheartails Eat?

Lucifer sheartails mostly eat nectar. They get nectar from agave plants. They also drink from other colorful desert flowers. Besides nectar, they eat spiders and small insects.

These hummingbirds fly in a special way when they eat. They hover in front of flowers to drink nectar. They also catch insects while flying. Sometimes, they fly in straight lines to reach certain places. These places might be for more food, their nest, or for roosting (resting).

Male lucifer sheartails protect their feeding spots. They chase away other males. They also chase away females and even black-chinned hummingbirds.

Reproduction and Behavior

During courtship, male lucifer sheartails try to attract females. The male hovers high above the female. Then, he dives down quickly. His wings or tail make a snapping sound. After the dive, he flies away. His tail feathers are forked. He makes a different series of snapping sounds. This display lasts about 30 to 45 seconds. He might repeat it several times in an hour.

Female lucifer sheartails build their nests on desert shrubs or cacti. They choose steep, dry, rocky slopes. The nests are usually 2 to 10 feet (0.6 to 3 meters) above the ground. Sometimes, a female will build a new nest on top of an old one.

The female lays two white eggs. The nest is small and shaped like a cup. She usually has one or two broods (sets of chicks) each season. The eggs hatch after about 15 days of incubation. The young chicks stay in the nest for about 23 days.

Status of the Lucifer Sheartail

The lucifer sheartail is a common bird in the areas where it lives. Experts check on its population. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species says its population is stable. It is listed as "Least Concern." This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.