Diet

What do broad-tailed hummingbirds eat?

Nectar and insects.

Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)Broad-tailed HummingbirdSelasphorus platycercus

Spring and summer diet

  • Nectar from penstemon and scarlet gilia

Fall and winter diet

  • Winters in Mexico

Best feeder foods

  • Sugar water 1:4

Breeds at 6,000–10,000 ft; can drop body temperature overnight to survive frosty mountain nights.

Which feeder works best for broad-tailed hummingbirds →

Frequently asked

What do broad-tailed hummingbirds eat?

Nectar and insects.

What is the best food to feed broad-tailed hummingbirds?

Sugar water 1:4.

What do broad-tailed hummingbirds eat in winter?

Winters in Mexico.

Sources

  1. Broad-tailed Hummingbird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Broad-tailed Hummingbird life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Broad-tailed Hummingbird — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.