How long do broad-tailed hummingbirds live?
The oldest Broad-tailed Hummingbird on record lived to 14 years, a record from a bird of unrecorded origin. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild broad-tailed hummingbirds live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 14 years
- Record from
- Bird of unrecorded origin
- Age at first breeding
- About 1 year
- Eggs per clutch
- 2 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1–2 per season
- Size
- 3.5–3.9 in, 0.1 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 1 of 6
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Broad-tailed Hummingbird can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Broad-tailed hummingbirds usually start breeding at about 1 year old. Each season a pair lays 2 eggs and raises 1–2 per season, with eggs taking 16–19 days to hatch.
How broad-tailed hummingbirds compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other hummingbirds on this site.
- Black-chinned Hummingbird11.2 years
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird9.1 years
- Rufous Hummingbird8.9 years
- Anna's Hummingbird8.5 years
- Costa's Hummingbird6 years
More about broad-tailed hummingbirds
Frequently asked
How long do broad-tailed hummingbirds live?
The longest-lived Broad-tailed Hummingbird on record reached 14 years, recorded from a bird of unrecorded origin. Most wild broad-tailed hummingbirds live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Broad-tailed Hummingbird when it first breeds?
Usually about 1 year old.
What is the oldest Broad-tailed Hummingbird ever recorded?
14 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Broad-tailed Hummingbird raise in a year?
Pairs lay 2 eggs and raise 1–2 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info