Buff-bellied
Common name: Buff-bellied Hummingbird
Scientific name: Amazilia yucatanensis
Clades: Trochilini - Emeralds
The Buff-bellied Hummingbird is 10 to 11 cm (3.9 to 4.3 in) long and weighs 2.9 to 4.7 g (0.10 to 0.17 oz).
The Buff-bellied Hummingbird stands as one of three species regularly spotted north of Mexico. Its presence graces a wide array of habitats along the Gulf Coast of Mexico, stretching northward to Guatemala and southward to southern Texas. The bird's adaptability is evident in its ability to thrive within various environments, encompassing arid shrublands to semi-humid woodlands.
Within the United States, this stunning creature breeds primarily in the southern coastal regions of Texas, where it gracefully flits about between the months of March and August. During this period, sightings of the Buff-bellied Hummingbird are rather common, adding a touch of vibrancy to the landscape with its iridescent plumage and delicate demeanor. However, as fall transitions into winter, the species is notably less prevalent, appearing to disperse southward to Mexico and northeast, rendering it uncommon within its usual haunts.
The remarkable journey and seasonal patterns of the Buff-bellied Hummingbird present an intriguing insight into the intricate balance of nature, as it follows its instinctual rhythms and contributes to the vitality of diverse ecosystems throughout its range.
3 subspecies:
(Yucatan)
A. y. yucatanensis
Distribution SE Mexico (Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán), N Belize and NW Guatemala; erroneously reported from Honduras. Part of population winters N and NE along Gulf Coast of Texas.
(Northern)A. y. chalconota
Distribution extreme S USA (SE Texas) to NE Mexico (S to San Luis Potosí and N Veracruz).A. y. cerviniventris
Distribution E Mexico (Veracruz, Puebla, NW Chiapas).
