Dusky Hummingbird

Scientific name: Phaeoptila sordida

The Dusky Hummingbird is a medium-sized, rather plain hummingbird of arid scrub and semi‑open, dry landscapes in southwestern Mexico. It is listed as Least Concern, with an estimated 50,000–499,999 mature individuals, a stable population trend, and it is considered not a migrant.

At a Glance

• Family: Trochilidae (hummingbirds)

• Clades: Trochilini – Emeralds

• Genus group: Phaeoptila — dusky hummingbird (1 species in total)

• Range: Southwestern Mexico, from Michoacán and Morelos south and east into Oaxaca, largely within and around the Balsas Depression.

• Habitat: Arid and semi‑arid scrub, desert scrub, open dry forest, thorny shrubland, and semi‑open areas with scattered trees and bushes, including rural lands and shrubby slopes.

• Elevation: Mostly between about 900 and 2,200 m (3,000–7,200 ft).

• Length: About 9–10 cm (3.5–3.9 in).

• Weight: About 3–5 g (0.11–0.18 oz).

• Number of mature individuals: 50,000–499,999.

• Population trend: Stable.

• Status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List category).

• Migration: Not a migrant.

Name Origin
The genus name Phaeoptila combines Greek roots meaning “dusky” or “dark” and “feather,” referring to the overall drab, brownish appearance of this hummingbird. The species name sordida also means “dirty” or “dusky,” again highlighting its relatively plain plumage compared with many emeralds. The English name “Dusky Hummingbird” directly reflects this subdued, dusky coloration.

Taxonomy & Distribution
Monotypic species — no recognized subspecies.

Dusky Hummingbird is part of the emerald clade (tribe Trochilini) but is distinctive enough to be placed in its own monotypic genus, Phaeoptila, with no close congeners currently recognized. It is endemic to Mexico, occurring on the western and southern flanks of the Mexican highlands from Michoacán and Morelos south and east into Oaxaca, especially associated with the Balsas Depression and surrounding dry valleys and slopes.

Legend
Green Resident

Species Overview
The Dusky Hummingbird is unusual among hummingbirds in being rather drab and “female‑plumaged” in both sexes, lacking the bright throat patches or crowns seen in many relatives. It is adapted to dry scrub and semi‑open habitats, where its muted browns and greens blend well with the surrounding vegetation. Within its limited Mexican range, it can be fairly common locally in suitable arid scrub and open dry woodland and is a characteristic hummingbird of shrub‑dominated hillsides and canyons.

Male Description
Adult males are medium‑sized with a straight, relatively short black bill. The crown, nape, and back are dull greenish‑bronze to brownish‑green, with little iridescence. The face is dusky with a pale area behind the eye. The throat and breast are grayish‑buff to brownish, often with faint greenish suffusion, and the belly can be slightly paler. The tail is moderately long, slightly rounded, and dark with greenish gloss, sometimes with narrow pale tips on the outer feathers. Overall, males appear as small, dusky hummingbirds with muted green upperparts and gray‑brown underparts.

Female Description
Females are very similar to males in overall color and pattern, with dull greenish‑bronze upperparts and grayish‑brown underparts, and lack any bold, colorful throat patch. The tail is similar but may show slightly more obvious pale tips on the outer feathers, giving a bit more contrast from below. Juveniles resemble females but are still duller, with more brownish tones and less distinct contrast between upperparts and underparts; they gradually acquire the full adult pattern.

Habitat & Behavior
Dusky Hummingbirds inhabit arid and semi‑arid scrub, open dry forest, thorn shrubland, and semi‑open landscapes with scattered trees and bushes, often on hillsides and in canyons. They forage at low to mid heights, visiting flowers of shrubs, cacti, agaves, and small trees, moving methodically through patches of blossoms. They can be territorial around rich nectar resources but are generally less conspicuous than brighter hummingbirds, often perching quietly within shrubs. As with other hummingbirds, they supplement their nectar diet with small insects and spiders, catching them in flight or gleaning from foliage.

Breeding
Breeding occurs in suitable seasons within its Mexican range, typically timed to regional rainfall and flowering patterns in dry forests and scrub. The female constructs a small cup nest of plant fibers and spiderweb, often decorated externally with bits of bark or lichens, placed on a small branch or in a fork within shrubs or low trees. She lays two white eggs and alone incubates and raises the chicks, as is typical of hummingbirds. Nest sites are usually in relatively open, dry-country vegetation rather than dense forest.

Population
With an estimated 50,000–499,999 mature individuals and a relatively restricted geographic range confined to southwestern and south‑central Mexico, the Dusky Hummingbird has a moderate global population. Within suitable arid scrub and dry forest habitats it can be locally fairly common, especially in the Balsas Depression and nearby dry valleys. The population is considered stable at present, supported by the species’ adaptation to naturally open, dry habitats that in places overlap with lightly used agricultural or grazing lands.

Conservation
Dusky Hummingbird is assessed as Least Concern, with a stable population trend, but its endemic status and restriction to dry habitats within a limited Mexican region mean it could be vulnerable to extensive habitat alteration. Conversion of arid scrub and dry forest to intensive agriculture, urban expansion, or heavy grazing can reduce local populations, though the species appears tolerant of some level of disturbance and semi‑open, human‑influenced landscapes. Conservation of natural dry scrub and open woodland, protection of canyon and hillside habitats, and maintenance of native flowering shrubs and trees in rural landscapes are important for ensuring the long‑term security of this unique, monotypic‑genus hummingbird.

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No related species in the Phaeoptila genus (1 species in total):

Please note: The content provided in this article reflects Anthony’s personal experience and photographic approach. Results can vary depending on light, weather, location, equipment, subject behavior, and field conditions.