Lucifer Hummingbird

Common name: Lucifer hummingbird
Scientific name: Calothorax lucifer
Clades: Mellisugini - Bees

Lucifer Hummingbird (Calothorax lucifer)

Name Origin:
The genus Calothorax is from Greek kalos (“beautiful”) and thorax (“chest”), referencing the iridescent throat patch. The species name lucifer means “light-bearer” in Latin, likely a nod to the male’s brilliant gorget.

Quick Facts

🪶 Length: 9–10 cm
⚖️ Weight: 3–4 g
🌎 Range: Central and northern Mexico; reaches southeastern Arizona, southwest New Mexico, and west Texas in the U.S.
🧭 Elevation: 1,000–1,700 m
🌸 Diet: Nectar from agave and desert flowers, plus small insects
🏡 Habitat: Arid canyons, foothill scrub, desert slopes with agave and ocotillo
🧬 Clade: Mellisugini (a.k.a. “bees”)
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)

Subspecies & Distribution

Monotypic — no subspecies recognized.

Species Overview

The Lucifer Hummingbird is a small, highly specialized desert species known for its narrow range and distinct appearance. Males show a deep purple gorget, long decurved bill, and a deeply forked tail. This hummingbird prefers arid canyons with flowering agave and other desert flora, often seen hovering low over blooms or darting between perches. It is rare in the U.S., found in limited breeding territories in southeastern Arizona and parts of west Texas.

Male Description:
Green upperparts, bold iridescent purple throat, long curved black bill, deeply forked black tail, and a pale eye stripe.

Female Description:
Duller above with cinnamon underparts, a curved bill, pale eye stripe, and a less forked tail.

Habitat & Behavior:
Inhabits dry foothill canyons and arid slopes rich in agave and cacti. Forages low in the vegetation for nectar and insects. Unlike most hummingbirds, the male may display near the nest of a female rather than from an isolated territory. Breeding is timed to coincide with agave blooming in its range.

Conservation Note:
Though globally listed as Least Concern, the Lucifer Hummingbird has a very limited and fragmented breeding range in the United States. Its reliance on blooming agave makes it vulnerable to changes in desert land use and fire regimes. Conservation of desert canyon ecosystems is essential to support its small U.S. populations.