The beautiful sheartail or beautiful hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in tribe Mellisugini of subfamily Trochilinae, the "bee hummingbirds". It is endemic to Mexico.
Region
Southwestern Mexico
Typical Environment
Occurs primarily in the Balsas River basin and adjacent Pacific-slope interior of southwestern Mexico. It favors tropical dry forest, thorn-scrub, and semi-open arid slopes with scattered shrubs and cacti. The species also uses canyon edges, second-growth thickets, and gardens where flowering plants are abundant. It follows seasonal blooms and may shift locally to track nectar availability.
Altitude Range
300–2000 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A small hummingbird of Mexico’s interior dry forests, the beautiful sheartail is noted for the male’s long, deeply forked tail and glittering magenta-violet throat. It frequents flowering shrubs and agaves, aggressively defending nectar sources from other hummingbirds. Though tied to arid and semi-arid habitats, it adapts to edges, second growth, and gardens with abundant blooms. Habitat protection in the Balsas region benefits this species.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with agile hovering and quick darts
Social Behavior
Typically solitary outside of breeding, with males defending rich nectar patches against intruders. Courtship includes hovering displays and shuttling flights near the female. The nest is a small cup of plant fibers and spider silk placed on a low branch or shrub. Clutch size is usually two eggs, with the female handling incubation and chick rearing.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are thin, high-pitched tseep and tssit notes, often given while foraging or during territorial chases. Males add a dry, buzzy twitter in display, sometimes accompanied by subtle wing trills.
