Birds of North Carolina:
their Distribution and Abundance
Broad-tailed Hummingbird - Selasphorus platycercus
TROCHILIDAE Members:
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General Comments Accidental. There are two state records of the Broad-tailed Hummingbird: an immature male was banded and photographed at a feeder near Gibsonville (Guilford), 13 Nov 2001 - 20 Apr 2002* [Chat 69:105-107 link]; and an immature female that was banded and photographed at a feeder in northwestern Union from 25 Nov - 7 Dec 2023 [Chat 88:7 link]. This second record has yet been voted on by the NC BRC. Considering the double-digit records for the even more westerly breeding Calliope Hummingbird, and several records for the highly unlikely Green Violetear, it is very surprising that only two state records have surfaced of Broad-tailed Hummingbird. Though females and immature males can certainly be confused with Rufous Hummingbirds, and all ages and sexes can even be overlooked as Ruby-throated Hummingbirds to inexperienced observers, the species is likely being overlooked at feeders.
Breeding Status Nonbreeder
NC BRC List Definitive
State Status
U.S. Status
State Rank SA
Global Rank G5
Coastal Plain No records.
Piedmont Two records (see above).
Mountains No records.
Finding Tips
1/2 *
Attribution LeGrand[2024-02-08], LeGrand[2018-02-01], LeGrand[2012-07-14]
NC Map
Map depicts all counties with a report (transient or resident) for the species.
Click on county for list of all known species.