Buff-bellied Hummingbird /amazilia yucatanensis (Colibrí yucateco)
Status: Locally common summer resident in the Valley, becoming locally uncommon to rare in winter. The highest density of birds occurs from Brownsville to McAllen.
Habitat: Buff-bellied Hummingbirds occupy a variety of habitats, including woodland edges and urban settings. As a food plant, Buff-bellies prefer the small red flowers of native Turk’s cap (Malvaviscus arboreus) as well as a number of nectar-rich flowers.
Best Spots: In the summer season, Buff-bellied Hummingbirds are fairly easy to find in most Valley cities where hummingbird feeders are present. Good places to look for this species include the Sabal Palm Grove, Inn at Chachalaca Bend (Los Fresnos), Los Ebanos Preserve (north of Brownsville), Valley Nature Center (Weslaco), WBC Edinburg Scenic Wetlands, and Santa Ana NWR. Also seen on the landscaped grounds at the World Birding Center's Old Hidalgo Pumphouse.
Similar Species: Easily distinguished from most hummingbirds by the combination of large size, red bill, rufous tail, and green throat and upperbreast.
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All Bird call recordings © John C. Arvin.
Rare Bird Alert
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Nine Unique Locations
A Birder's Eye View of the Seasons in the Lower Rio Grande Valley
Welcome to a birder’s eye view of the seasons in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Enjoy our annual cycle! The resulting avifauna in deep South Texas is the most diverse north of the Mexican border. The four county area that makes up the lower Rio Grande Valley has recorded over 500 species of birds. This is more species of birds than have been recorded in all but two or three entire states. Small wonder that birders from across the continent make pilgrimages to the region. Happy Birding!
Birds Check List
What is a checklist?
A "Bird Checklist" is a complete list of birds that have been seen or heard in a specific region like Texas or the Rio Grande Valley. Checklists can be used as a personal diary of your travels.
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Checklists by site: