To Kill A Hummingbird Trivia Quiz

Answer: Ruby

All of the gems might fit the colours, but this is the ruby-throated hummingbird, the species seen commonly in the eastern regions of the USA. It has a large range, from Canada down to Florida during the breeding season. It migrates south to Mexico and Central America for the winter, with some finding their way to the West Indies.

As is common with hummingbirds, nectar forms an important part of the ruby-throated hummingbird's diet, with insects and spiders providing the protein. Only males have the red patch on the throat - in females this is white - but both share the iridescent green feathers on their heads and backs.

Answer: Andes

This species is found only in South America and only in the west, in the Andean regions of Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Bolivia. The bill is bigger than the bird's body, with the tail excluded, and is so long these hummingbirds are unable to use it to preen and have to rely on their feet instead.

The bill has evolved to enable the birds to reach nectar which would otherwise be inaccessible. Females actually have longer bills than males, but both genders have to perch carefully with their beaks at an angle for balance. As well as nectar, they catch insects by flying with an open bill - hard to evade one that size, I imagine.

Answer: Calliope

Named for the muse of epic poetry, the Calliope hummingbird breeds all along the western coast of North America, from California and as far north as British Columbia. It then flies south to Mexico and Central America for the winter. This tiny bird is only three to four inches (seven to ten centimetres) long and is said to weigh about the same as a ping pong ball. Its migration can cover up to 5,000 miles (8,000 km). They travel north along the coast but return inland via the Rocky Mountains.

The bright purple colours, sometimes described as claret, on the throat are found in the male, with the female having darker markings. The backs of both birds are green.

Answer: Rufous

Selasphorus rufus is a small hummingbird, measuring around three inches (eight centimetres) in length. It spends summers in the west of North America, from California up to Alaska, before migrating south to Mexico for the winter. This migration can be as much as 2,000 miles (over 3,000 km), a huge distance for such a small bird.

They are described as 'feisty' taking on larger hummingbirds in fights for food and even tackling chipmunks who come too close to their nests. One look at the photo should tell you where their name originates. This is a male, as females are more subdued in colour with more green and less orange/rust.

Answer: White-eared hummingbird

I hope you noticed the 'leucotis' in the scientific name as this is derived from the Greek word for white. You can see the distinctive white stripe across the side of the head in the photo. This species is found mostly in the southern USA, including Arizona, and in parts of Mexico and Central Mexico..

It is mostly a resident rather than migratory, although does tend to move a little further south in the winter. Like most hummingbirds, it is territorial and will defend its feeding areas from much larger birds. It lives in and around pine forests.

Answer: Mexican

Looking closely at the photo will tell where the violetear part of the name comes from, although Mexico is not the only country in which it is to be found. It breeds from southern Mexico, through Central America to Nicaragua and can also be seen in parts of the northern regions of South America. It is sometimes spotted in the USA, but hasn't been noted to breed there.

Apart from the violet streaks across the sides of the head, the birds are mostly a shiny green colour while the tail has a bluish-green metallic finish. It is classed as a medium sized hummingbird, ranging from just under four inches to a little under five inches (10-12cm).

Answer: Cinnamon

The cinnamon hummingbird, Amazilia rutila, has a range from Costa Rica in Central America in the south to northwestern Mexico. The upper body is green with bronze feathers which have a metallic tinge. There are four recognised subspecies, which inhabit different parts of their range, and there are an estimated 500,000 birds in existence, making its status 'least concern'.

They live in forested areas and feed on nectar, from a wide range of flowers, and insects.

Answer: Lucifer

The (male) Lucifer hummingbird has a bright purple throat and is found primarily in Mexico, in central and northern regions. It is occasionally seen in the southern areas of the USA, in New Mexico and Arizona in particular.

It feeds on nectar from desert plants such as the agave and flowering cacti, with insects and spiders also part of the diet. It is also known as the Lucifer sheartail.

Answer: Violet

The violet-capped hummingbird (Goldmania violiceps) is found mostly in Panama and Colombia. The one in the photo is a male, showing off the bright green feathers and violet head which gives the bird its common name. The female has much more subdued colours.

Because it has such a small range, which is also fragmentary, the species is considered to be near-threatened.

Answer: Cuba

The species is found only in Cuba, unless blown off course, something which seems entirely possible since these birds are tiny. They are under three inches (six centimetres) long and weigh under an ounce, or two grammes. Females are slightly larger but not by much.

Males have blue wings with a darker head and grey/white underparts. Females look more green than blue and build nests which are only an inch (two and a half centimetres) across. They are found across the whole of Cuba, but I think binoculars are likely to be needed to spot them.