Birds Active during the day

Buff-bellied Hummingbird

Amazilia yucatanensis

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

A splash of cinnamon and emerald, the Buff-bellied Hummingbird is the largest hummingbird regularly seen in Texas and a bold visitor to backyard gardens. Known for its feisty personality and distinctive red bill, this stunning bird brings a touch of tropical flair to the Gulf Coast.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 10-11 cm (3.9-4.3 in); Wingspan: 14.5 cm (5.7 in); Weight: 2.9-4.7 g (0.1-0.17 oz)

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Colors

Metallic olive-green upperparts, brilliant green throat and breast, distinctive buff or cinnamon-colored belly, and a rufous tail. The bill is notably red with a dark tip.

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Key Features

Cinnamon-buff belly and undertail coverts
Bright red bill with a dark tip
Rufous notched tail visible in flight
Metallic green throat and chest

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 6-10 AM, 4-7 PM

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Season Year-round

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Diet Primarily nectar from tubular flowers and sugar-water feeders; also consumes small insects and spiders for protein caught mid-air or gleaned from leaves.

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Habitat Suburban gardens, citrus groves, coastal scrub, and semi-open woodlands.

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Where Does the Buff-bellied Hummingbird Live?

Native to North and Central America, the Buff-bellied Hummingbird primarily resides along the Gulf Coast of Mexico and the Yucatán Peninsula, extending into northern Guatemala and Belize. In the United States, it is a signature species of the lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas, where it remains year-round. Interestingly, this species exhibits an unusual 'reverse migration,' with some individuals wandering northeast along the Gulf Coast toward Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida during the winter months.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

4 Countries

920K km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

MX Mexico US United States BZ Belize GT Guatemala

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Buff-bellied Hummingbird is known for its bold and often aggressive personality. Unlike many smaller hummingbirds, it doesn't hesitate to defend its territory, frequently chasing away larger birds and other hummingbirds from its favorite nectar sources or feeders. They are highly vocal, often giving a sharp 'tsip' call while foraging or defending their turf.

In backyard settings, they are remarkably curious and can become accustomed to human presence. They spend much of their day patrolling a specific circuit of flowers, a behavior known as 'traplining,' though they will also hover and 'glean' small insects and spiders from foliage or snatch them mid-air. During the winter, while some stay put in their core range, others are famous for wandering northeast along the U.S. Gulf Coast, making them a sought-after visitor for birdwatchers in Louisiana and Florida.

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Camera Tips

To capture the stunning iridescence of the Buff-bellied Hummingbird, placement is everything. Position your camera approximately 12 to 18 inches away from a nectar feeder or a cluster of native flowering plants like Turk's Cap or Firebush. Because these birds are quite territorial, they often have a 'favorite' perch nearby—look for a thin, bare branch within 10 feet of the food source and aim a second camera there to capture resting shots. Angle the camera so the sun is behind the lens; this ensures the light hits the metallic green feathers and the bright red bill, preventing the bird from appearing as a dark silhouette.

Using a camera with a high-speed trigger or a dedicated 'bird' mode is essential. These hummingbirds move incredibly fast, so a shutter speed of at least 1/2000th of a second (if manual settings are available) or a high-frame-rate video setting (60fps or higher) is necessary to freeze the wing motion. If your camera supports it, use a 'Pre-capture' feature that saves images from a second before the trigger, as these birds often dart in and out of the frame faster than a standard PIR sensor can react.

For the best results, focus on the early morning hours just after sunrise and the 'golden hour' before sunset, when their activity peaks and the light is softest. If you are in the Gulf Coast region outside of South Texas, keep your cameras active during the late autumn and winter months. The Buff-bellied Hummingbird is one of the few species that 'migrates' toward the coast during the cold season, making it a prime candidate for winter backyard photography when other migratory birds have headed further south.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Buff-bellied Hummingbird.

Broad-billed Hummingbird

Has a similar red bill but features a deep blue throat and dark underparts rather than a buff-colored belly.

Rufous Hummingbird

Much smaller with a black bill; while it has cinnamon colors, it lacks the brilliant green throat and large size of the Buff-bellied.

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Frequently Asked Questions

They are most active during the early morning (from sunrise until about 10 AM) and again in the late afternoon before dusk. These peak feeding times are when they are most likely to visit backyard feeders and garden flowers.

Plant native nectar-rich flowers like Turk's Cap, Firebush (Hamelia patens), and various Salvia species. They are also readily attracted to sugar-water feeders using a 4:1 water-to-white-sugar ratio. Providing a nearby perch and a misting water feature can also encourage them to stay.

Their diet consists primarily of flower nectar and sugar water from feeders. However, they also rely on small insects and spiders for essential protein, which they catch by 'hawking' in the air or picking off leaves.

Yes, they are very well-adapted to suburban environments, particularly in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and coastal Mexico. They thrive in gardens with mature trees and plenty of flowering shrubs.

While both have red bills, the Buff-bellied Hummingbird has a distinct pale cinnamon-buff belly. In contrast, the Broad-billed Hummingbird has a dark blue throat and a green or dark belly, lacking the warm buff tones.

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