General Information

The giant hummingbird is the largest member of the hummingbird family.

Physical Description

The giant hummingbird weighs 18-20 g and measures eight and a half inches in length, which is about the length of a European Starling or a Gray Catbird. It is the only member of the genus Patagona. The giant hummingbird is a light brown color on its upperparts and a burnt orange color on its stomach. The tail is long and has white patches on parts.

Diet

Hummingbirds are attracted to many flowering plants such as shrimp plants, bee balm, Heliconia, Buddleja, Hibiscus, bromeliads, cannas, verbenas, honeysuckles, salvias, pentas, fuchsias, many penstemons, and others.

Habitat

The Giant Hummingbird is found between 6,500-11,000 feet above sea level in the Andes of South America, from northern Ecuador to central Chile and Argentina.

Reproduction

Most male hummingbirds take no part in nesting. Most birds of this species will make a neatly woven cup in a tree branch. The female lays two white eggs, which despite being the smallest of all bird eggs, are in fact large relative to the hummingbird's adult size. Incubation typically lasts 14-19 days.