THE BIRD BOOK 



432 433 434 



432. BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD. 

 Selasphorus platycercus. 



Range. Rocky Mountain regions, north to 

 Wyoming; winters south of the United States 



This species is similar to the Ruby-throat, 

 but larger and with the back more golden 

 green color, and the throat shining lilac. They 

 are very abundant in Colorado and Arizona, 

 nesting as do the Ruby-throats in the east, and 

 their nests being similar in construction and 

 appearance to those of that species. The 

 eggs cannot be distinguished from those of 

 other species. 



433. RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD. 

 Selasphorus rufus. 



Range. Western North America, breeding 

 from the Mexican border north to Alaska and 

 fairly abundant in most of its range. 



A handsome little species with the back and 

 tail reddish brown, and with a throat gorget of 

 orange red, the feathers being slightly length- 

 ened into a ruff on the side of the gorget. They 

 nest in a great variety of locations and at a 

 low elevation, such as vines, bushes and the 

 low hanging branches of trees. The nest is 

 made of vegetable fibres covered with cob- 

 webs and often with lichens. The eggs do not 

 differ from those of the other Hummers. 



276 



