Calothorax lucifer
Lucifer hummingbird

The Lucifer Hummingbird is found primarily in central and northern Mexico. It is occasionally found as far north as southeast Arizona, southwest New Mexico, and west Texas.

Habitats vary widely depending on the geographic location. The Lucifer hummingbird can be found in the plains, foothills, and on the sides of rocky hillsides throughout its range.

The lucifer hummingbird is medium-sized with fairly small wings, a long bill, and a deeply forked tail. The male hummingbird has a green forehead and purple iridescence along the sides of its neck, which is bordered by white on both sides. The female has an unusually curved bill, no iridescense, and is light brown around the breast and throat areas.

Lucifer hummingbirds do not form pair bonds and are probably polygamous, although the male does display with a mating dance at nests. Most displays occur during nestbuilding and egglaying. Display consists of the male flying back and forth between two perches, a vertical flight followed by a powerful spiraling dive towards the female, ending with erratic lateral flight. Copulation has yet to be observed. Breeding season is known to last from April to August.

Lucifer hummingbirds hover and make quick, straight flights between perches or the nest and foraging area. They also often go on specific flycatching flights. Males defend nectar plants against all conspecific hummingbirds, as well against black-chinned hummingbirds. Females defend the areas around the nests against other female hummingbirds and predator species. Social behavior between adults and juveniles does not exist. Nests are in close proximity to each other, and females often steal nest material and are aggressive towards each other.

The main sources of food for Lucifer hummingbirds include spiders, small insects (primarily flies), and nectar from various plant species. They take nectar from the flower tube while hovering, rather than by cutting the base or side of the stem. While defending nectar plants, Lucifers will sometimes capture small insects for food. This usually occurs during the early morning hours (8 am to 11 am). In one study, the hummingbirds made as many as 200 flycatching flights in the first hour (8-9 am) and as few as 13 in the third hour (11-12 am). This is probably because the insects are both more visible and more abundant in the early morning light. The female forages for spiders to feed their young.

During the nineteenth century, the Lucifer hummingbird was captured to be stuffed and mounted, or sold alive. Members of this species may play a role in the pollination biology of some species of plants.

The habitats frequented by the lucifer hummingbird (arid, rugged areas) may help to lessen the impact of humans on hummingbird populations. Information on the past abundance of the Lucifer hummingbird and its present status is lacking.

Mating displays among Lucifer hummingbirds are unique. While other hummingbird species perform flight displays away from nesting sites, the Lucifer hummingbird displays at the nests of females during nestbuilding and egg-laying. The reasons for this behavior are unknown.