Broad-tailed Hummingbirds

Male Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Male Broad-tailed Hummingbird

One of our favorite places to hangout or eat a good dinner with wine when we are in the Tetons is Doran’s. Doran’s is very close to the Snake River on the opposite side of the river from the GTNP Visitor Center. Doran’s has a gorgeous view of the Tetons. It is a great place to watch the sunset. It is also a pretty good bird watching spot, especially hummingbirds because Dornan’s keeps several hummingbird feeders throughout the summer.

We can usually find at least 2 species of hummingbirds, but this last time we only found broad-tailed hummingbirds, but we got really lucky and found a nest too. We think the female was sitting on eggs because she wouldn’t move off the nest. Have you ever watched a female hummingbirds feed her babies? She sticks her bill way down their throat and pokes hard and fast several times. Baby hummingbirds must have Kevlar lined stomachs!

Male Broad-tailed Hummingbird Flairing at Another Male
Male Broad-tailed Hummingbird Flairing at Another Male

You know that hummingbirds are really small and have very, very fast metabolic rates but did you know if your metabolic rate was as high as a hummingbird’s you would have to eat 200,000 calories A DAY!!! A hummingbird can starve to death in 24 hours.

Female Broad-tailed Hummingbird on Nest
Female Broad-tailed Hummingbird on Nest
Male Broad-tailed Hummingbird Ready for Take Off
Male Broad-tailed Hummingbird Ready for Take Off
Male Broad-tailed Hummingbird Flairing Another Broad-tailed Male
Male Broad-tailed Hummingbird Flairing Another Broad-tailed Male
Male Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Male Broad-tailed Hummingbird

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