The Oaxaca Hummingbird​

Have you ever dreamt of taking your dream vacation in Mexico? Do you picture white sandy beaches and endless parties under the stars?

Well, here’s something you may not know. You’ll find more than just beaches or delicious food in Mexico. It also has some of the world’s most diverse and rich ecosystems.

Take Oaxaca, for example. This Mexican state has over 8000 species of plant life. 

Fascinated with animals? You’ll also find numerous types of reptiles, mammals, and aquatic animals. In fact, the beaches of Oaxaca are an important breeding ground for leatherback sea turtles.  

The state is also home to 738 different species of bird life. That’s 70% of all of Mexico’s birds! 

In this blog, we are exploring one particular bird: the Oaxaca hummingbird, also known as the blue-capped hummingbird. (Eupherusa cyanophrys) 

But what is so special about hummingbirds in Oaxaca, Mexico? 

We tell you everything below!

The Hummingbird in Mexican Culture 

The hummingbird is an important bird in Mexico. It has also been revered through the centuries. 

But before we explain why, here are some essentials you should know about this beautiful bird:

• It is non-migratory and you can only find it around the Sierra Madre del Sur area.
• It has a bright and colorful plumage that shines like some ethereal jewel; if you are lucky enough to see it flying in the sunlight, that is!
• It is a pollinating bird, and thus very important to the region’s flora

You will find the hummingbird depicted everywhere in Oaxaca. 

They will be embroidered onto textiles, painted on pottery, and even carved onto quaint wooden alebrijes. These alebrijes are often described as Mexican spirit animals and carry symbolic power. Not surprising, really, because the Oaxaca hummingbird represents energy, vitality, and love. Quite apt for a bird that is tireless in its flight and dazzling to look at. 

This reverence for the Oaxaca hummingbird can be traced back to ancient civilizations. 

In Mayan culture

The Mayans believed that the Gods created the hummingbird to carry messages. 

Legend has it that after all the animals had been created, the Gods realized they needed someone to deliver their thoughts and wishes. But there was no corn or clay left to create one more creature. 

So, they carved out a tiny arrow from jade, and that became the hummingbird. 

The Aztecs 

The ancient Aztecs connected the hummingbirds to renewal and resurrection. 

Perhaps because the birds seemed to disappear during dry seasons. It only reappeared with the monsoon. 

The Aztecs also believed the souls of courageous people came back as hummingbirds. These included the souls of those who had died in battle. And women who died while givng birth. 

Interestingly, the Aztec god of sun and war was Huitzilopochtli. This literally translates into ‘left-handed hummingbird.’ 

He embodied strength, fire, and movement. 

Legends often talk about how he appeared in the form of a hummingbird to guide his people forward as they migrated to the valley of Mexico. 

Features and Habits of the Oaxaca Hummingbird 

Let us now explore the main feature of the Oaxaca hummingbird and its daily life.

Size and appearance

The Oaxaca hummingbird measures about 4-5 inches (10-11 cms) in length. The males are more vibrant and boast of bright blue crowns and glossy green backs. 

The coloring of females is slightly muted 

Both have a slender body, long bill, and they beat their wings quite rapidly—just like all other types of hummingbirds.  

Feeding 

The hummingbird’s primary food is nectar. It gets this by jumping from flower to flower, especially those that are in tubular shape. It will sometimes also eat small insects and spiders. 

The hummingbird also uses up a lot of energy as it flits around. This means it has to feed frequently throughout the day. 

Breeding

We don’t have very specific information on the breeding habits of the Oaxaca hummingbird. 

However, they are believed to be quite close to those of the typical hummingbird. 

The role of the male is limited to flashing his colors and wooing the female. The female, on the other hand, builds her tiny cup-shaped nest all by herself. 

She then incubates and hatches the two tiny white eggs. Again, all by herself. 

An interesting fact to note is that hummingbirds don’t pair for the long term, and breeding is generally limited to a brief interaction.

Habitat

The Oaxaca hummingbird has its home in the evergreen forests of the Oaxaca region (hence the name!) 

They are typically found at elevations of  600–2,000 meters above sea level. 

This area The forests here provide the birds with all they need for survival—flower blossoms, insects, and nesting sites. 

The conservation of these forests is crucial to the survival of the bird itself. 

Behavior 

Dusk and dawn are the busiest times for the Oaxaca hummingbird. It also shows territorial behavior if any other bird dares to encroach upon its feeding ground. 

One more interesting fact is that if food is scarce, it can enter torpor. This is a temporary state of reduced activity that helps it conserve energy. 

Dangers Faced By the Oaxaca Hummingbird 

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has listed the Oaxaca hummingbird as endangered. This list is managed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The total population of the bird is only about 600-1700, and numbers are continuing to decline. 

The main factors contributing to this are: 

1. Habitat loss 

This is one of the biggest threats. 

The Oaxaca hummingbird depends on the forest  for its food and shelter. However, these are slowly disappearing to make way for farms and other human occupations. 

2. Fragmented forests 

The Oaxaca hummingbird no longer has one continuous stretch of forest. 

This makes daily life much harder, as it now has to fly for longer between feeding and nesting areas. These open spaces also become risky, with the threat of other predatory birds. 

3. Changes in climate

Weather changes in the Mesoamerican region have impacted how and when flowers bloom. If the timing is off, the hummingbird is likely to have fewer sources of nectar. 

Research also suggests that because the Oaxaca hummingbird has such a limited area to live in, its adaptability is also limited. When we add to this the pressure of habitat loss and climate change, it is very likely that their numbers will shrink even further 

4. Human threats 

Dried hummingbirds are sometimes sold as love charms in certain markets in Mexico. Not only is this illegal, but it also adds pressure to a dwindling population. 

Protecting the Oaxaca Hummingbird 

To keep the Oaxaca hummingbird safe, we need to protect its home. Here are some efforts that we can put in:

• Help protect the forests by supporting local community-led initiatives
• Choose products like shade-grown coffee. This helps provide the farmers with income while letting the forests thrive
• Choose to buy hummingbird art and embroidery, not dried bird love charms
• Practice eco-tourism in order to motivate local communities to conserve the forest
• Get involved in the work of non-profit groups such as Paso Pacífico

At Paso Pacífico, we are focused on restoring forests, building wildlife corridors, and protecting endangered species like the Oaxaca hummingbird in the Mesoamerican region of the Pacific slope.

If you are interested in helping us, you can visit our website and learn more about our various projects.