Comments on: October Hummingbird http://www.bigcountryaudubon.org/2006/10/20/october-hummingbird/ Birding in the Big Country Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:23:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Nancy Newfield http://www.bigcountryaudubon.org/2006/10/20/october-hummingbird/#comment-662 Nancy Newfield Sat, 21 Oct 2006 17:58:20 +0000 http://www.bigcountryaudubon.org/2006/10/20/october-hummingbird/#comment-662 I think Nick Block has it nailed. She looks to be pretty fat and will probably move along very soon. I think Nick Block has it nailed. She looks to be pretty fat and will probably move along very soon.

]]> By: Nick Block http://www.bigcountryaudubon.org/2006/10/20/october-hummingbird/#comment-661 Nick Block Fri, 20 Oct 2006 20:29:01 +0000 http://www.bigcountryaudubon.org/2006/10/20/october-hummingbird/#comment-661 The narrow inner primaries nail the ID as an Archilochus hummer; Calypte hummers would show broader inner primaries. The shape of the primaries make it a Ruby-throated Hummer (IMHO). Notice how tapered/pointed the inner primaries are, and, more importantly, notice the shape of P10. It is clearly narrower than P9 (shown well in Photos 3 & 10). Compare that to the Black-chinned in Photo 11, whose P10 is the same width as P9 and comes to a much broader tip. I would say this bird is an adult female because of the worn upperpart, tail, and primary feathers. A HY would show fresher feathers with pale edges and also would probably show noticeable throat spotting. Nick The narrow inner primaries nail the ID as an Archilochus hummer; Calypte hummers would show broader inner primaries. The shape of the primaries make it a Ruby-throated Hummer (IMHO). Notice how tapered/pointed the inner primaries are, and, more importantly, notice the shape of P10. It is clearly narrower than P9 (shown well in Photos 3 & 10). Compare that to the Black-chinned in Photo 11, whose P10 is the same width as P9 and comes to a much broader tip.

I would say this bird is an adult female because of the worn upperpart, tail, and primary feathers. A HY would show fresher feathers with pale edges and also would probably show noticeable throat spotting.

Nick

]]> By: Randy Pinkston http://www.bigcountryaudubon.org/2006/10/20/october-hummingbird/#comment-660 Randy Pinkston Fri, 20 Oct 2006 20:14:05 +0000 http://www.bigcountryaudubon.org/2006/10/20/october-hummingbird/#comment-660 Upon closer inspection of the other images, the bird's tail appears to be partially missing and/or incompletely grown. Perhaps the dorsal green coloration is a shade too bright for Costa's. I therefore agree with others that Ruby-throated seems to fit best.--Randy Pinkston Upon closer inspection of the other images, the bird’s tail appears to be partially missing and/or incompletely grown. Perhaps the dorsal green coloration is a shade too bright for Costa’s. I therefore agree with others that Ruby-throated seems to fit best.–Randy Pinkston

]]> By: Randy Pinkston http://www.bigcountryaudubon.org/2006/10/20/october-hummingbird/#comment-659 Randy Pinkston Fri, 20 Oct 2006 19:24:56 +0000 http://www.bigcountryaudubon.org/2006/10/20/october-hummingbird/#comment-659 I'm not so sure about Ruby-throated. I'm at work and have no references available here, but the bird looks dumpy, very white-throated, gray-sided, and the tail tip is either equal to or shorter than the folded wing tips. I suppose it still could be an Archilochus sp. in some sort of transitional molt or plumage, but I think Costa's is another possibility. What do you think?? I agree with John it certainly is not an Anna's. Randy I’m not so sure about Ruby-throated. I’m at work and have no references available here, but the bird looks dumpy, very white-throated, gray-sided, and the tail tip is either equal to or shorter than the folded wing tips. I suppose it still could be an Archilochus sp. in some sort of transitional molt or plumage, but I think Costa’s is another possibility. What do you think?? I agree with John it certainly is not an Anna’s.

Randy

]]> By: brush http://www.bigcountryaudubon.org/2006/10/20/october-hummingbird/#comment-658 brush Fri, 20 Oct 2006 17:44:18 +0000 http://www.bigcountryaudubon.org/2006/10/20/october-hummingbird/#comment-658 My money would go on an HY female Ruby-throat but I could be wrong..........Brush My money would go on an HY female Ruby-throat but I could be wrong……….Brush

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