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A Selasphorus Hummingbird in Cincinnati December 2001by Jay Lehman |
I have included some observations and thoughts about the ID. Photographed with Cannon EOS 2A, at 200 mm, 2x Extender EF (Cannon EF 70-200 mm lens, 2.8), digitized with Nikkon 950 Coolpix, sharpening with Adobe Photoshope 6.0.
Number 4. Shows some tantalizing hints at the size of retrix #5 (outer tail feather) on the bird's rightside. Note the rufous sides and rufous in the rump and maybe just a hint of rufous at the base of retrix #? on the bird's left side.
Number 5. Hints of rufous in back feathers and nape feathers. Could this be due to the light angle? Notice anterior tips to feathers of rump appear rufous. The central tail feathers (retrices #1) appear green with dark (black?) tips for at least the length that is visible. Also note that there appear to be green feathers missing from the back just behind the wing. Could this be the cause for the appearance of rufous above the wing when the bird is perched?
Number 7. Note the rufous sides and undertail coverts as well as on some of the axillaries. Note the distinct white breast band. The spotting below the eye appears green while the gorget spotting is much darker. No color is showing in the gorget because light is not hitting the gorget. Note that the gorget is triangular shaped and centrally located. Some indistinct fine spotting is just visible on the otherwise white sides of the throat. There is some rufous around the eye.
Number 8. Full back view showing the color of the central tail feathers (retrices #1) that are visible. Also note that some feather edges appear to be rufous. There are apparent missing green feathers on the back.
Number 9. More of an artistic view than an aid to identification.
Number 10. More back view showing missing green feathers.
Why is this a rufous/Allen's type hummingbird? I think that this is a female due to the throat pattern (See Ref #1) and the mostly (apparently) green retrices #1 with black tips and no buffy edges (see Ref #1). Retrices #1 are visible when the tail is folded, because they fold over the outer retrices . Fresh back feathers on an adult female should also be tipped with rufous (Ref #1). The missing feathers may indicate that not all the fresh feathers have grown in at this point. When the bird is perched, rufous shows above the folded wing. This may be partially due to some missing feathers on the back near the wing.
Why not Calliope or Broad-tailed? The bird is too large for Calliope. When perched this Cincinnati bird's tail is considerably longer than the wings, extending beyond the primary tips. The wing tips of Calliope extend to or beyond the tail when perched. Calliope is a smaller hummingbird and would be obviously short or stubby tailed. A Broad-tailed Hummingbird is a noticeably bigger bird with different shape with a different tail shape. It is not an adult Broad-tailed, which would have rufous edges to the tail feathers.
The width of the retrices #5 when the tail is spread suggest Rufous rather than Allen. I got reasonable views of the #5 retrices/outer tail feathers, but no photos. These seemed to be relatively wide and of similar width to retrices 3 & 4 (the next feathers toward the tail center).
I just finished the download and have reviewed the photos. I feel 100% sure the bird in question is a female selasphorus, either Rufous or Allen's. The side shot, that shows the rich color along the sides and flanks, as well as the apparent heavy central cluster of reflective feathers would tend to make me believe that it is an adult. The back and rump look fresh, with little wear. That too is what I most often see in adult female Rufous this time of year. The profile of the head showing bill length/head size comparison also indicates Rufous female. This bird does not have the overall smaller appearance (feeder comparison, I am familiar with that feeder) that I associate with a female Allen's.
While I cannot give you a species identification, statistically it would most likely be Rufous, combined with the other items noted above, I would think it is most likely and adult female Rufous. This is not a positive ID. I don't know of anyone who could give you that from these photos, which are quite good.
For your information, the behavior of Rufous/Allen's is quite useful. Allen's tend to be more of a low-flying, low perching, inside the bushes kind of bird. More of a hit and run poacher in the presence of other hummers or passerines. Rufous on the other hand tend to be more aggressive in winter. Often perching high and doing more chasing of other hummers and yard birds. Rufous tend to challenge even humans as they exit the house and process the feeders.
