Hi guys. Is there anyone who could ID this bird to me. Photo was taken in Mexico DF on 3000m elevation on a farm full of flowers. Maybe it is a Wedge-tailed Sabrewing / Campylopterus curvipennis /, but I am not sure. Thanks for the help.
Lorant, you have to tell us the exact location here. The distribution of hummingbirds in Mexico is
extremely patchy,( in all tropics and sub-tropics for that matter) with huge diversity of these guys.
Since there are no responses, I'd try to ID this bird. I've been birding in Mexico but
don't have much experience with the hummers there. I looked in Howell and Webb
and Lynx Hanbook v5.
When was the photo taken? I presume late August?
The shape of the tail and buff underpart I think eliminate the sabrewings.
First this looks to me like one of the bees (small hummers with gorgets) plate 32 in H&W Guide to the Birds of Mexico. This bird has a hint of golden feathers on the throat which means it is an imm. male about to develop a gorget. The white undertails eliminate the Selasphorus, and the faintly marked throat eliminate bunch of others.
The buff underparts with not even a hint of green or gray eliminate the Rubi-throated and Black-chinned.
At the location you found your bird I think possible candidates are Calliope and one of the Calothorax
(Lucifer and Beautiful) The lack of rufous in the tail and habitat (3000m conifer forest) suggests Calliope
but the throat very unmarked for Calliope. Although it is very hard to judge from this pose, I don't think the bill is curved
and I can't see pale stripe behind the cheek. Also I think this bird is too pale for the Lucifer.
My guess would be imm. male Calliope Hummingbird.
What do you think?
Thanks for the try. I guess for certainty I will have to take some more shots from different sides of this fellow next year when they return to the area. I posed this picture on a Mexican forum as well, but there are only guesses as well....best guess is ruby throated Hummingbird. So who knows.....would be nice to see the back too. Thanks again.