Hummingbird

[Danny J Brown]

I photographed this hummingbird a few days ago in the Ozark highlands of Northeastern Oklahoma at Nickel Preserve. I'm receiving some disagreement from my regular expert birders as to the species. John....please help.

DB

[Dan Brown]

Hi Danny. Range-wise, Ruby-throated would be the most likely of the likely candidates (Black-chinned, Anna's, Ruby-throated, Broad-tailed). The image seems really warm and I am seeing green and buff on the sides. This is really good for Broad-tailed. The gorget seems to fit Broad-tailed also. The bird is in a scrunched up posture, making the neck seem short, but the head is still small, too small for Anna's. So that plus the buffy sides seemto rule out Anna's, in my mind. That leaves Ruby-throated, Black-chinned and Broad-tailed. Tough!!! We could rule out Ruby-throated if we could see the tenth primary tip! If it is narrow and pointed, it is Ruby-throated. Here's a link to a posting with images of a proven Ruby-throated in CA in 2010 - http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/rthu081210.htm This will have more info. If it's not, we are down to Black-chinned and Broad-tailed. If the green/buffy sides are really there and not just in my imagination, I am going with Broad-tailed! It would be out of range but not that far and it is spring migration time!

[John Chardine]

Hi Danny- I am no hummingbird expert, however, although the occurrence of western hummers is on the increase in the east of North America, I see no reason to ID this bird as anything but a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird. The colour in the gorget is purely structural and when not lit up shows dark-grey/black. In this case the warm light is producing the brown tones in the head/throat and sides. What are your "regular expert birders" saying?

Dan- Sibley shows a white line "from chin to eye-ring to neck" in the Broad-tailed. I do not see this field mark in the image.

[Danny J Brown]

Hi Danny- I am no hummingbird expert, however, although the occurrence of western hummers is on the increase in the east of North America, I see no reason to ID this bird as anything but a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird. The colour in the gorget is purely structural and when not lit up shows dark-grey/black. In this case the warm light is producing the brown tones in the head/throat and sides. What are your "regular expert birders" saying?

Dan- Sibley shows a white line "from chin to eye-ring to neck" in the Broad-tailed. I do not see this field mark in the image.

Hi John,

I just assumed the bird was another Ruby-throated hummingbird and was getting ready to file it when a wildlife biologist friend said it looked like an Anna's. That ID was verified by a professor at a local university but another professor disagreed. I'm waiting to hear from an ornithologist colleague from Southeast Missouri State University. I'll let you know the final results. Take care.

Note to Dan Brown: Thanks for your input as well, Dan!

[John Chardine]

Danny- OK interesting. The bill does not look straight in the bird, which apparently is a field mark of Anna's. Always good to hear what others have to say though. Look forward to hearing what you find out.

[Danny J Brown]

Danny- OK interesting. The bill does not look straight in the bird, which apparently is a field mark of Anna's. Always good to hear what others have to say though. Look forward to hearing what you find out.

Some of the discrepancy I'm hearing regarding Ruby-throated is that this bird has red on its forehead, extending toward the top of the head and red on its primary feathers (edge). Apparently, those are not typical characteristics of the RTH. I'll keep you posted!

[Mack Hicks]

I vote for an Anna's. Crown and gorget look the same color, and the gorget looks scalloped. Ruby throats have a black "chin" separating the bill and the gorget which broad tails and Anna's do not.