Wintering hummingbird

[bobky]

Is it true that hummingbirds only exist in the Americas? None in Europe? You are missing a special treat if you have never seen one in flight.

We have a little (Rufous?) wintering over here in Kentucky, which is very rare. The weather is expected to start getting well below freezing temperatures at night, so I hope for the best.

This picture was taken out our kitchen window today, 4 Jan 2004,with a Panasonic FZ1 camera (12x optical zoom).

[satrow]

They don't exist in the wild outside of the Americas.

I have seen Ruby throated in the wild - great!

There are some places where people can see hummers - heated butterfly houses for example. But they're like zoos :-(

Andy.

[Beverlybaynes]

I think satrow is right about hummers being endemic only to the Americas.

But I find it amazing that this little beauty has chosen to stick around this far north this late!! Amazing!

Are you providing any warmth at all around the feeder?

Glad he's not up here -- we're having sleet on top of snow, with more snow and ice predicted. Ick!

[seb_seb]

Weve got our own version - The Hummingbird Hawkmoth. Not a bird.......but most people think they`ve seen a hummingbird afterwards!!

[Michael Frankis]

Yes, Rufous Hummingbird, female.

Make sure you have some fresh sugar solution available for it at first light every morning through the freeze!

Michael

[scampo]

I have seen tiny hummingbird-like birds in the Middle East - but I can't remember what they were. Has anyone else seen them?

[satrow]

I have seen tiny hummingbird-like birds in the Middle East - but I can't remember what they were. Has anyone else seen them?

Palestine(Orange-tufted) Sunbird?

Andy.

[Tim Allwood]

Sunbirds I should think Scampo

hummers are beautiful
from sea-level in the tropics to the snow-fields of the Andes - incredible little birds and damn hard to pick up in the forest - u just hear a large buzzing sound zipping thru the trees - then sometimes they'll just sit motionless.

[Bluetail]

I saw several Ruby-throated Hummers in Canada. Mostly just fly-bys, but one perched obligingly on a branch and allowed itself to be 'scoped at leisure. Amazing how the throat changed from red to black and back as the bird turned its head. Even the wife enjoyed that one! What price one of those turning up on the Scilles one day?

Jason

[scampo]

Now I know my memory is failing... That's the one! A beauty - in the centre of Tel-Aviv, too.

[peachfront]

Nice picture. I have been hosting one for a couple of weeks now but I'm no good at photographing hummingbirds. She is a Rufous/Allen's but when the bander came by, the bird took off until she left with her trap, so the bird escaped without being fully identified. We do get Allen's so you aren't really sure what you have here unless they're banded and measured; I'm pretty sure up in Kentucky they are all going to be Rufous.

[bobky]

Thanks to all for the comments. Consensus seems to be that she is a Rufous. Whatever she is, she is one tough little bird. The air temperature when I just took this picture was 14F/ -10C. We are feeding her the sugar water solution and in another feeder a product called Nektar Plus,which is designed for nectar feeding birds and moths.

Here is my photo album of her:

http://home.insightbb.com/~bstaib1/wsb/html/view.cgi-photos.html-.html

[NCLady]

There was an article in our local Wilmington, NC newspaper last year about a banded rufous hummingbird that has hung around this area for the past three years in the winter. The family who "hosted" the hummingbird called a lady who is an ornithologist and licensed bird bander who works as a research affilitate with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. After catching the hummingbird in a special cage trap, she was able to match the band number and know that this was the same hummingbird that she had banded three years before when it was just a juvenile. Not only is it a rarity to see a hummingbird here in the winter, but usually only the ruby-throated ones are this far east. However, it was noted that more and more rufous hummingbirds are making their way east. Good luck with your little hummer. Now that the weather is really cold here, he will need all the necter you can provide.

[bobky]

Hi NCLady,

Pretty amazing isn't it !! We had about 3 inches/75mm of snow last night,but she was up early this morning-about 15 minutes before sunrise.
Cheers,bob

[bobky]

She's still here;pretty amazing. This picture was from two days ago. Cheers,bob

[Michael Frankis]

Good to hear Bob . . . has all that horrible white stiff gone though? I can't see it in the new pic

Michael

[Beverlybaynes]

Bob, I'm absolutely amazed that you still have a hummer hanging about!

The last ones known in Indiana departed within the last week or so. And to the best of my knowledge, all of them were rufous.

I'd been wondering about yours, so I'm glad to see you post. Take care of the little one!!

[streatham]

Hi Bobky

Great pics. Lucky for you that you've got the little bird to brighten up your winter. I'm just interested how/if Allens hummingbird has been ruled out?

[bobky]

Hi Bobky

Great pics. Lucky for you that you've got the little bird to brighten up your winter. I'm just interested how/if Allens hummingbird has been ruled out?

Thanks Michael ,Beverly and Streatham,

That has not been ruled out;however, consensus opinion seems to be that any wintering hummingbird east of the Mississippi river is likely a Rufous.

The snow is all gone,but the temperature tonight is going to be 9F/-13° C; I'm worried.
This picture is from today.
Cheers,bob

[streatham]

Hi Bob,

People immediately seem to leap to the conclusion that any selasphorus hummer on the east coast in fall/winter must be an Rufous whereas perhaps Allen's are here more commonly (a very relative term) than they are given credit for. This page has a discussion of various recent vagrant hummers in NY including possible Allen's which people may find interesting http://users.rcn.com/pjeffrey/Hummingbirds.html#CPK02

Also bobky if it was an Allen's I think you would find yourself with the first Allen's hummingbird record for Kentucky - I would try and get some serious opinions on the bird if I were you.

Luke

[streatham]

I am also attaching this site to report you winter hummer to http://www.trochilids.com/

[Michael Frankis]

Also bobky if it was an Allen's I think you would find yourself with the first Allen's hummingbird record for Kentucky - I would try and get some serious opinions on the bird if I were you.Of course if it does turn out to be KY's first Allen's, you'll have 500 KY birders knocking on your door to see it!

(That's the bad news - the good news is that you'll be instantly famous in the state's birding circles, and granted prime viewing at any other rare birds that turn up)

Michael

[bobky]

Of course if it does turn out to be KY's first Allen's, you'll have 500 KY birders knocking on your door to see it!

(That's the bad news - the good news is that you'll be instantly famous in the state's birding circles, and granted prime viewing at any other rare birds that turn up)

Michael


streatham and Micheal,

Thank you; I have been
in email contact with Stacey Petterson. My wife is happy thinking it is a Rufous and she is doing her utmost to keep the little bird alive. I'm doing my best to learn photograhy using this little bird as a subject. Our winter guest is still here after a night of -13C. Cheers,bob

[Beverlybaynes]

Delighted to hear the little beauty is still about.

[Swift]

Good it see its hanging in there.

[samuel walker]

Is it true that hummingbirds only exist in the Americas? None in Europe? You are missing a special treat if you have never seen one in flight.

We have a little (Rufous?) wintering over here in Kentucky, which is very rare. The weather is expected to start getting well below freezing temperatures at night, so I hope for the best.

This picture was taken out our kitchen window today, 4 Jan 2004,with a Panasonic FZ1 camera (12x optical zoom).
For the past two falls we have had lateRufous hummingbirds in central Ohio. This year's bird was posted on Ohio Birds until early December then fell off the site. The Spanish refered to them as flying jewels after they arrived in N America.My wife plants her garden deliberatly with flowers for the hummers Morning glory and Trumpet flower.
Happy Humming
Sam

[Michael Frankis]

Any chance you can get a photo with the tail spread?

That's what's needed to clinch the difference between Rufous and Allen's, as they have different shape tail feathers.

Michael

[bobky]

Thanks Beverly and Swift,

To give everybody an idea of just how small these birds are, this morning I placed a golf ball just below the feeder. A golf ball is 1.680 inches (42.67 mm). Cheers,bob

[bobky]

Michael,

She is not very cooperative when it comes to showing her tail feathers ♥
Cheers,bob

[Grousemore]

Great photo again,Bob,but I don't believe anyone can differentiate between Rufous/Allen's on this evidence!

[bobky]

Thanks Samuel and Grousemore,

My wife plants numerous flowers to attract hummingbirds, just as your wife does.

The exact identification of this bird is going to remain a mystery. Rufous or Allen's. It certainly would seem to be a very rare sighting if she were an Allen's,given the lack of sightings reported on the sites below. Cheers,bob

http://www.trochilids.com/USA/2003allens.html

http://www.trochilids.com/USA/2003rual.html

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the extra pic!

Great photo again,Bob,but I don't believe anyone can differentiate between Rufous/Allen's on this evidence!
Not yet, but if Bob can snap a pic with the tail fully fanned, it should be possible. Otherwise, if someone from one of the hummer study groups can catch & band it . . .

Michael

[bobky]

Michael,

You ever been married? SOMEBODY ♀ doesn't want to disturb the bird by banding it...

I'll keep trying to get a tail feather shot. These birds are small. very FAST and don't like to stay in one place very long. Cheers,bob

[Beverlybaynes]

I can't think of anyone who'd want to stay in any one place very long in this cold!

We've got another storm with ice and sleet predicted for tomorrow afternoon and night, with it being worse south of us. Hope it doesn't range as far south as you, Bob!

Can't convince the wife that banding the bird would contribute to science? And that if it's an Allen's, you'd be at least semi-famous in birding circles?

Oh well, at least you seem to be having a good time trying to get the tail feather picture!

[alcedo.atthis]

We went South a couple of years ago, and found an visitors centre which had Hummers flying around in a large heated greenhouse. I took one or two photos' as one would, but for the life of me, I cannot remember where it was. We did visit Alton Towers at the time, but I do not think it was part of there.
Must be getting old and forgetful.


Malky @ Westhill, I think.

[bobky]

Thanks Beverly and alcedo.atthis,

Yes, the ice strorm is coming here too. Wish I had a large heated greenhouse to put her in.

The camera's flash reflected off her neck feathers in an interesting display;photo taken yesterday. Cheers,bob

[bobky]

She is like the US postal service motto:" “And neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night..." We had about 6mm of ice yesterday,but she is still here today.

[Michael Frankis]

Excellent! What a survivor!

The latest pic shows I reckon just enough detail on the outer tail feather (as it is not quite preened neatly up against the others) to see that it is fairly broad. That makes it Rufous, not Allen's (where the outermost tail feather is very narrow).

Michael

[bobky]

Excellent! What a survivor!

The latest pic shows I reckon just enough detail on the outer tail feather (as it is not quite preened neatly up against the others) to see that it is fairly broad. That makes it Rufous, not Allen's (where the outermost tail feather is very narrow).

Michael


Good catch Michael !! It is almost 15C today,sunny and all the ice has melted. What a difference a day makes...Cheers,bob

[bobky]

Yesterday morning the little bird got tangled in the plastic sheeting we are using to cover the feeder from the rain and snow. My wife gently lifted her out of the tangle and held her in an open hand;the bird sat there for about two minutes,then flew off. She returned a few minutes later to start feeding again.

Last night it snowed about 1 inch/25mm again and the temp was 12F/-11C when I took this picture this morning, about 20 minutes before sunrise. She is a survivor!!
Cheers,bob

[Grousemore]

Good news there,Bob and another fine picture.

[bobky]

Last night it was -4F/-20C. The high today was 19F/-7C.This is a bird that likes to live in California, not here with temperatures like that. Amazing to me! Regards,bob

[Michael Frankis]

Wowee! That's bitter! I'd certainly not want to be out in that . . .

Michael

[bobky]

She is still here today. This is a cropped,but unedited, photo from my Canon S50 digital camera. Cheers,bob

http://home.insightbb.com/~bstaib1/wsb/media/571404/site1050.jpg

[Beverlybaynes]

Bob, I'm continually amazed by this little girl's toughness! I'm so glad you continue to post her picture. I think about her often and am so glad to know she's still around.

[Beverlybaynes]

And, by golly, I think you got her tongue in the picture!

[bobky]

Hi Beverly,

We are getting snow again this morning. Here is another tongue shot from a few days ago. Cheers,bob

http://home.insightbb.com/~bstaib1/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-600900.html

[NCLady]

I'm so happy that she is still around. She certainly looks healthy enough so you must be doing something right. Are you making your own sugar water? The pictures are stunning. KY has certainly had it's share of bad weather this winter - what a tough little bird. Thanks for keeping us updated. I always look in to see how she's doing.

[kriskend]

Hi Beverly,

We are getting snow again this morning. Here is another tongue shot from a few days ago. Cheers,bob

http://home.insightbb.com/~bstaib1/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-600900.html


Wow Bob,

I think you have inspired me to take up photography. Any advice on what type of digital camera to use to get such great pics? I bet the cold and snow doesn't seem nearly as bad when you have such a beautiful bird to take care of. Keep posting the pictures, they're great.

Kris

[bobky]

Hi Kris and NCLady,

Thanks.

Yes, we are using a homemade 3 to 1 water to sugar mixture. Also, we are feeding her a commercial product designed for use by zoos,etc.,called Nektar Plus.

It snowed again this morning:

http://home.insightbb.com/~bstaib1/wsb/media/571404/site1051.jpg

With a window feeder you can get very close and you won't need a long zoom lens. I'm using a Canon S50 which has a time-lapse feature. I usually just set the camera up and let it fire away automatically using that feature. You can vary the interval from 1 to 60 minutes and take up to 100 pictures,depending on how big a memory card you have. The S50 is a very nice 5 megapixel, 3X optical zoom, camera that is now selling for less than $350.00 on the internet. If you are going to take pictures from a distance, then I recommend cameras with at least 10X optical zoom. Olympus C750, Panasonic FZ10,etc.

Here are some good sites for camera reviews:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/hardware_reviews.html

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/cameraList.php

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/

The last site has a very good forums section with all the popular cameras.
Let me know if I can answer any questions for you. Cheers.bob

[bobky]

She is still here. Cheers,bob

http://home.insightbb.com/~bstaib1/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-625101.html

[Alan Hobson]

Lovely photos, and a gorgeous bird. It must be great seeing her each morning - it adds a real sparkle to the day for you, even on work days!

[Beverlybaynes]

Delighted to hear it, Bob.

The Green-tailed Towhee, a couple hours north of you in New Albany (just across the river from Louisville) has been gone since the 5th.

[bobky]

Thanks Alan and Beverlly,

You are correct;that little bird does inspire me. I've never seen one of those birds, Beverly,but they sure are pretty. Anything special to attract them? I got VERY lucky yesterday on this photo of her feeding while in flight. Cheers,bob

http://home.insightbb.com/~bstaib1/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-628400.html