Hummingbirds, CA and around (1 Viewer)

opisska

rabid twitcher

• Oct 17, 2017

• #1

In order to avoid littering the forum, I have collected all the hums in one thread, leading to a two-post split. All pictures taken in August.

In the first post, all are from San Diego and around, where the question for orangey hums is mostly Costa's/Rufous. Peterson says that females are impossible in field, what do you all say?

 

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opisska

rabid twitcher

• Oct 17, 2017

• #2

The second part is more diverse:

First two are from the basin below Mt. Wheeler in NE Nevada, the third is from Desolation Wildreness near lake Tahoe and the last two are of the same bird in Central Valley south of San Francisco.

Thanks for any ideas!

 

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tom baxter

Well-known member

• Oct 17, 2017

• #3

Check the literature again, it should be Allen's/Rufous. These appear to be Allen's due to the green backs, also the much more abundant species in San Diego in August, although both are expected and Rufous is fairly common.

not sure on the 2nd set of pictures, pics 4&5 I would guess Anna's/Black-chinned and if I had to pick one I'd guess Black-chinned

 

opisska

rabid twitcher

• Oct 17, 2017

• #4

Oh sorry, I meant Allen's, just got the names mixed up. Is the green backs mark reliable for females? I just don't wanna tick Allen's as a lifer without reasonable certainty.

 

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tom baxter

Well-known member

• Oct 17, 2017

• #5

opisska said:

Oh sorry, I meant Allen's, just got the names mixed up. Is the green backs mark reliable for females? I just don't wanna tick Allen's as a lifer without reasonable certainty.

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No its not. I would have to leave them as Allen's/Rufous unless you want to go by probability. There are far more Allen's than Rufous, but unless you see a male in breeding plumage, I don't see how anyone could possibly be certain.

 

opisska

rabid twitcher

• Oct 18, 2017

• #6

tom baxter said:

No its not. I would have to leave them as Allen's/Rufous unless you want to go by probability. There are far more Allen's than Rufous, but unless you see a male in breeding plumage, I don't see how anyone could possibly be certain.

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The birds have to recongnize each other, right? I have found some websites where IDs are attempted based on the tail patterns, that's why I tried to provide some pictures with visible tails, but it seems really complex to do.

 

opisska

rabid twitcher

• Oct 20, 2017

• #7

Sorry to bump my old thread, but while I guess I have to give up on the first set, isn't there any chance for the second one? Mr. Tom Baxter has already suggested an interesting pick for the last bird.