Hummingbird Quiz (6 Viewers)

[Lisa W]

Ok Marian,
I really like these photos. All three are great, especially the first one.
You've stumped me on the first one, but I think I know the 2nd two - or at least can guess:
#2 White-Throated Mountain Gem Lampornis castaneoventris
#3 Stripe-tailed Eupherusa eximia
My fingers are crossed awaiting the answer.

 

[Mario Hummer]

I assume you all can guess what they are from these pics. I have at least another one of all them just in case you need an extra view.

Don't overestimate this student, Marian. I'm dashing off to the University but here it goes:

no. 1: Green-brested Mango, Anthracothorax prevostii

no. 2: White-throated Mountain-gem, Lampornis castaneoventris

no. 3: Green-crowned Brilliant, Heliodoxa jacula

I hope there's no punishment for rushing with the homework...

Mario

 

[madamcoolpix]

Hi, people! Nice to know you liked the pictures. I'm very fond of the first one as it was not taken in a feeder but (as Luiz always says and I adore it) kissing flowers. The second one is special too, the only one specimen we found of that bird. It was taken at Savegre Lodge, in the highlands (that is a clue). And the third one is very valuable: it was almost impossible to get that one sat for a couple of seconds. The same happened with the Violet Sabrewing, and I had to take videos of them to immortalize them properly... but those videos turned out fantastic! It is a pity I can't share them...

Well, guys, back to the quiz, not bad but not good enough...

It is not extremely easy but it is not difficult either. So I would like you to think again about your answers. Some are correct and some are not, so I'm going to post a second set of pictures of the same species to help you. They are not as good as the previous set but can help to ID.

I'm going to postpone the answers until tomorrow, and give you another opportunity to verify or correct your answers. He, he! I'm being very naughty... what suspense! I must confess this strategy is only an excuse to share more pictures.

It is not properly seen in both pics, but the third bird has very white undertail.

I hope you get the correct answers now! Good luck!

 

[Luiz]

Hi, people! Nice to know you liked the pictures. I'm very fond of the first one as it was not taken in a feeder but (as Luiz always says and I adore it) kissing flowers. The second one is special too, the only one specimen we found of that bird. It was taken at Savegre Lodge, in the highlands (that is a clue). And the third one is very valuable: it was almost impossible to get that one sat for a couple of seconds. The same happened with the Violet Sabrewing, and I had to take videos of them to immortalize them properly... but those videos turned out fantastic! It is a pity I can't share them...

Well, guys, back to the quiz, not bad but not good enough...

It is not extremely easy but it is not difficult either. So I would like you to think again about your answers. Some are correct and some are not, so I'm going to post a second set of pictures of the same species to help you. They are not as good as the previous set but can help to ID.

I'm going to postpone the answers until tomorrow, and give you another opportunity to verify or correct your answers. He, he! I'm being very naughty... what suspense! I must confess this strategy is only an excuse to share more pictures.

It is not properly seen in both pics, but the third bird has very white undertail.

I hope you get the correct answers now! Good luck!

Hi Marian!
So you have some strategies... Well, after reading what you said about the third bird's tail, I would say it is the Striped-tailed hummingbird, or Eupherusa eximia. Hope it is right, now!

Cheers!

PS: The quiz is a success!

 

[Lisa W]

Marian,
I feel as if I'm failing the test. But here goes:
#1 Fiery Throated - Panterpe insignes
#2 White-throated Mountain Gem - same as yesterday, can't make myself change it
#3 Stripe-tailed - again same as previous, but I can't see it being anything else.
Waiting with baited breath (I've always wondered what that meant).

 

[Mario Hummer]

Don't overestimate this student, Marian. I'm dashing off to the University but here it goes:

no. 1: Green-brested Mango, Anthracothorax prevostii

no. 2: White-throated Mountain-gem, Lampornis castaneoventris

no. 3: Green-crowned Brilliant, Heliodoxa jacula

I hope there's no punishment for rushing with the homework...

Mario

Marian,

I'll switch no. 3 to a Berillyne hummingbirds, Amazilia beryllina. By the way, in the first of the no. 3 photos, is it a female next to the foreground bird?

And I'll make sure to select tough Brazilian hummers in the future in return for your naughtiness, teacher...

Mario

 

[madamcoolpix]

Here I am again, my dear "students"!

PS: The quiz is a success!

It seems so, Luiz, and I'm very happy you are enjoying it. But it is working thank to you all! And to share all these pictures is a real pleasure.

And I'll make sure to select tough Brazilian hummers in the future in return for your naughtiness, teacher...

Looking forward to seeing them, Mario, and you will see how dumb this teacher can be on other Hummers out of Costa Rica! o

I feel as if I'm failing the test.

No, Lisa, please don't feel like that, this is only a game. Besides... you got BINGO again!!!

The answers are:

1. Fiery-throated Hummingbird (Panterpe insignis). The first pic was a bit confusing, as the long bill was not well seen, but the overall dark coloration was there. Sorry, but I had to share that one "kissing" flowers. The second one showed better the throat and breast "flame" colours. I'm happy it was not neccesary to say it was taken at around 3.000 m (an important clue).

2. White-throated Mountain Gem (Lampornis cinereicauda). If you know it, it is unmistakable. Similar to the Purple-throated Mountain-Gem, but with white throat instead of purple. That's the main difference but they look as if they have nothing to do one with the other... but they are probably the same species. My last piece of news is they are regarded as subspecies now (L. castaneiventris cinereicauda and L. castaneoventris calolaema). Luiz, you didn't know this one but I think from now you will not have problems to ID it. It is an obvious bird.

3. Stripe-tailed Hummingbird (Eupherusa eximia). In Costa Rica can't be misidentified because no other Hummingbird with green general coloration has that brown-orange wing patch and white undertail. And I assure you both features are very obvious "in the flesh", more than the stripe on the tail.

By the way, in the first of the no. 3 photos, is it a female next to the foreground bird?

Yes, Mario, it is a female Hummingbird, but I'm not going to say which one because that it another question to come in this Quiz!

I'm leaving you now. Tonight, another set of pictures! I hope this is not getting too difficult! If you have something to comment (or to complain at! ) I will read it before posting the pics.

Have a wonderful day!

Marian

 

[Lisa W]

Thanks Marian, When I couldn't figure anything else for the other two I started to get worried that I wasn't looking for the right ID marks. Now that I know I'm not failing I'm ready for the next set. You're definitely giving us a workout. Keep 'em coming.

 

[madamcoolpix]

Here I'm back, dear ones, with my new exam for you.

You're definitely giving us a workout.

This is not turning out as I expected... but much more interesting and funny. Next step should be I sit the exam myself!

This is getting more difficult, but I'm proud of you and I hope you will manage to give me the correct answers. As in former occasions, if you can't get it at the first time, I will give you some clues. But I would like all of you to guess at least two of this set.

What can you tell me about these? (in the first pic you can see there is another Hummingbird in the background out of focus, but I would like you to tell me which Hummer is that, too)

 

[Lisa W]

Marian, hopefully I'll be able to do more research tonigt. So far all I've figured out is the out of focus bird in the first photo:
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird - Amazilia tzacatl

Hope to post more later.

 

[cjwolf]

I haven't seen very many tropical hummers, but here are my guesses:

1. front bird: Green Hermit; out of focus: Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

2. Green-breasted Mango

3. Green-crowned Brilliant

 

[Luiz]

Here I'm back, dear ones, with my new exam for you.




This is not turning out as I expected... but much more interesting and funny. Next step should be I sit the exam myself!

This is getting more difficult, but I'm proud of you and I hope you will manage to give me the correct answers. As in former occasions, if you can't get it at the first time, I will give you some clues. But I would like all of you to guess at least two of this set.

What can you tell me about these? (in the first pic you can see there is another Hummingbird in the background out of focus, but I would like you to tell me which Hummer is that, too)

Hi Marian..

I thought we would have vacations now, i did not know you were such an enthusiastic teacher!

Ok, let's do some work: Reading the answers of Cole, I agree with all, except that I think that the green-breasted mango is a female. As I'm trying to be a good student, I'll add the scientific names, since you asked for it: Green Hermit- Phaetornis guy; Rufous-tailed HB- Amazilia tzacatl; Green-breasted mango- Anthracothorax calolaema; Green-crowned brilliant - Heliodoxa jacula.

I'll say something rather strange now: I hope we are at least partially wrong, so that this second part may not end too quickly!

Cheers, teacher

Luiz

 

[madamcoolpix]

Good morning, dear ones! (although all of you must be sleeping nicely at this moment, those 6-8 hours between you and me make keeping in touch a bit of a mess)

I love to see you attached to this thread so enthusiastically! I'm so happy with my students!

hopefully I'll be able to do more research tonight

Take your time, Lisa, we are not in a hurry.

I thought we would have vacations now

Ha, ha!!! Luiz, that was good... almost like my "real" students!!!

I will not say anything about the answers until Lisa post hers, but for the moment, as the three of you agree on the out of focus Hummer, I'm confirming YOU ARE RIGHT, yes, it is the ubiquitous Red-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacalt). Isn't it gratifying to guess something from such a poor image?

See you later!

 

[Lisa W]

Marian,
Sorry I got delayed. I have been very careful not to look at the others, so here goes:
1. I've already ID'd (I hope) the out of focus. The in-focus is (I think) a Male Green-hermit Phaethornis guy
2. Green-breasted Mango, could be juvenile or female Anthracothorax prevostii
3. Green-crowned Brilliant, think it's a female Heliodoxa jacula
I'm hopeful, but not 100% confident!

 

[madamcoolpix]

Hi again, dear students!

Cole, welcome to this "school"!!!

Sorry I got delayed

No problem, Lisa. Besides, with some delay this takes more time and we satisfy Luiz , who don't want this finished too quickly:

I hope we are at least partially wrong, so that this second part may not end too quickly!

Luiz, I hope you will be quite happy because the three of you are partially wrong. You've given the same three answers but the first one is wrong. The 3 pics are females or juveniles, let's see:

2) Green-breasted Mango (Anthracothorax prevostii.... not "calolaema", Luiz! sorry). Not adult males Mangos of most species have white underparts with a black stripe from throat to belly, quite distinctive feature. In Costa Rica there is only this, so it is easy. But in other parts of America telling them apart can be a tough task.

3) Female Green-crowned Brilliant (Heliodoxa jacula). Not colourful but distinctive female. You all got that one so I don't think it needs further explanation.

1) You've puzzled me with this one!!! Even you made me doubt about it! I had to check it again to be sure. I never thought this lady could be confused with a Green Hermit, but yes, at first sight she can! I've learnt something thank to you.

I was unable to take a picture of a Green Hermit, so I'm attaching this link for you to compare:

http://lhostelaw.com/0210cr/0210_1085_grhermit.jpg

Don't rely too much on coloration but on shape for your second try. I'm out of home during the weekend and have not my pics available to post another one. So, my homework for you for the weekend is just to have a look to this bird again and we will see your oppinions on Monday. And if you don't agree with me we can discuss the subject, just in case I'm the mistaken one.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Marian

 

[Lisa W]

Wow, Marian. The first was the only one I was positive I had correct and it was wrong... argh! More research tonite.

 

[Luiz]

Hi again, dear students!

Cole, welcome to this "school"!!!




No problem, Lisa. Besides, with some delay this takes more time and we satisfy Luiz , who don't want this finished too quickly:




Luiz, I hope you will be quite happy because the three of you are partially wrong. You've given the same three answers but the first one is wrong. The 3 pics are females or juveniles, let's see:

2) Green-breasted Mango (Anthracothorax prevostii.... not "calolaema", Luiz! sorry). Not adult males Mangos of most species have white underparts with a black stripe from throat to belly, quite distinctive feature. In Costa Rica there is only this, so it is easy. But in other parts of America telling them apart can be a tough task.

3) Female Green-crowned Brilliant (Heliodoxa jacula). Not colourful but distinctive female. You all got that one so I don't think it needs further explanation.

1) You've puzzled me with this one!!! Even you made me doubt about it! I had to check it again to be sure. I never thought this lady could be confused with a Green Hermit, but yes, at first sight she can! I've learnt something thank to you.

I was unable to take a picture of a Green Hermit, so I'm attaching this link for you to compare:

http://lhostelaw.com/0210cr/0210_1085_grhermit.jpg

Don't rely too much on coloration but on shape for your second try. I'm out of home during the weekend and have not my pics available to post another one. So, my homework for you for the weekend is just to have a look to this bird again and we will see your oppinions on Monday. And if you don't agree with me we can discuss the subject, just in case I'm the mistaken one.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Marian

Well Marian, I don't feel I was too bad in the examination. The error in the scientific name was from the source where I found the bird, I'll talk to him next time we meet ( probably never!! ). Well, this mysterios female could be a Lady Violet sabrewing? I'm saying this because of the curved beak..

 

[Lisa W]

Marian, I have spent hours today (and am not exaggerating) looking at pictures of Costa Rican hummingbirds, and hummers from other Central American countries to no avail. I cannot find a hummer that shows that much curvature to the bill. I need another picture! Know you can't post until after the weekend so will check back in on Monday.
Thought you might like to see the head of a Male Violet-crowned. Spotted him in Southeast Arizona this week - a life bird for me. Wish I could have gotten a full body shot.

 

[madamcoolpix]

Oh, Lisa, congrats on this lifer!!! It is a striking looking Hummer. Even if you couldn't get the whole bird they are really nice pictures... A pity you didn't think of it but you could not tell us what it was and include it in the Quiz!

About my mystery Hummer, I've done more research as well. I'm sure about the species (I've seen it moving around) but I've started to think maybe it is not a female but a young male... that could explain the dark general coloration. My other pic of it is quite similar, perhaps it will not help.

I find this problem terribly interesting, and I'd love to talk about it with you all. For once, I'm looking forward to Monday!

 

[madamcoolpix]

Here I'm posting my other pic of my mystery hummer, and I think it helps. Pay attention to the tail!

I will be back later to see it you have an answer or any questions. Good luck!!!