Guatemala birds - March 2020 -1 (1 Viewer)

[Stéphane 77]

Hi everyone,
I just came back from a trip in Guatemala and have a few birds I can not identify on some (rather poor quality) pictures. Could you help ?
If you point the picture thumbnail with the mouse arrow, you'll see the location of the bird in the file name. If I have some idea of the species, it is also in the name of the picture.
This is the first post, I'll have a few... This first one is for hummingbirds.
Thanks in advance.
Stéphane

 

[THE_FERN]

Hi everyone,
I just came back from a trip in Guatemala and have a few birds I can not identify on some (rather poor quality) pictures. Could you help ?
If you point the picture thumbnail with the mouse arrow, you'll see the location of the bird in the file name. If I have some idea of the species, it is also in the name of the picture.
This is the first post, I'll have a few... This first one is for hummingbirds.
Thanks in advance.
Stéphane

Agree 4) is likely female ruby-throated

Really not sure about the rest. I think 1,2,5 are the same thing, and, although I don't think it's a good fit, the best I can come up with is azure-crowned hummingbird. This based on obviously white throat, vent, and pinkish bill base.

For 3), again a poor fit but the best I can get is amythyst-throated hummingbird/mountain-gem. The bill in the photo looks completely wrong (more like a mango), but there's some evidence of purple feathers in the throat area. Ebird photos show that this species can show white tail tips as here.

 

[Stéphane 77]

Agree 4) is likely female ruby-throated

Really not sure about the rest. I think 1,2,5 are the same thing, and, although I don't think it's a good fit, the best I can come up with is azure-crowned hummingbird. This based on obviously white throat, vent, and pinkish bill base.

For 3), again a poor fit but the best I can get is amythyst-throated hummingbird/mountain-gem. The bill in the photo looks completely wrong (more like a mango), but there's some evidence of purple feathers in the throat area. Ebird photos show that this species can show white tail tips as here.

Looking at ebird photos of azure-crowned hummingbirds, I completely agree with you for 1, 2 and 5.

For 3 : I was just wondering if the bird could be a juvenile (it still has some white down on its back ?) female canivet's emerald. I could find 1 or 2 quite similar birds among ebird pictures, though mine has a thicker bill, a juvenile's ?

 

[THE_FERN]

Looking at ebird photos of azure-crowned hummingbirds, I completely agree with you for 1, 2 and 5.

For 3 : I was just wondering if the bird could be a juvenile (it still has some white down on its back ?) female canivet's emerald. I could find 1 or 2 quite similar birds among ebird pictures, though mine has a thicker bill, a juvenile's ?

Yes it's juvenile, but that shouldn't affect its beak.

I can't decide about the species. If the purplish feathers in the throat area are real, suggests the mountain-gem. This ought to have the more robust bill too, although the beak in the picture doesn't really fit either species. Likewise, if we could tell for sure that the tail is longer than the wings that would indicate the emerald. Female Canivet's emeralds have white which tends to extend above the eye, usually to about the middle. I don't see that here but white is less extensive on juveniles.

 

[Stéphane 77]

Yes it's juvenile, but that shouldn't affect its beak.

I can't decide about the species. If the purplish feathers in the throat area are real, suggests the mountain-gem. This ought to have the more robust bill too, although the beak in the picture doesn't really fit either species. Likewise, if we could tell for sure that the tail is longer than the wings that would indicate the emerald. Female Canivet's emeralds have white which tends to extend above the eye, usually to about the middle. I don't see that here but white is less extensive on juveniles.

It looks like the right wing is just as long as the tail. Is that of any help ?

 

[THE_FERN]

It looks like the right wing is just as long as the tail. Is that of any help ?

I'm not sure we can be sure about wing length in the picture. A clearly longer, forked tail or tail with a clear notch which is longer should mean the emerald.