Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2001 20:58:28 EDT Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Marshall Iliff Subject: Western hummingbird alert - do not assume Ruby-throated (Part II - ID) MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable MDOsprey, Due to space restrictions, the comments on identification are copied into=20 this email IDENTIFICATION =A0=A0=A0 Selasphorus hummingbirds are easilyrecognized by the bright orange= ish or=20 cinnamon wash on the flanks, which is also shared by the smaller Calliope=20 Hummingbird.=A0 A flash of Rufous in the tail is also diagnostic for=20 Selasphorus/Calliope hummingbirds.=A0 Call notes are quick different from th= e=20 full sounding that we hear at our feeders all summer from Ruby-throateds.=20 Adult males of all species are distinctive and well covered in field guides=20 (although adult male Allen's are not separable from variant Rufous).=A0 Fema= le=20 and immature Selasphorus are so difficult to identify that close-up video an= d=20 or photography, or in-hand measurements, would be necessary to confirm=20 species identification. =A0=A0=A0 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are even harder to separate from female Black-chinned, and in-hand measurements are the best way to confirm species=20 identification.=A0 Female Black-chinneds do differ from Ruby-throateds in bi= ll=20 length and details of the primary feather shape, which could potentially be=20 assessed from close-up video or photography.=A0 Van Remsen (in Lousiana)=20 believes that any Ruby-throated/Black-chinned that wags its tail WHILE=20 FEEDING is sure to be a Black-chinned. =A0Ruby-throateds flick and wag their= =20 tail while hovering near the feeder, but when their bill is in the feeder,=20 their tail little more than quivers.=A0As far as I have seen in the past yea= r,=20 that has held true. =A0=A0=A0 Violet-Ears and Blue-throateds are VASTLY larger than Ruby-throate= d, as=20 is Magnificent Hummingbird, another potential vagrant that has yet to be=20 recorded. =A0=A0=A0 Birders hosting rare western hummingbirds should consider having t= heir hummingbird banded for species identification and to contribute to our body=20 of knowledge on their movements.=A0 A fair number of hummingbirds ARE recovered.=A0 Note that one in Vienna, VA, last year disappeared late in the season and moved 15 mi southwest.=A0 We know this only because of the bandin= g=20 efforts.=A0Others in Lousiana and the Gulf Coast are known to return to the=20 same feeder year after year and the amount of fascinating information the=20 banders down there generate is incredible.=A0 The danger to the bird is minu= te=20 and the information to be gained is excellent. =A0=A0=A0 If you host a late-season hummingbird and do not wish to have it b= anded,=20 it would be good to at least allow some photographers to view the bird to tr= y=20 to confirm the species.=A0 Those interested in the details of species=20 identification should consult Peter Pyle's 1997 _Identification Guide to=20 North American Birds- Part I_, a banders manual that covers the details of=20 hummingbird identification and steers birders towards more detailed articles= =20 in the reference section. Marshall Iliff miliff@aol.com Annapolis, MD ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================