Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2001 21:26:37 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Greg Downing Subject: Re: 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: 7bit Marshall et all, I just wanted to send you a quick "thank you". Though I don't post often, I follow the Osprey very closely and the information you all provide is appreciated so much by many! The latest, very interesting, reading and stats on the hummers is no exception! My feeders are going back up in the morning and I'm keeping my fingers crossed! You will be the first to know of any sightings. Thanks again for all you do! P.S. is Conowingo really closed? That is very unfortunate (though, understandable I suppose) Greg Downing Manchester, MD gregdowning@mindspring.com http://gregdowning.imageculture.com (portfolio) www.gdphotography.com Field Editor/Avian Gallery Moderator: www.naturephotographers.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marshall Iliff" To: Sent: Monday, October 15, 2001 8:58 PM Subject: [MDOSPREY] Western hummingbird alert - do not assume Ruby-throated (Part II - ID) MDOsprey, Due to space restrictions, the comments on identification are copied into this email IDENTIFICATION Selasphorus hummingbirds are easilyrecognized by the bright orangeish or cinnamon wash on the flanks, which is also shared by the smaller Calliope Hummingbird. A flash of Rufous in the tail is also diagnostic for Selasphorus/Calliope hummingbirds. Call notes are quick different from the full sounding that we hear at our feeders all summer from Ruby-throateds. Adult males of all species are distinctive and well covered in field guides (although adult male Allen's are not separable from variant Rufous). Female and immature Selasphorus are so difficult to identify that close-up video and or photography, or in-hand measurements, would be necessary to confirm species identification. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are even harder to separate from female Black-chinned, and in-hand measurements are the best way to confirm species identification. Female Black-chinneds do differ from Ruby-throateds in bill length and details of the primary feather shape, which could potentially be assessed from close-up video or photography. Van Remsen (in Lousiana) believes that any Ruby-throated/Black-chinned that wags its tail WHILE FEEDING is sure to be a Black-chinned. Ruby-throateds flick and wag their tail while hovering near the feeder, but when their bill is in the feeder, their tail little more than quivers. As far as I have seen in the past year, that has held true. Violet-Ears and Blue-throateds are VASTLY larger than Ruby-throated, as is Magnificent Hummingbird, another potential vagrant that has yet to be recorded. Birders hosting rare western hummingbirds should consider having their hummingbird banded for species identification and to contribute to our body of knowledge on their movements. A fair number of hummingbirds ARE recovered. Note that one in Vienna, VA, last year disappeared late in the season and moved 15 mi southwest. We know this only because of the banding efforts. Others in Lousiana and the Gulf Coast are known to return to the same feeder year after year and the amount of fascinating information the banders down there generate is incredible. The danger to the bird is minute and the information to be gained is excellent. If you host a late-season hummingbird and do not wish to have it banded, it would be good to at least allow some photographers to view the bird to try to confirm the species. Those interested in the details of species identification should consult Peter Pyle's 1997 _Identification Guide to North American Birds- Part I_, a banders manual that covers the details of hummingbird identification and steers birders towards more detailed articles 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 ======================== ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================