Seanbirds Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 Hey! My friend Nick photographed a hummingbird in his yard (Butler Co. KS) on September 10th that looked a little different than the Ruby-throats he's used to. We looked at the bird and the buffy sides and short-ish bill have us wondering if there's even a slight chance it could be a Calliope. We've got a few different angles, but unfortunately no tail-spread shots. Thanks in advance! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiscalus quiscula Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 - Buffy doesn't extend onto the shoulder like Calliope would have. - Structurally doesn't seem right from photos, especially head shape - It seems like Calliope have an even thinner, more needle-like bill - Buffiness is in range for RTHU, looking at the Macaulay library. - I shouldn't be trying to tackle this myself without experience with western hummers, so @AlexHenry @DLecy 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seanbirds Posted September 15, 2022 Author Share Posted September 15, 2022 8 minutes ago, Quiscalus quiscula said: - Buffy doesn't extend onto the shoulder like Calliope would have. - Structurally doesn't seem right from photos, especially head shape - It seems like Calliope have an even thinner, more needle-like bill - Buffiness is in range for RTHU, looking at the Macaulay library. - I shouldn't be trying to tackle this myself without experience with western hummers, so @AlexHenry @DLecy I considered this and these seem to be valid points as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiscalus quiscula Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 1 minute ago, Seanbirds said: I considered this and these seem to be valid points as well. Yeah, I'm mainly basing this off the buffiness, because I can't to seem any Calliope photos that don't have the buffiness extending onto the shoulder. The white shoulder band stood out to me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bird-Boys Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 Not Calliope. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seanbirds Posted September 15, 2022 Author Share Posted September 15, 2022 1 minute ago, Bird-Boys said: Not Calliope. For the reasons above, I suppose? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 (edited) Just to cover all bases, Rufous? They're infrequent but regular winter guests in the southeast. Edited September 15, 2022 by Charlie Spencer 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hasan Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 It's Ruby-throated, particularly in the fall it is completely normal to have a buffy wash on the sides. This looks nothing like Calliope or Rufous 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seanbirds Posted September 15, 2022 Author Share Posted September 15, 2022 Thanks everybody for the input! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiscalus quiscula Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 5 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said: Just to cover all bases, Rufous? They're infrequent but regular winter guests in the southeast. Not a hint of color on the undertail coverts, plus structure. 9 minutes ago, Hasan said: It's Ruby-throated, particularly in the fall it is completely normal to have a buffy wash on the sides. This looks nothing like Calliope or Rufous This. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexHenry Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 57 minutes ago, Quiscalus quiscula said: - Buffy doesn't extend onto the shoulder like Calliope would have. - Structurally doesn't seem right from photos, especially head shape - It seems like Calliope have an even thinner, more needle-like bill - Buffiness is in range for RTHU, looking at the Macaulay library. - I shouldn't be trying to tackle this myself without experience with western hummers, so @AlexHenry @DLecy Hahah you probably shouldn’t trust my female/immature hummingbird IDs very much. I struggle with them - they’re tough. But I agree this bird looks like a Ruby-throated 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 1 hour ago, AlexHenry said: Hahah you probably shouldn’t trust my female/immature hummingbird IDs very much. I struggle with them - they’re tough. But I agree this bird looks like a Ruby-throated I agree with these statements 100%. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bird-Boys Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 2 hours ago, Seanbirds said: For the reasons above, I suppose? Yes, and Calliope Hummingbirds usually have some white above the bill as well. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birds are cool Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 Really nice photo! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DLecy Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 It’s almost assuredly a hatch year Ruby-throat, which gives the “little different” impression you referenced. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 25 minutes ago, Birds are cool said: Really nice photo! It’s not @Seanbirds’s photo, it’s his friend’s. I agree though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birds are cool Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 17 minutes ago, IKLland said: It’s not @Seanbirds’s photo, it’s his friend’s. I agree though. I know. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aveschapinas Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 I'll just add that I have no experience with Calliope or Rufous, but this looks fine for a Ruby-Throated. I definitely see them with that amount of peach/buff on the flanks; I've seen some females with even more color and more warm peach than this bird shows. Tail spots, bill size and shape, and postocular spot all look good to me. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiscalus quiscula Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 1 minute ago, Aveschapines said: postocular spot ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aveschapinas Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 3 minutes ago, Quiscalus quiscula said: ?? Small white triangle behind the eye (opposite the beak). I see that on Ruby-Throated female and immatures. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiscalus quiscula Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 1 minute ago, Aveschapines said: Small white triangle behind the eye (opposite the beak). I see that on Ruby-Throated female and immatures. Great to know that terminology! Seems like most hummingbirds have that? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aveschapinas Posted September 16, 2022 Share Posted September 16, 2022 4 minutes ago, Quiscalus quiscula said: Great to know that terminology! Seems like most hummingbirds have that? Not all here do; but for example it's a different shape from Rivoli's, White-Eared don't have it (but they have the white "ear"). Most of the sabrewings don't have it, and a lot of the small hummers that can be confused with Rubies don't have it either. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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