19 replies to this topic

[Delilahae]

I am trying to figure out what Type of Hummingbirds these 5 birds are..

I numbered them 1-5..

Birds # 1 & 2 are in this Part..

Birds 3,4 & 5 are in Part 2..

I was thinking possibly Costa's..Anna's..Black-chinned..

Thanks very much!.

D


1.. Bird #1















2..Bird #2

[fisherman1313]

1 looks like a Rufous, 2 is an Anna's.

[psweet]

Given the date and the location, wouldn't Allen's be more likely for the first bird?

[fisherman1313]

It could be an Allen's, but I've never seen one (that I know of) so I did not even think of it. But, since Delilahae did not give us an exact location in California and both Peterson Field Guides; Hummingbirds of North America and Hummingbirds of North America; The Photographic Guide state that "fall" migration runs late June-late Sept./early Nov. I don't think Allen's would be more likely.

[guy_incognito]

#2 is a definite Anna's, and #1 is either a Rufous or an Allen's. Location may be helpful, and date of pictures taken would definitely be helpful for #1. Fall migration should be just beginning for Rufous, so both are certainly possible.

Any other pictures specifically showing the back or even better would be a shot of the tail feathers spread out would be the most helpful.

[Delilahae]

I have been looking to find dates of these pics..

These were taken in Ventura County, CA..

#1 was taken on April 14, 2012..I don't have any other shots of this bird..

#2 was taken on May 16, 2012..

[fisherman1313]

According to Peterson Field Guides; Hummingbirds of North America male Rufous reach Washington State by late Feb./early March, so, given the date of the pic, this bird has to be an Allen's.

[guy_incognito]

Thanks for the update on the location and date. Yes, Rufous do reach Washington by late Feb/early March, but their migration period is extended. Rufous are in Ventura County from February through May.

I unfortunately would have to leave this as Rufous/Allen's unless there are any further pictures showing the back of the bird or a shot of the tail feathers spread apart.

[Delilahae]

Thank you so much for trying to figure this out..

Your effort was very appreciated..

I wish I had more pics of Rufous Allen (my nickname for him now), but sadly I do not..

I do remember that I stopped seeing him sometime in May..

Everytime I went to the place where he was, he would follow me around..

He was pretty much in the same tree every time I arrived..

Then one day, he was gone..

I actually was kinda sad..lol..

Thanks again for your help..

D

[guy_incognito]

No problem. If you were able to see this bird frequently, do you remember what the back of the bird looked like? If it was all rufous color, then this would be a Rufous Hummingbird. If there was extensive green on his back, then there is a 95% chance of it being an Allen's.

[Delilahae]

I'm looking to see if there's anyway I have any other pics of him..

When I took those pics of him in April, there were quite a few other hummingbirds in the same trees he was in..

I also took pics of some of the other hummingbirds there as well..

I took all the pictures of these hummingbirds, including him, within an hour long time span..

The pictures of the other hummingbirdsare not very good, so I didnt use them at all..

If it would help, I can post some pictures of th eother hummingbirds here..

I have been trying to remember what color his back was, and I think it was greenish..I cannot however be 100% sure..

Thanks..

D

[renitiadb]

I am in San Juan Capistrano and I have seen A LOT of Allen's this year! Even had a very aggressive male and a fledgling on my patio (where I usually only have Anna's).

[Totah Sam]

It's a weird year for us. No Rufous or Broadtails. Normally they are fighting over the feeders with the Black-chinned Hummers. We only have the Black Chins this year. Maybe it's all the wildfires?

[guy_incognito]

I am in San Juan Capistrano and I have seen A LOT of Allen's this year! Even had a very aggressive male and a fledgling on my patio (where I usually only have Anna's).

I am in Redlands, and this has been a very good year for hummers in our yard. There have constantly been selasphorus since around Feb/March. At first I was seeing Rufous, but more recently it has only been female and immature types, so it is hard to know whether they were Rufous or Allen's. However, there was a constant supply, and even seeming to increase right into June and July, so I feel pretty sure that there must have been some nesting Allen's at our house. Allen's definitely seem to be expanding their range, and this may only be the first or second year that they have definitely reached as far east as Redlands.

In addition to the numerous Anna's, we have also had quite a few Black-chinned, but again, mostly female and juvenile types. No Costa's unfortunately, but they are not too far away, so I am holding out hope they will show up one day.

[renitiadb]

I haven't seen Costa's at our house, but I saw a beautiful male at Bolsa Chica earlier this year! =) I love their purple! Actually, the male Allen's that has been around m house has some of the brightest, most beautiful coloring I have seen on an Allen's! We also saw a pair doing their mating dance earlier this year! I felt really stupid because I sat there watching with my camera in my hand for about 5 minutes and my husband finally said: "Why aren't you taping this?", and as soon as I got my camera up, they flew off!

[Delilahae]

I haven't seen Costa's at our house, but I saw a beautiful male at Bolsa Chica earlier this year! =) I love their purple! Actually, the male Allen's that has been around m house has some of the brightest, most beautiful coloring I have seen on an Allen's! We also saw a pair doing their mating dance earlier this year! I felt really stupid because I sat there watching with my camera in my hand for about 5 minutes and my husband finally said: "Why aren't you taping this?", and as soon as I got my camera up, they flew off!

Hi..

I recently heard about Bolsa Chica..

I really have wanted to go, especially after I read about it online..

I was just curious to see what you thought about it..Have you seen a lot of different birds there?.

Are there any specific spots you would recommended?.

Thanks a lot!.

D

[guy_incognito]

Bolsa Chica is definitely a good spot. There are two main entrances that people use, either the north entrance from Warner, or the entrance along PCH. I tend to start at the PCH entrance. You can see quite a bit right near the entrance along the boardwalk over the water, and then looking into the fenced off area. Should be lots of terns (Forster's, Elegant, Royal, and Least), Black Skimmers, gulls, and smaller shorebirds. If you are willing to walk further, I will often continue along the path to where the channel comes towards the ocean. On the other side of the channel is a large lagoon area, which is also worth checking out. A lot of the birds can be seen elsewhere, such as Newport Back Bay, but Bolsa Chica is the best place locally to find Reddish Egret. Though not a guarantee, I've probably seen it more often than not in my half dozen or so visits. If you really want to see Least Terns, I had my best luck near the nesting sanctuary at the south end of Huntington beach, right were a river channel empties into the ocean.

[Delilahae]

Sounds great..Thank you so much for giving me that information..When you say the nesting sanctuary at the south end of Huntington Beach, do you mean a different place than Bolsa Chica?. If it is a different place, what nesting santuary are you referring too?.

Today, I'm going up to the area near McGrath, and Ormond Beaches in Oxnard/Ventura..

There are quitea few fenced off areas because the least terns and snowy plovers nest there..

McGrath beach was just reopened few weeks ago( due to issues with a pipeline, I believe)..

So now we can back..

Thanks again for the information about Bolsa Chica..

D

[guy_incognito]

Yes, separate from Bolsa Chica. Here is a map I made when I went there: http://goo.gl/maps/sFEx

[Delilahae]

Thank you so very much!.

It will be very helpful..

D