*Now* is the time to begin scrutinizing every Archilochus hummingbird at your
feeders very carefully for the similar Black-chinned Hummingbird.
Highly recommended are both the new Peterson series guide to hummingbirds and
the also new Steve N. G. Howell guide to hummingbird identification, both
available through Amazon, ABA, and likely your local booksellers.
Black-chinned has been documented in the state on three occasions, two in
October (Portsmouth), one in Virginia Beach (winter), and photographed on the
latter occasions (see photograph in the Spring issue of North American Birds,
in your mailboxes shortly). Black-chinned in comparison to Ruby-throated, has
1) rather broad, club-shaped, recurved tips to the outermost primaries --
this is the best mark and fairly easy to discern if you have a close perched
bird at your feeder (feeders WITH perches are recommended!); the wingtips of
a perched Ruby-throated look narrow and tapered by comparison;
2) a longer bill than Ruby-throated (VERY long-looking in some
Black-chinneds); and
3) more ashen plumage overall -- less green above and often much less
contrastingly pale below, so that the bird can look quite dingy compared to
Ruby-throated.
Other characters (shape of individual tail feathers) might be caught on film,
but they're hard to see in the field. It's always good to try to get great
photographs of your visitors, just in case they don't hang around to be
documented by others.
If your Archilochus hummingbird from now through winter seems to be pumping,
wagging, or moving its tail constantly while feeding (and even spreading the
tail), that can indicate a good candidate for a Black-chinned as well.
If we keep our collective eyes open, we will possibly soon learn that
Black-chinned is an annual visitor to our state, as Rufous now clearly is!
And don't forget that other hummingbirds have been recorded on the East
Coast, most not yet to Virginia, but we should look out for:
Green Violet-ear (one VA sight record, Buckingham Co.)
Green-breasted Mango (north to North Carolina)
Broad-billed Hummingbird (southeastern USA records)
Blue-throated Hummingbird (South Carolina record)
Anna's Hummingbird (records as near as North Carolina and New York)
Calliope Hummingbird (one VA record at Suffolk, extensively videotaped)
Broad-tailed Hummingbird (multiple North Carolina records)
Allen's Hummingbird (one VA record near Bristol)
In addition, out-of-range Buff-bellied, Magnificent, and Costas Hummingbirds
are starting to put in appearances east of normal, so it's good to keep an
open mind!
Ned Brinkley
Cape Charles, VA
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