This morning, I spotted a hummer at my nectar feeders that I initially
thought was a female Calliope (smaller than an Anna's, wing tip projections
longer than the tail, buff flanks), but I began to doubt that after seeing
no visible throat spotting. Later in the morning, I managed to get a couple
of halfway decent photos...
https://flic.kr/p/rZyxqQ
https://flic.kr/p/sh5Y1r
To me, this looks a lot like a recently-hatched Rufous. I would expect a
second-year female to have much heavier spotting on the throat. (In the
second photo, there appears to be the very beginning of a gorget spot.) I'm
assuming that the short tail feathers on this individual are due to its
age, and not it being a Calliope. I wouldn't think that Rufous could knock
out offspring this quickly, so I'm a little confused.
Thoughts?
Brandon
Eugene
