The problem with the retrices measurements is no one knows what they are on
a hybrid- they could possibly look like either species- who knows? More
work needs to be done…
Tim
On Wed, Mar 29, 2023 at 7:57 AM larspernorgren <larspernorgren@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
If l'm not mistaken the Golden Guide(1960s) had an illustration of Allen's
and Rufous Hummingbird tails, spread out so the relative width of the
retrices(quill feathers in the tail) could be viewed. I remember attempting
to analyze hummingbird tails while in flight through binoculars on a
camping trip with Alan Contreras and Sayre Greenfield in 1976. It was a
novel idea for me, but such a failure that l didn't try again.
The Golden Guide was Chan Robbins' baby, and he was the greatest bird
bander to date in North America. Digital photography has now made it
possible to often get bird in the hand quality images. Accessible in the
field, with the bird still present. Neither Tim nor l bird with a camera so
that's about as far as l can take it. The current starting generation of
birders seems to have cameras as basic equipment. The new and improved Pyle
is now for sale. The original "Identification Guide to North American
Birds" is actually for birds in the hand, a banders' book. But plenty of
non-banders owned and used it regularly when l first subscribed to Obol.
Peter Pyle put out a fine webinar for the new book's release. He is
unequivocal in the value of photos .
In the case of Allen's/Rufous l believe the tail (width of retrices
specifically) might be definitive for ID of females.
Perhaps some photographer on Obol has tried this route.
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
