[TN-Bird] Maryville Archilochus hummer
- From: Charlie <cmmbirds@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, Chris Sloan <chris.sloan@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2003 19:20:40 -0800 (PST)
Hi folks,
Grrr. I had half this long email written and hit the wrong dang
button and lost it! Here goes again.
Yesterday I went to the Tallent's house in Maryville to see the
hummer. At 10:45, about 15 minutes after I arrived, the bird flew
in. I spent the next 45 minutes watching it. It was quite
cooperative and I was able to view it extensively as it flew,
perched, hoovered, fed, and even appeared to hawk insects (though it
seemed much too cold for there to be any flying...) I saw it in lots
of different light, from lots of different angles. Often I was quite
close to it. Here are my notes:
At first I wasn't sure it was an Archilochus, because it has a lot
more cinnamon on the belly than any of my references show for either
Ruby-throated (RTHU) or Black-chinned (BCHU). But I was able to rule
out everything else in my Peterson, Sibley and Sheri L. Williamson's
Peterson Field Guide: Hummingbirds of North America.
Bill: 100% black at all angles. Didn't seem longer than I'm
accostomed to with RTHU, nor did it seem particularly decurved.
Pretty straight. But I see that some birds have shorter bills than
others with a species.
Score one point to inconclusive.
Gorget: at least 4-5 very colored feathers at the very center, and
some spangling. I watched the gorget a whole lot after giving up on
morphology of retrices and primaries, which are supposed to be better
marks. I saw this darn bird in great light from really close. I saw
it from below, from the side, and even briefly from above. I could
not do anything with those 2 marks with the lack of experience I have
to bear. At no time did I see any color other than black from those
central gorget feathers.
Score 1/2 point to BCHU.
Back: all green. No buff feather edges.
Top of head: seemed less green on forecrown, but I'm not sure I
could call it gray. A definite difference, but I can't say if it's
enough difference.
Score another point to inconclusive
tail: Green dorsal surface. Notched, but I can't say if it was
deeply enough so to be a RTHU or not. R3-5 had what I'd call
extensive white tips. R2-5 had a dark sub-terminal band, but I'm not
sure I could call it black or even very dark. I never got a good
look at either R1.
These things led me to believe adult female bird, but I can't rule
out an immature male. Just seems like too much white on the tail for
it.
Behavior: pumped it's tail a lot when hovering, but I'm not sure it
was more than RTHU does. It appeared to hawk insects, but I thought
it was too cold for any to be flying! I never saw it chase anything.
It never sat at the same perch more than a minute, but often sat in
one place for 20-40 seconds. Usually at the top of a 15-foot
ornamental cherry, or the top of a 30-foot deciduous tree I never
identified. It came to the feeder often, and usually stayed about 10
- 15 seconds.
Score another for inconclusive.
head: the white postocular spot didn't seem as bold as I'm used to.
There was some contrast with the white collar, but I haven't paid
enough attention to RTHU to say if this means anything. Cheeks were
medium gray. Lores gray.
Score another to Idunno
underside: off-white to dirty-white or light gray. No marking.
belly as above.
So I'm leaning very, very, very slightly towards Black-chinned. But
that may just be because I want it to be!
I hope Chris or Fred or someone can get out and band the bird. And
I'd LOVE to assist.
BTW, while I was there, I saw 3 Purple Finches. I also saw a cat
(NOT belonging to the Tallent's) eating a White-throated Sparrow.
Ann lamented the presence of this cat when I met her last week.
Apprarently belongs to a neighbor, as it has a collar.
Charlie
=====
**************************************************
Charlie Muise, Senior Naturalist
Now living in Maryville, TN
Still working in Great Smoky Mountains
National Park
"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm"
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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