[TN-Bird] Try Again: Bob Sargent on Maryville Archilochus hummer]
- From: John Devereux Joslin <jdjoslin@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: TN-Bird <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2003 15:11:33 -0500
> Bob,
Thanks for your input on separating immature/female Black-chinned
from
Ruby-throated. Very helpful. In this case it appears to me that the
tail
length in comparison to the folded wing length is the most easily
observed
and diagnostic feature.
I am posting this email with YOUR comments BELOW on TN-birds for
anyone
else out there that is interested.
--Dev Joslin
Oak Ridge, TN
>RubyThroat@xxxxxxx wrote:
>
> Dev
> This is Bob Sargent
> I have an old article on my website that I wrote several years ago for
my
newsletter. This piece should still be on my website at
www.hummingbirdsplus.org
>
> The article was written with an eye toward my audience of readers, so
overlook the attempts at humor. The basic content is still as good as
anything that I know of out there, field guides and all. There are
photos
of the wings in that article.
>
> The key points are to note the comparison of the length of the folded
wing when the bird is perched. In a Ruby-throated, the wing will be MUCH
shorter than the tip of the tail.
>
> In a Ruby-throated, the tip of the outside (P10) primary will be only
slight curved along the shaft, with that feather being round-pointed. In
a
Black-chinned, the feather will be blunt on the tip with a very obvious
wide, wide inside web.
>
> The back of a Ruby-throated remains darker-green and more emerald in
color. A Black-chinned tends to be much more pale green and has a
somewhat
"flat" look to the green color.
>
> The crown is pretty undependable this time of year because in both
species those feathers can be heavily stained and matted down. Even at
that, a Black-chinned should have a brownish-gray or grayish-brown crown
with a few random green feathers in the mix.
>
> Underparts of both are whitish, but Black-chinned tend to look more
dingy
and dirty grayish-white.
>
> Tail-pumping in BCHU is a good field mark, but only when combined with
the other things noted. I have NEVER observed a BCHU that did not pump
its
tail when hovering for as much as 30 seconds or more.
>
> Bill length and the amount of down-curve is not a super field mark in
my
opinion. It is useful as a supporting field mark, but unreliable as a
definitive one.
>
> Ruby-throated is a long-tailed, short-winged bird.
> Black-chinned is a short-tailed, long-winged bird.
>
> You may post this to Tennessee Birds if you wish to do so. I do not
understand why some of the banders we trained in Tennessee have not
investigated this bird. Please keep me posted and maybe we can come up
from Alabama and check it out if the the hosts are agreeable to that.
>
> God Bless
> Bob
>
> Bob Sargent
> The Hummer/Bird Study Group, Inc.
> PO Box 250
> Clay, Alabama, 35048-0250
> 205-681-2888
> www.hummingbirdsplus.org
John Devereux Joslin wrote:
> I meant to send along these comments a week ago from Bob Sargent
> describing methods of distinguishing Black-chinned from Ruby-throated
> females/immatures. Sorry for the delay.
> PLease see Bob's comments below.
> --Dev Joslin
> Oak Ridge
>
> ========================================================
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