[cobirds] help with hummingbird ID

Hi, folks—

 

I’m a volunteer at Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and we have a female/juvenile hummingbird that doesn’t quite seem to fit the Sibley description for a Calliope Hummingbird (p. 296) but also does fit it in some ways.  We don’t see many Calliopes (especially the challenging non-adult males) at the center.  So, since a photographer was on the premises, we asked her to take photos, hoping that someone could confirm the ID.  We’d also like to learn about how to positively ID these sprites, so any help you can give with specifics would be greatly appreciated.

 

Points that make us think it’s a Calliope (based on Sibley’s drawings)

 

1.    Its small size, compared to the Broad-taileds we currently have on the premises

2.    Very little rufous on the tail

3.    Green crown and back

4.    Short tail

5.    A white spot behind the eye

6.    White spots on the tail may match the pattern in Sibley

7.    Wing noise is unlike the other 3 likely species (Broad-tailed, Black-chinned, Rufous)

 

Points that make us wonder.

 

1.    It doesn’t has a “uniform pale buffy” underside.

2.    We couldn’t clearly discern the “spatulate center [tail] feathers,” although we tried to get some photos of the tail.  (The tail photos aren’t the best.  Those feathers are a bit ragged at this point.  And I’m not used to trying to display tail feathers without manhandling such a tiny creature.)

3.    The wingtips don’t seem to reach a bit beyond the tail, as Sibley suggests.  Although with a possible wing injury, the bird might be holding them a bit oddly.

4.    No “thin white line over gape’

5.    The spotting on the throat goes further toward the chin than Sibley shows.  It looks more gray and light in the drawing, while the bird’s spotting looks distinct and green.

 

The bird was found in Fraser, CO, if that makes any difference.

 

So, if you’re willing to help us learn what is signal and what is noise with this bird, you can find photos here (the first 14).  (Yes, that’s right—14.  We obsessed a bit, hoping at least 1 or 2 would be useful.)  Feel free to respond privately to me.  Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

 

Tina Mitchell

Lakewood, CO