ML351911811

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

!! Apparent F feeding on flowers NW of main burn, approx here: 47.1834434, -121.4364472. This was a small looking selasphorus hummingbird with a short bill and short tail (wingtips jutting past tail tip). Photo’d by Raphael and observed by both of us for the short time the bird was in view. Since HY Rufous Hummingbirds with short tails and short bills complicate this ID, we sought help from experts. Carl shared unedited originals of Raphael’s photos with a friend (Sheri Williamson) who quickly responded “Absolutely a Calliope”. Citing her paper entitled “Fall Befuddlers: Broad-tailed, Rufous/Allen’s, and Calliope”, she writes ‘Rufous and Allen’s are relatively compact, big-headed, and barrel-chested with tapered outer primaries that give the folded wing a scythe-like shape. Calliopes have even bigger heads, plus shorter bills, shorter tails, and broad, curved outer primaries distinctly different from either Broad-tailed or Rufous/Allen’s.’ (latter is from: http://fieldguidetohummingbirds.com/broad-tailed-rufous-allens-calliope/) To us, comparing the outer primaries seen in Raphael’s second photo to those seen in flight shots of female Rufous Hummingbirds in the Macaulay library support this finding as well. All photos here by Raphael.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS REBEL T3i

Lens

EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

ISO

3200

Focal length

300 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/1600 sec

Dimensions

2048 pixels x 1365 pixels

Original file size

938.94 KB