ML505488881

観察結果の詳細

I got a tip from Tom Kerr yesterday (11/17), and spent about an hour on my lunch break from work, verifying that there was in fact a immature vagrant hummingbird at this location, one of these two species (Rufous or Allen's). Unfortunately, I couldn't photograph it then. With the kind permission of the home owners, I returned this morning with my camera around 705 am. The bird appeared very shortly afterward, very briefly. Then came back at 7:23, 7:39, 8:04-8:05, 8:24-8:25, and 9:03 am. I was able to take pictures while it fed fairly extensively. The bird appeared to be quite healthy, strong, and active. Impressive considering the winter storm conditions, snow, and overnight temperatures in the teens currently impacting southern Cattaraugus County. The homeowner informed me that this bird has been coming to her feeder for about a month. Visually, this bird leapt out at me upon my first observations yesterday, as a typical Selasphorus hummingbird. A genus that I have a little prior experience with, and studied intensely when the opportunity arose. The extensive orange-rufous color on it's sides eliminated the other possibilities, except for the Allen's Hummingbird. The tail feathers appear to be broad in my photos. It's back was green, with some rufous towards the rump. As an immature male, it's gorget was just starting to develop a few of the jewel-like feathers it will fill in with as the bird matures. The nape and cap of the head were greenish, with some flecks and a small white spot behind each eye. A bib-like white band demarcated the gorget/chest border, and a thin white strip bisected the rusty sides. The undertail coverts were white and fluffy. Photos to be uploaded ASAP.