CrabAppleLane buff-bellied hummingbird - October 27, 2008
Heard the chatter as soon as I got home. It's the same hummingbird that's been hanging around since yesterday. I had about an hour's worth of daylight but I was going to have to use the flash because the feeder is on the eastern side of the house and the sun was on the western side. It's supposed to be cold tonight and I hope this little girl will be OK. She'll probably move on tomorrow. I believe Kem was right yesterday. I think she's a rufous hummingbird and she's gorgeous.
Nice pic. In the comments on post with the previous pic you mention how blessed with interesting birds Crab Apple Lane is. I think you're right.
Lovely! Congrats. :)
Thanks, Dave & Lana.
I can't imagine what a "slower, less maneuverable" hummingbird would be. Or maybe I just can't imagine something swifter than the ones I've seen. The picture is really beautiful.
She's noticeably faster than her ruby-throated cousins, Mom. Don't know about her maneuverability.
Hey Rob, I haven't read all the comments yet, but Mom filled me in this morning on your visitor. She told me you thought at first it was a buff bellied Hummingbird. I have to agree with the first assessment. I looked them both up in my Birds of North America; the female Rufous has a white throat and white wings. So, I think You are looking at a Buff-Bellied, which are from Texas and probably came in with this last cool front. Your picture is of the bird out of the sunlight so it's hard to tell, but the Buff-bellied is suppose to have a bright orange beak!
I love watching the birds!
I'm sticking to my rufous ID, Katie, right or wrong. :)
Rufous adult female: Green back and crown, white breast, streaked throat, rufous sides and base of tail feathers, white tips on outer tail feathers.
The beak is not as orange in this photo as it was in the other. Could be the angle or the flash. I was below for the non-flash image but eye level for this one. That's my camera flash in her little eye. She stayed for two flash photos. The other came out bad.
Hey Rob,
I don't know what happened to the comment I posted 5 mins. ago, but I'll try again.
I heard about your bird from Mother, and I, another birder (even though our sisters would say birdwatching is an old people activity,)had to have a looky see. I pulled out my bird book, "Birds of North America" and I believe your visitor is definitely a Buff-Bellied Hummingbird. The female Rufous has a white throat and white wings, according to my book. It probably came in with that last cool front. Great picture!
Sweet, don't think I've seen one perched on anything before. Can't believe she hung around for two of them.
She was less skittish around me at eye level, Susan. Probably thinks she can take me in a fair fight. :)