At 9-10 cm (3.5-4 in) in length, it is slightly larger than the Ruby-throated and has a somewhat rounder appearance. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and the Rufous Hummingbirds are amongst the most common hummingbirds in the United States. The Rufous Hummingbird is the second most common species observed in Ontario.
David Allen Sibley, Published by Alfred A. Male & Femle: Alan Schmierer, Bettina Arrigoni, Mick Thomson. Male: blueviking63, JohnK, Andrew Reding. The recordist of all cuts used here was Paul Paul Marvin, stored on Xeno-Canto.Īdult Male: m.shattock, Adult Female: Len Blumin, Recording: Paul Marvin (Xeno-Canto). Also, bear in mind that some females are so similar among species that they cannot be safely identified.īoth males and females o all species have green or greenish upperparts. Does it have some iridescent feathers in the center of the throat?įemale hummingbirds have distinctive tail color patterns, but these are difficult to see.Are the breast and belly whitish or buffy brown?.Does it have a conspicuous supercilium?.During the winter, many retreat thousands of miles down. During the summer breeding months, they concentrate in the Pacific Northwest in British Columbia up to southern parts of Alaska. Pay attention to the head markings and color patterns of the breast and belly. Rufous Hummingbirds are small hummingbirds with a straight, slender bill, short wings, and a tapered tail that appears pointed when resting. As a general rule, females are likely to be the same species as the males that accompany them at the feeders. And they do it on wings that span approximately 4 inches and hum at a rate of 62 beats per second. They routinely fly that far as part of their annual migration, which includes time in Arizona. What are the colors of the breast and belly?įemale hummingbirds can be a challenge to identify. The idea of traveling 4,000 miles can be daunting, but not for rufous hummingbirds (Selasphorus rufus).Is the crown also of an iridescent color or plain?.Is the gorget of a solid color, streaked, or elongated?.The tip of r4 extends to the top of the white of r3 but not much beyond that.Pay attention to the crown and throat (gorget) shapes and color combined with the breast and belly’ color pattern. Rufous Hummingbird - The distance between the tip of r4 to r3 is greater in the Rufous Hummingbird than the Broad-tailed. The tip of r4 reaches extensively beyond the top of the white in r3. Rufous Hummingbird - In Rufous Hummingbirds, the rufous is far more extensive in the second innermost tail feather (r2).īroad-tailed Hummingbird - The distance between the tip of r4 to r3 is minimal in Broad-tailed Hummingbirds. What does that mean? It means the tip of the feather often has a 'pinched' appearance.īroad-tailed Hummingbird - In Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, the green is far more extensive in the second innermost tail feather (r2). Rufous Hummingbird - The second innermost tail feather (r2) of the Rufous Hummingbird often has a notch or dent, emargination, or both. Rufous Hummingbirds can also have the white streaking up the feather shaft some, but the top of the white is still more flattened in appearance. Again, check the image below for a photo comparison.īroad-tailed Hummingbird - The white tips of the Broad-tailed Hummingbird are often more rounded or peaked at the top, with the white often streaking up the shaft significantly. Do not confuse the buffy edging of the Broad-tailed Hummingbird with the rufous edging of the Rufous Hummingbird. The green feathers have broad rufous edging to each feather. Rufous Hummingbird - Female and immature Rufous Hummingbirds have green and rufous rumps. However, immature Broad-tailed Hummingbirds can have buffy fringes on their rump feathers. If the rufous is longer than the black, you are likely looking at a rufous (unless you are in Allen's territory).īroad-tailed Hummingbird - Broad-tailed Hummingbirds have green rumps. Rufous Hummingbird - The outer tail feathers of female Rufous Hummingbirds are more rufous than black and have little to no green. If the black is longer than the rufous, it is likely a Broad-tailed. Broad-tailed Hummingbird - The outer tail feathers of female and immature Broad-tailed Hummingbirds have more black than rufous and minimal green.
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