Hi folks, Grrr. I had half this long email written and hit the wrong dang button and lost it! Here goes again. Yesterday I went to the Tallent's house in Maryville to see the hummer. At 10:45, about 15 minutes after I arrived, the bird flew in. I spent the next 45 minutes watching it. It was quite cooperative and I was able to view it extensively as it flew, perched, hoovered, fed, and even appeared to hawk insects (though it seemed much too cold for there to be any flying...) I saw it in lots of different light, from lots of different angles. Often I was quite close to it. Here are my notes: At first I wasn't sure it was an Archilochus, because it has a lot more cinnamon on the belly than any of my references show for either Ruby-throated (RTHU) or Black-chinned (BCHU). But I was able to rule out everything else in my Peterson, Sibley and Sheri L. Williamson's Peterson Field Guide: Hummingbirds of North America. Bill: 100% black at all angles. Didn't seem longer than I'm accostomed to with RTHU, nor did it seem particularly decurved. Pretty straight. But I see that some birds have shorter bills than others with a species. Score one point to inconclusive. Gorget: at least 4-5 very colored feathers at the very center, and some spangling. I watched the gorget a whole lot after giving up on morphology of retrices and primaries, which are supposed to be better marks. I saw this darn bird in great light from really close. I saw it from below, from the side, and even briefly from above. I could not do anything with those 2 marks with the lack of experience I have to bear. At no time did I see any color other than black from those central gorget feathers. Score 1/2 point to BCHU. Back: all green. No buff feather edges. Top of head: seemed less green on forecrown, but I'm not sure I could call it gray. A definite difference, but I can't say if it's enough difference. Score another point to inconclusive tail: Green dorsal surface. Notched, but I can't say if it was deeply enough so to be a RTHU or not. R3-5 had what I'd call extensive white tips. R2-5 had a dark sub-terminal band, but I'm not sure I could call it black or even very dark. I never got a good look at either R1. These things led me to believe adult female bird, but I can't rule out an immature male. Just seems like too much white on the tail for it. Behavior: pumped it's tail a lot when hovering, but I'm not sure it was more than RTHU does. It appeared to hawk insects, but I thought it was too cold for any to be flying! I never saw it chase anything. It never sat at the same perch more than a minute, but often sat in one place for 20-40 seconds. Usually at the top of a 15-foot ornamental cherry, or the top of a 30-foot deciduous tree I never identified. It came to the feeder often, and usually stayed about 10 - 15 seconds. Score another for inconclusive. head: the white postocular spot didn't seem as bold as I'm used to. There was some contrast with the white collar, but I haven't paid enough attention to RTHU to say if this means anything. Cheeks were medium gray. Lores gray. Score another to Idunno underside: off-white to dirty-white or light gray. No marking. belly as above. So I'm leaning very, very, very slightly towards Black-chinned. But that may just be because I want it to be! I hope Chris or Fred or someone can get out and band the bird. And I'd LOVE to assist. BTW, while I was there, I saw 3 Purple Finches. I also saw a cat (NOT belonging to the Tallent's) eating a White-throated Sparrow. Ann lamented the presence of this cat when I met her last week. Apprarently belongs to a neighbor, as it has a collar. Charlie ===== ************************************************** Charlie Muise, Senior Naturalist Now living in Maryville, TN Still working in Great Smoky Mountains National Park "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm" Ralph Waldo Emerson __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Protect your identity with Yahoo! 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