There is a Selasphorous Hummingbird coming to feeders at a home in the
Cave Spring section of Roanoke County and from interviewing the people
at that home it has apparently been here since September and they just
recently realized that it was a different hummer and contacted a member
of the Roanoke Valley Bird Club about it.
I have visited the site four times and have taken about 20 minutes of
video and a number of still pictures of the bird. It was still there
and today and came to the feeders 10 times between 9:00-11:45 am today.
After looking at the videos and using slow motion and stop action when
the bird has it's tail spread, I am 99.99% certain that it is a female
rufous since the tail feathers are very wide and not narow and sharp as
the field guides show for an allen's. I have a number of shots of the
bird that look just like the immature female rufous shown in Plate 2 of
Hummingbirds of America by Sheri L. Williamson. I observed the bird for
more than three hours in the snow on December 5 and the weather did not
seem to bother it at all. It's favorite perch is a dogwood tree and it
stayed in that perch and came to the feeders on the car port that day
for over an hour before leaving for a while and then returning.
The folks who are hosting the brid are very ameanable to birders and if
you would like to know the location of the bird please contact me for
information either by e-mail (clarinetman@xxxxxxxxxxxxx) or by calling
me at (540) 389-3294.
Bill Grant, Vice-President
Roanoke Valley Bird Club
2648 Clover Street
Salem, VA 24153
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