Isn't it way too early for western hummers to show up anyway?
Jan
-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Shank [mailto:birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2011 4:55 PM
To: 'VA bird 2007'
Subject: Re: [Va-bird] Question RE: Albino hummingbird.
Good question, Stuart. After posting photos the other day, I regretted not
noting in the subject line that I was privileged to photograph a
white-throated hummingbird today. I sent your note to the folks where this
bird is located and received back this reply.
Kevin
I can offer only two things:
1. 99% or more of the identifiable hummingbirds that visit our yard here in
Virginia are Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. ( I would like to say 100%, but
can't be sure that we may not have had Velociraptors chasing other species
of hummingbirds across our property in years past.)
2. YuLee Larner sent our initial pictures to Steve Rottonborm, who
responded that "the primaries look consistent with Ruby-throated."
Beyond that, it's anybody's guess as to what the specific species may be --
and it's only normal to expect puzzled naturists to question any call that
would be made. That's what keeps science honest. The only way to identify
the species with a 100% certainty (if that is even possible) would be to
capture it -- which we aren't going to do.
You guys took a lot of photos, and color is only one of the characteristics
used for bird identification. Perhaps we could ask Mr.
Merrell, as an experienced naturist, to study your pictures and offer some
alternatives.
In the meantime, it would seem that you could refer to it as a "probable"
Ruby-throated Hummingbird without ruffling anyone's feathers.
Ed
-----Original Message-----
From: Stuart [mailto:ntrlst1@xxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2011 10:15 AM
To: Va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Va-bird] Question RE: Albino hummingbird.
Hi:
I am scratching my head.
How the heck do they know that this is a Ruby-throat given the birds
white plumage?
A puzzled naturalist.
Stuart Kent Merrell
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