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Durham hummer looks Ruby-throated, and other yard notes



Hi Carolinabirders,

I took some work back to my house this morning to stand vigil for the 
hummer. I actually saw it before I even completely entered the house, 
flying into and perching on some shrubs in a sunny back corner of the 
yard. It came to the feeder not long afterwards, and continued feeding at 
10-20 minute intervals through at least 1 PM, when I had to leave.

Anyway, it looks like a Ruby-throated. I remembered that Black-chins 
supposedly pumped their tails incessantly; this bird held its tail still 
while hovering, and while perched (it fed while sitting on a perch), and 
moved the tail only when it changed position or direction. Susan Campbell 
later mentioned that the Black-chinned's tail does not extend very far 
beyond its wing tips; I'm fairly sure that this bird's tail did. Susan 
also mentioned that Black-chinned is particularly vocal while feeding. 
This bird seemed silent; the windows were closed, but I could hear Downy 
and Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Carolina Wrens calling from much further 
away, and still heard nothing out of the hummer.

I took a few photos, just to be sure. The lighting was terrible, so they 
will probably only show silouettes, but that should at least confirm the 
tail length beyond the wings.

Hadn't sat down and just watched the feeders much lately. The impressive 
trend was LOTS of action at the bird bath. Normally, I'd see maybe 2-3 
birds per day drinking. Perhaps the lack of rain has dried some water 
sources, and the cold has frozen the rest, because the birds were thirsty 
today. Saw dozens of individuals of at least six species, most noteworthy 
being an unprecedented (for the bird bath) flock of 5 Cedar Waxwings.

Another welcome sight was an unusually brightly colored Red-shouldered 
Hawk. Just seeing it was enough, but it became more welcome when it 
spooked a trio of squirrels off the feeders! Very crisp black-and-white 
barring on the tail and wings, and bright rufous breast. It exhibited a 
strange behavior, alternating perches between the ground and the trees as 
it travelled through the woods. Almost as if it were seeking prey too 
small to see clearly from the trees.

The only other noteworthy visitor was a Brown Creeper. At first, it was 
picking up suet crumbs off the ground, as a Carolina Wren monopolized the 
feeder. Later, it had its own shot on the feeder. And later still, the 
tables turned as the Carolina Wren - actually two of them, plus a 
strikingly bright Pine Warbler - were forced to pick crumbs, while the 
feeder was occupied by a female Red-bellied Woodpecker.

Good birding,

Josh



Joshua S. Rose
Duke University
Department of Biology (Zoology, R.I.P.)

jsr6@acpub.duke.edu
http://www.duke.edu/~jsr6/