Stephen Yahn gave me permission to forward this to MOU-net. I am curious what opinions there may be regarding this bird's identification. Stephen also told me he will bring the specimen to the Bell Museum.
Dedrick Benz Winona, MN >From: "Stephen Yahn" <[email protected]> >Reply-To: [email protected] >To: [email protected] >Subject: Re: [mnbird] Late Hummer >Date: Wed, 01 Nov 2006 17:28:31 -0600 > >After the two sightings of the hummingbird reported previously, I saw it >again on Tuesday morning silhouetted in the pre-dawn light at a feeder. >After not seeing it for the rest of the day, I hoped that the cold front >might be the trigger to send it on its way to the tropics. This morning >while having breakfast, I discovered it perched on the deck floor beneath >a frozen feeder. > >I approached it slowly and it didn't move so I took a few quick photos >before gently lifting it up and bringing it into the house. Knowing that >hummingbirds respond to cold by entering a state of torpor, I hoped that >warming the bird would restore its ability to feed. After several hours, >it was obvious that the hummer was dead. > >Even with the help of a dozen reference books, I wasn't able to positively >identify the species. My best guess is that it's an immature female >Ruby-throated, although I realize that some late-season sightings are of >Calliopes or Rufous. For those of you with a more practiced eye or who >just want to see it, photos are available here: > > http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/stephen_yahn/album?.dir=/c339re2 > >The first of the photos are of the bird as I discovered it. The next >group are closeups taken inside. The remainder were taken in natural >light. > >It is puzzling what causes this late appearance. When I first saw the >hummingbird, it appeared able to fly and feed without impediment. Did it >get a late start from the far north? Did it have a defective migration >urge? Was it lost? No matter the reason, having a dead hummingbird in my >hand on November 1 is a sad experience. > >Steve Yahn >Eagan, Dakota County > > >On Mon, 30 Oct 2006 18:28:47 -0600, Stephen Yahn <[email protected]> >wrote: > >>Yesterday afternoon and again this morning there was a hummingbird at my >>feeders. I wasn't able to make a positive identification--the bird was >>very skittish--but it appeared to be a female or immature Ruby-throated. >>It's been six weeks since I've seen a hummingbird here and I was thinking >>about taking down the nectar feeders for the season. >> >>By the fact that it was skittish and not gorging at the feeders, I assume >>that it has been feeding reasonably well. With the weather set to turn >>much colder, it would seem that the hummer should make haste for its >>winter range. I wonder if the bird has come from the farthest reaches of >>its range, had migration delayed for some reason, or has a defective >>migration instinct. >> >>I had another uncommon visitor to my feeders this morning. A Northern >>Flicker spent a surprisingly long time on my deck, aggressively chasing >>away the jays and icterids that got too close. >> >>Steve Yahn >>Eagan, Dakota County >> >>_______________________________________________ >>mnbird mailing list >>[email protected] >>http://www.mnbird.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mnbird >> > > >_______________________________________________ >mnbird mailing list >[email protected] >http://www.mnbird.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mnbird _________________________________________________________________ Try Search Survival Kits: Fix up your home and better handle your cash with Live Search! http://imagine-windowslive.com/search/kits/default.aspx?kit=improve&locale=en-US&source=hmtagline
