This hummer looks like a ruby-throat or a black-chinned, but its throat is yellow. It does not matter which angle I look at it, it is yellow. I have read some ruby-throats can look golden at certain angles but this is never red looking. It also kind of has a forked tail when resting.
Here's another.
One more.
You've got a male ruby-throated. He may be chasing everyone else off from your feeder very soon but it sure is fun to watch him try to guard it.
mini-- is the golden color an interim color prior to maturation?
I know the male juveniles are gray throated for a while, but I didn't know about the gold.
I have two of these males in my yard now. Neither of them look like most of the ruby throats I've seen.
what about a Rufous or Allens??? I lost my book in Katrina so can't really make a guess. They are common to Tx. We get a few just in winter sometimes
Kewl pictures, nice...
Liz
My guess is an Allens even though they are not typically seen in TX, hummingbirds are known to go outside of their ranges. If one were to go outside of its range, I would think this is the year for it !
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i4340id.html
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/168/_/Allens_Hummingbird.aspx
Did you get that rain? We saw it on the horizon - coming our way - then it turned tail and ran back in your direction!
It looks like the storms started right here on top of us. We got a half inch of rain here. Whenever we get some rain, I get a big influx of hummers at the feeders. I wonder why. A few days later, most will leave and the "regulars" will stay. Do you guys notice how a rain will bring in the hummers too?
Haven't seen too many this year... perhaps the lack of rain is why?
Might be. I really think this is something different than a ruby throat. I have 3 of these things in the back yard now, and I have some ruby-throats too. They are different. Very similar, yes, but the coloring of the gorget is different, there is no doubt.
Plowdaddy, I am in dire need of some lessons on photographing hummers. I have more than my share at my feeders, but have yet to get a pic that I would even save. I have a canon powershot S50. I am so ignorant at taking 12Ft shots. It has a mag of x12. But still not a clear shot. John
Plowdaddy - I agree that it is not a ruby-throat. Of the hummers that are known to be seen in the US, even if only occasionally, the Allen's is the only one that fits the coloring of your bird. The brown belly, the green back and brown wings are very dilineated in that last photo. I think with the copper throat of the Allens could easily be seen as golden in the right light, but red would be difficult to mistake for yellow. The Rufous doesn't have the green back/brown wings like the guy in your photo. The white patch behind the eye is so much more prominent than on any of my photos of Rubys.
But I am no expert....
