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Ruby Throated vs. Bl. Chinned Hummingbird



Hi  

I have been enjoying watching hummers visit my feeder this summer. However, I 
have a female hummingbird that does not act similar to the others. I have 
been able to get good looks at this bird while it is perched. This female 
constantly bobs its tail while feeding, where the others remain fairly still. 
The Sibley book shows this as a characteristic of the Bl. Chinned. This bird 
is not as green as the others and it has a grayer crown than the others. 
However, when it is perched it appears to be fairly stocky. The wing tips 
appear to be even or slightly shorter than its tail. Also, the bill does not 
appear to be long and has a slight curve downward. The underside appears 
fairly whitish. In the past I have not looked that closely at hummers, so I 
do not have a good reference for length of bill and coloring of theses birds. 
I am sure that I am looking at a female Ruby Throated, but it is sure 
confusing. I would appreciate any thoughts or insights.

Brad Feuss
Charlotte,NC
bwstagsleap@cs.com