Living the Scientific Life (Scientist, Interrupted)

tags: Anna’s Hummingbird, Calypte anna, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz

~~[Mystery bird]~~ Anna’s Hummingbird, Calypte anna, photographed in Arizona. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]

Image: Richard Ditch, 30 January 2005.

Date Time Original: 2005:01:30 07:51:30
Exposure Time: 1/159
F-Number: 8.00
ISO: 400

Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.

Review all mystery birds to date.

Comments

#1 John Callender
May 29, 2009

I’m going to go with Anna’s hummingbird, based on the color of the gorget, the hint (I think?) of gorget feathers extending above the eye, and the “gray-edged feathers” (Sibley) on that ridiculously spread-out tail.
#2 Emily
May 29, 2009

I’ll second that identification, based again on the striking purple-red gorget. Living in Southern California, I see these occasionally, and the metallic purple-red always catches my eye.
#3 Monador
May 29, 2009

I agree: only the Anna’s seems to have those grey-edged feathers and the head is all red, unlike other bright-throated ones. The breast feathers look rather like fish scales. I’ve seen one on a visit to Southern California.
#4 Heather
May 30, 2009

I’m thinking Anna’s as well, because I have one that looks just like this that yells at me whenever I go out the back door.
#5 Heather
May 30, 2009

I’m thinking Anna’s as well, because I have one that looks just like this that yells at me whenever I go out the back door.

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