Mystery Bird: Violet-crowned x Broad-billed hummingbird, Amazilia violiceps x Cynanthus latirostris

grrlscientist — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 08:59:59 +0000

tags: mystery bird, identify this bird, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz

[Mystery bird] Probable hybrid hummingbird, Violet-crowned x Broad-billed hummingbird, Amazilia violiceps x Cynanthus latirostris, photographed in the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Arizona. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]

Image: Richard Ditch, 18 December 2007 [larger view].

Date Time Original: 2004:12:23 16:04:23
Exposure Time: 1/60
F-Number: 8.00
ISO: 640

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

Review all mystery birds to date.

NOTE: If you are one of those peeps who actually has seen this bird or images of it, please let those who have not seen it yet puzzle their way to an ID.

grrlscientist Thu, 02/12/2009 - 03:59

Violet-crowned Hummingbird

fieldmarks:
bill pink with black tip
olive back
range = Arizona

I'm going to say Broad-billed Hummingbird, based on the "long, curved bill" (Sibley), and the pattern of white on the head. Though there are other hummers with that orange-and-black beak that have plumage features matching this bird more closely: Sibley's illustration of the adult female White-eared has "rows of green spots" that look a lot like this bird, and Violet-crowned has white underparts that match this bird better. But White-eared should have a "white supercilium always striking", and Sibley's Violet-crowned looks much dingier in all plumages than this green little gem.

Whatever it is, it sure is pretty.

Haha. And now, having checked the answer in the back of the book, I... will not say anything more. Except the aforementioned "haha".

:-)

Male Broad-billed Hummingbird. Two-tone bill, and blueish cast to face and throat beginning to show. At least it looks like the more-fully developed males I saw in Santa Barbara CA a couple of decades or more ago...

The first two commenters noted characteristics typical of Violet-crowned and Broad-billed. Violet-crowned was my first impression, but it did not look quite right. The overall shape, extensively snow-white underparts, and dull back color point toward Violet-crowned parentage, but the color and shape of the tail suggest Broad-billed. An unusual Violet-crowned is possible, but I see that the experts are leaning toward a Violet-crowned X Broad-billed hybrid and will join them.