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Black Chinned X Anna's Hummingbird

Archilochus alexandri X Calypte anna

Description:

I believe that this is a migratory Costa's Hummingbird which has taken over the feeder. It is successful in keeping away the Rufous along with the Anna's!! . Seems like a monster right now!! i am concerned about the little Anna's fledgling which really loved the feeder. Hope it finds another place to feed!!

Habitat:

Foothills.

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24 Comments

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 2 years ago

seek identified this bird as a Lucifer hummingbird

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 10 years ago

Thnx Dr Ashutosh.

Ashutosh Dudhatra
Ashutosh Dudhatra 10 years ago

Beautiful bird!

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 10 years ago

Thanks for confirming, Liam.

Liam
Liam 10 years ago
Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 10 years ago

Thnx again. One thing i can say for sure is that the color of the gorget is different from a typical Anna's . I have been photographing a lot of Anna's lately and this one does seem different.

AshleyT
AshleyT 10 years ago

I could probably believe a hybrid. I agree not everything matches up for a black-chinned, but I know for sure it isn't a Costa's. Maybe Anna's x Black-chinned?

JimBob
JimBob 10 years ago

It definitely could be a hybrid. It looks very similar to the first record of an Anna's in Delaware that was ruled a hybrid after it got its gorget in.

JimBob
JimBob 10 years ago

I guess I should add that there's one thing that's bothering me about it being a Costa's. The primaries should extend past the tail, which I'm pretty sure they don't. Black-chinned should also go past the tail feathers.

btw, I'm using Kenn Kaufman's Field Guide to Advanced Birding to base my ID. (although I still can't really tell, with the wing problem)

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 10 years ago

The gorget too is not typical of Costa's.

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 10 years ago

I will leave it as unknown. Could be a hybrid?

JimBob
JimBob 10 years ago

I'm not convinced. In picture two you can fairly easily see the purple/pinkish color on the forehead. Also I'd think a Black-chinned would have darker flanks/belly that contrasted with the white right below the throat. Finally, Black-chinned Hummingbirds gorget is a much darker color, and the chin area is normally not colorful at all. I know I'm in the minority, but I have no doubt it's not a Black-chinned.

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 10 years ago

Thanks so much for the feedback Black chinned it is and that means it is a local..

AshleyT
AshleyT 10 years ago

I agree with Black-chinned. Even an immature male Costa's has the gorget along the side like Cindy mentioned. And Anna's has a pink to maroon gorget in sunlight, this one is very clearly purple.

I'm leaning toward Black-chinned or Anna's if you're sure there was color on the top of the head as well. The gorget isn't long on the sides like a Costa's. Look at Costa's here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Costa...

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 10 years ago

jim, I replaced the last pic with a similar pic.

JimBob
JimBob 10 years ago

It's not a Black-chinned. It's definitely a Costa's/Anna's. I honestly think they're different birds, the last picture showing an Anna's and the rest showing a Costa's.

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 10 years ago

Livan,doesn't pic 2 seem like a Costa's?

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 10 years ago

Livan,a black chinned has a strip of iridescence only. This bird had an entire gorget which was iridescent.

LivanEscudero
LivanEscudero 10 years ago

Could it be a Black-chinned Hummingbird
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black...

JimBob
JimBob 10 years ago

Ah, if that's the case then it looks fine for a Costa's.

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 10 years ago

3 species of hummingbirds have been at the feeder in a dispute. It attracted a red tailed hawk and a coopers ,who came to check what the racket was about. I feel that the last one could have been another bird. Little confusing at this minute. Maybe i will delete the last pic.

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 10 years ago

Thanks so much Jim bob. I have never seen a more feistier bird!

JimBob
JimBob 10 years ago

Hmmm... all but the last shot seem good for Costa's. The last one is making me think Anna's x Costa's though. I guess it could be a young male Costa's, though.

HemaShah
Spotted by
HemaShah

Concord, California, United States

Spotted on Mar 30, 2014
Submitted on Mar 30, 2014

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