Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2016-41a
| Common name: |
Broad-billed Hummingbird |
| Scientific name: | Cynanthus latirostris |
| Date: | 11/18/16 |
| Time: | 12:48 |
| Length of time observed: | 32 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | Male |
| Location: | 331 W 1910 S, Hurricane, 84737 |
| County: | Washington |
| Latilong: | 37.1465x-113.2953 |
| Elevation: | 3,373 |
| Distance to bird: | 5 ft or greater |
| Optical equipment: | Nikon D7200, 55-300mm lens |
| Weather: | mostly sunny |
| Light Conditions: | moderate to bright |
| Description: Size of bird: | 3 1/2" longą |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | typical |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | brilliant blue throat, green overall, white stripe behind eye |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | bright red/pink to black on tip |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
(see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Short chatters, primarily. When further away from primary feeder and me he would perch in a nearby creosote bush or tamarisk bush on the edge of my property and combine a song and chatter calls, sometimes making short flights around the bushes while singing. This is, however, unlike other hummingbird species who perform a more visible courtship display. There is less pattern and consistency to his behaviors in conjunction with the songs. |
| Behavior: | See above for some. Intermittently perches and flies nearby, and flies out of sight. When spending 30 minutes stationary to watch his behavior he will leave for about 10 minutes at a time. After about 10 minutes he flies back into the yard, or down from a tamarisk perch and makes a stop at the feeder. Much more willing to sit and rest than other hummingbird species I have visit my yard. |
| Habitat: | Residential property on an alluvial fan. A few hundred yards from orchard and rural farm ground; about 80 yards from open scrub desert. Yard has artificial turf, but a few dozen rosemary bushes still in bloom (usually frequented by honeybees and butterflies more than hummingbirds), and a variety of small and large bushes and trees within and around the parcel. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
The yard gets visited by Black-chinned and Rufous as appropriate seasonally.
Both species left the area about 2 months ago and are plenty distinctive male to
male. I also have had a single male Costa's visit my yard over the past 3
winters. He has arrived about this time each year, but his purple/magenta
plumage and smaller size is quite distinctive. My experience with hummingbirds, previous submissions to utahbirds and ebird, along with reference to the AudubonBirds app, and Merlin Bird ID app. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
As mentioned above: My yard is visited by many Black-chinned and Rufous as appropriate seasonally. Both species left the area about 2 months ago. I also have had a single male Costa's visit my yard over the past 3 winters. He has arrived about this time each year. |
| References consulted: | AudubonBirds app, Merlin Bird ID app |
| Description from: | Notes taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | September Smith |
| Observer's address: | 331 W 1910 S, Hurricane UT 84737 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | |
| Date prepared: | 11/20/16 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: |