HBRC - Winter Hummer Study

That is the question that has become familiar in the past few years after Winter sightings of Anna's, Calliape, Green Violet-eared and Rufous Hummingbird have occurred in Ohio. This has been in recent years!

A total of 14 species have now been accounted for in the eastern U.S. thanks, in part, to hummingbird banders confirming these confusing winter visitors. The best time to find rare species in our area is after the "Ruby-throats" have migrated away. This will typically occur after November 15 which is considered the "magic cutoff date" for lingering Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. In some instances a few "Ruby-throats" may linger past this date, but the chances of that occurring are quite small. The first of the adult male Rufous Hummingbirds can appear in the eastern United States as early as mid to late July. Any Hummer in your yard with a brown back is a male Rufous. ("HBSG")

Anna's Hummingbird

Click the photo for more detailed photos and i.d. characteristics.

Rufous Hummingbird Photo by Bob Foppe

A Rufous Hummingbird was spotted in Hamilton, County, OH near Hartwell in Springfield Twp.

It was a single visitor to a feeder that was kept out by a resident who usually takes down the feeder at the end of October. This bird has been visiting since the beginning of November because "the hummingbird kept coming back". The homeowner was surprised to find out it was not a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, but a rare Hummer from as far away as Alaska and the Yukon!

It was banded by Tim Tolford of HBRC on November 30 as an adult female Rufous Hummingbird. The adult female Rufous in winter plumage can be identical to adult female Allen's Hummingbird in winter plumage. The only way to determine which species you have is by measurements and feather characteristics only visible "in hand". The only way to accomplish this is by a hummingbird bander.

This is the only known Rufous in Hamilton County for winter 2007/2008 and one of two reported in Ohio. The 2nd Rufous was banded by hummingbird bander Allan Chartier.

We have documented fourteen western species in the eastern United States; Rufous, Black-chinned, Allen's, Anna's, Calliope, Buff-bellied, Broad-tailed, White-eared, Green Violet-ear, Magnificent, Green-breasted Mango, Broad-billed, and Costa's. More of these species, than we previously realized, may be waiting to be discovered during the winter in Ohio. We just haven't known that we should have been looking!

So be sure to leave your feeder out all winter, keep it clean and maintained and where you can view it easily. If the nectar is going down in the feeder, you may have a winter visitor. Watch it for awhile to see what is making the nectar dissappear.

Don't worry about leaving nectar out in the winter. You will not make the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds stay if you leave your feeder out in winter. They will migrate whether or not you have a feeder out.

Calliope Hummingbird

Green Violet-eared Hummingbird

If you live in or around OH, IN, KY, WV, PA and think you may have a rare species of Hummingbird wintering over, contact Hummingbird bander Tim Tolford at hummers@tolford.com or visit www.tolford.com/birdband. Mail is checked frequently throughout the day.

For any other states in the central and northern portion of the eastern U.S., please log in to hummerwatch group to log your sightings of western hummers visiting your feeder(s) Hummerwatch is working collaboratively with the MI/Gt. Lakes Humnet. If other winter hummer banders are in the coverage area, please let us know you are out there so we can work together!

For other sightings in the Eastern U.S. click here for a list of who to contact.

____________________________________________

Above photos were obtained freely through the World Wide Web Google Search Engine.