tags: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris, photographed in Brandon, South Dakota. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Terry Sohl, 1 September 2008 [larger view].
Photo taken with a Canon 20D, 400 5.6L lens.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
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Well, wings, beak, and build all say "hummingbird", but I don't know which one. I'm guessing a female black-chinned, since it's brown and white, but I'm only guessing.
Well, the "September 1 in South Dakota" thing really cuts down on the possibilities. I guess I'll go with a female ruby-throated hummingbird, going mainly by the Sibley range maps. Though I recognize that the photographer might well have come across a less-likely bird, and thought, hey, gotta get a photo of that.
Probably some here already know about it - but the US forest service has an atlas detailing how global warming is likely to affect the ranges of many bird species:
http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/atlas/index.html
I'm guessing summer immature ruby-throated hummingbird. The field marks are the white-tipped tail and the neck spots. The location and time of year are probably helpful as well.
Based on range, white tail spots, and throat spots I'd vote for Ruby-Throated Hummie.
I'm also guessing immature Ruby, due to the darker patch below the eye.