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Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Black-chinned Hummer

The last few days, I have made myself crazy
trying to identify this female hummingbird,
here in San Antonio (yes, I'm still in TX....long story).

I believed it to be a Black-chinned Hummingbird,
(Archilochus alexandri)
but they are almost identical to the Ruby-throated female.
Sibley's said they pump their tails when hovering.
Yes, she pumped her tail.
And their bill is a little longer, slightly curved downward....
yes, yes, yes!


And then, this morning, the male showed up at the feeder,
and sure enough,


HE was a Black-chinned, with a beautiful
iridescent violet throat!!


Another check on my life list, YAY!

Again, I feel pretty fortunate, as I it appears that I am on the most Eastern fringes of their U.S. breeding range where they return after wintering in Mexico.