Feeder Birds (part 3)
(click on photos to enlarge)
HUMMINGBIRDS (the tail end)
Since we moved into our house in early fall, our hummingbird feeder list is incomplete. I look forward to their return in the spring to see what’s really here. So far we’ve seen Black-chinned, Rufous and Anna’s.
On December 7, 2008 our last Anna’s Hummingbird departed for a more temperate climate or, perhaps, just a lower elevation. A neighbor living closer to St. David reports that hummingbirds have spent the entire winter at their house. At first, I wasn’t sure what immature hummers were still at our feeders (I’ve still got a lot to learn about female and juvenile plumage) but after studying my photos and a few references I’ve concluded that they were Anna’s and one, at least, was an immature male. I also heard the very distinct vocalization of the Anna’s.
The primary (wing) feathers on the Anna’s Hummingbird are of equal width as shown in the photo below. This feature separates this species from Black-chinned and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. A Black-chinned would be expected here, a Ruby-throat would not (but one can always hope).
The young male showed large, iridescent gorget feathers, in random patches.
Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna), immature male
The scaly appearance of the breast feathers also indicates a young male.
Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna), immature male
SCALED QUAIL
After a year or so in Tucson with dozens of Gambel’s Quail (Callipepla gambelii) visiting our feeders daily, we wondered if we’d see quail around our house. Just short of a month after our move here a covey of Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata) cautiously approached our feeding station. They were not the bold, vocal birds we were so used to in Tucson but they’ll do. At first we saw them quite infrequently but now they are daily, or I should say, just-after-sunset visitors that come for food and water.
Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata)
It was surprising to see a bird still in juvenal plumage in late October.
Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata), juvenile
Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata)
We’ve seen Gambel’s Quail in the area too but they seem to be far less common than their Scaled cousins.
CACTUS WREN
Although cacti don’t occur here anywhere near the density of the Sonoran Desert, we do have some and we certainly do have Cactus Wrens (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus), our largest and most colorful wren. Once in a while one comes to explore the feeding station.
Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)
Their dexterity around plants that we do our best to keep our distance from is quite remarkable. Not only do they nest in the most vicious needle-laden cacti but they seem quite at home poking around for an insect or two despite the proximity of those long, very sharp spines. How they avoid getting their eyes poked out is a mystery!
Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)
This brings to a conclusion the “regular” visitors, thus far, to our feeding station.
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