Coming and Going
(click on photo to enlarge)
I’ve already mentioned the influx of hummingbirds we’ve had lately. Finally got a decent photo of a Rufous female although the male still eludes me. She has an abbreviated version of the male’s ruby gorget. It’s still very windy which makes hummingbird photography quite difficult with wildly swinging feeders. Our present contingent consists of several Black-chinned males and females, a male and female Rufous and at least one Broad-tailed. Of these, only the Black-chinned will remain here to nest. The other species will move on to different habitats and elevations.
Female Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)
In early March we began hearing the familiar “Chicago” call, made by Gambel’s Quail, coming from deep in the grasses . The quail themselves remained elusive until a few weeks ago when they finally summed up the courage to come out in the open and visit the feeding station. Oddly, they always come in the morning while the Scaled Quail come every evening just after sunset. Maybe they’ve worked out a deal…….anyway we’re happy to have both species in our area (and hoping that we might seen Montezuma Quail here too). All are potential nesters here.
Okay gals, the coast is clear.
Male Gambel’s Quail (Callipepla gambelii)
Female Gambel’s Quail (Callipepla gambelii)
Some of our winter resident sparrows have already departed and those that haven’t aren’t looking so good these days. It’s time for that feather molt into breeding/adult plumage and obviously they want to do that before they arrive on breeding territory. Hence, the rather ragged-looking White-crowned Sparrow.
Molting White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
Chipping Sparrows are also in molt but some are already looking quite spiffy. Some are local nesters but the majority of the winter flocks are probably birds that nest farther north.
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
Pine Siskins peaked at 136 birds during one of our winter storms. That number is now down to about 20 birds. Those remaining will be moving north to higher elevation nesting grounds shortly. The males are coloring up with more intense yellow showing in the wings and tail area.
Pine Siskins (Carduelis pinus)
Siskins far outnumbered Lesser Goldfinches here this winter. I’m curious if this is the norm or if this was just an exceptional winter. Time will tell.
While observing the siskin/goldinch feeder one day, I noticed that one of the goldfinches stood out among the others — it looked like it had a darker back (it’s typically greenish). As time passed, the back feathers showed the black that is characteristic of a form seen from Colorado to Texas. Apparently the black color is most intense in the Texas birds. My bird was not entirely black suggesting it may have migrated here from Colorado. Lesser Golfinches are not migratory birds except for this black-backed form which is known to wander. This bird was present for approximately two weeks.
Lesser Goldfinch, dark form male (Carduelis psaltria) with typically-colored goldfinches
Lesser Goldfinch, dark form male (Carduelis psaltria)
So which wintering species have left entirely? Only Brewer’s Sparrows seem to have departed. I suspect the Brewer’s that over-wintered with us were birds that nest in central Arizona rather than the ones that nest as far north as the western Canadian provinces. Other species that are still with us are probably nesters much farther north and leave a bit later.
A drink before I move on.
Brewer’s Sparrow (Spizella breweri)
We are still seeing White-crowned, Vesper, and Lincoln’s Sparrows as well as Green-tailed Towhee, all of which will move on sooner than later.
Orioles are arriving now and a Scott’s Oriole briefly visited the feeders this morning. Ash-throated Flycatchers can’t be far behind. Spring is an exciting time.
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