a stray hummingbird

Ever see a hummingbird like the one pictured here around these parts? It's a Rufous Hummingbird and, in theory, it belongs in the Pacific Northwest (where it breeds), the Rocky Mountains (through which it migrates) and/or Mexico (where it is supposed to winter). Technically I should say it's either a Rufous or an Allen's Hummingbird, two closely related western hummers which are often difficult -- not to say impossible -- to tell apart especially in their various immature plumages. However, Allen's is a truly great rarity in the northeast (I don't think that there's a confirmed record for New York State but I could be wrong). Rufous, on the other hand, has turned out to be a regular wanderer and there are a whole bunch of records for New York and the Northeast.

The bird pictured above is at a feeder at the Morton Wildlife Refuge (Jessup's Neck) in Noyack. Eileen Schwinn and I drove up this morning to find it and it turned up almost as soon as we arrived! It is a compact bird with shortish wings and, as you can see in the picture, a lot of rufous all around. I would guess that this is a subadult female Rufous (the odds are certainly in favor of Rufous) but someone more experienced than I with western hummingbirds may have another opinion. Either way, this bird is 45 degrees and close to 3000 miles off course!

Or is it? Rufous Hummingbird (if that's what it is) is the most northerly breeding hummingbird of the more than 300 species. It also has one of the longest migrations of any of its kind which may account for its relatively high probability of wandering. Birds with big migrations are the most likely to turn up in unlikely places. It also may be that climate change is having an effect on the migrational and winter habits of this species. If so, these birds may be the harbingers of change!

Yes, the hummingbird picture is by Eileen Schwinn. And so is the inevitable picture of me feeding a Black-capped Chickadee by hand. As is well known, Morton is the place where chickadees (also titmice, nuthatches and even Downy Woodpeckers) will take seed from your hand. Hummingbirds don't eat seeds but you can get almost as close to them as they come in to the feeders. Best to get there early; we found that, after a while, the local (or passing) Ruby-throated Hummingbirds wake up and, being more aggressive (and perhaps slightly bigger), they chase away the unexpected visitor which then becomes more difficult to see.

Eric Salzman