Scott, sincere thanks for your note. I’ve often heard male CAHU sound like they have a “loose or worn primary” or something that might sound like that? but that was during fall migration, at locations that had Calliope only during fall migration. I support your call to caution on ID of male BTLH by wing sound, and I’d say the same for males of other species, unless we have them at our feeders annually and hear them daily, like all day long. Experience is key. I’m tempted to say more because hums are fascinating, but it’s Time for me to get back out there among our feeders and check on the status of our hum-cussing and hum-fussing… =)

Larry

From: “Scott Tuthill satuthill@cableone.net [ible]”
To: “IBLE”
Sent: Sunday, May 5, 2019 2:34:41 PM
Subject: [IBLE] Hummingbird Report — Boise Highlands

Let me follow up from Larry’s Hummingbird Report with my own
observations here in the Highlands area of Boise.

I got our feeders up on April 30th and immediately had both
Black-chinned and Calliope visiting the feeders. I don’t keep as
accurate of records as Larry but in the last 10-12 years I think we have
had our FOY hummers in April only 2-3 times. The more normal date is May
3-5 or so. So yes, this is an early year.

So far I have only seen male Black-chinned but have both male and female
Calliope. Like Larry’s place, outside of spring and fall migration, the
only hummingbirds we have are Black-chinned. Calliope and Rufous are
brief visitors, hanging out only until they feel like moving on to
where they really want to be.

I want to pass on an observation and see if others have comments.
Yesterday I heard a hummer come in that sounded like a Huey Helicopter.
It’s wings were really loud. Almost like some of the flying beetles I
have seen and heard. Of course I immediately thought it was a
Broad-tailed – a specie I have only seen 2-3 times here and in the fall.
When I finally got a good look at it I realized it was a Calliope – no
doubt. The question then is why was it’s wingbeat so loud? A damaged
primary? Moulting? Any thoughts? I also want to caution folks to make a
Broad-tailed ID call based on wingbeat noise. I noticed a bunch of
recent eBird sightings of Broad-tailed that referenced this usual field
trait. But, it also seems like there might be “noisy Calliope’s” out there.

Scott Tuthill

About a week ago a neighbor told me she had a Rufous in her back yard. I was skeptical until I saw the chubby little ball of fire. That same day we had our first BC male at our feeders here in the North End. And yesterday I had a female Black Chinned come to our feeders 3 times while I was sitting outside with binos (and a beer). And I saw a male Calliope in Hulls Gulch last Thursday, but none in my yard so far.

Lots of other arrivals are making it easier for me to meet my 30 bird quota every day.

Tom McCabe, Boise

From: ible@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ible@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Scott Tuthill satuthill@cableone.net [ible]
Sent: Sunday, May 05, 2019 2:35 PM
To: ible@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [IBLE] Hummingbird Report — Boise Highlands

Let me follow up from Larry’s Hummingbird Report with my own
observations here in the Highlands area of Boise.

I got our feeders up on April 30th and immediately had both
Black-chinned and Calliope visiting the feeders. I don’t keep as
accurate of records as Larry but in the last 10-12 years I think we have
had our FOY hummers in April only 2-3 times. The more normal date is May
3-5 or so. So yes, this is an early year.

So far I have only seen male Black-chinned but have both male and female
Calliope. Like Larry’s place, outside of spring and fall migration, the
only hummingbirds we have are Black-chinned. Calliope and Rufous are
brief visitors, hanging out only until they feel like moving on to
where they really want to be.

I want to pass on an observation and see if others have comments.
Yesterday I heard a hummer come in that sounded like a Huey Helicopter.
It’s wings were really loud. Almost like some of the flying beetles I
have seen and heard. Of course I immediately thought it was a
Broad-tailed – a specie I have only seen 2-3 times here and in the fall.
When I finally got a good look at it I realized it was a Calliope – no
doubt. The question then is why was it’s wingbeat so loud? A damaged
primary? Moulting? Any thoughts? I also want to caution folks to make a
Broad-tailed ID call based on wingbeat noise. I noticed a bunch of
recent eBird sightings of Broad-tailed that referenced this usual field
trait. But, it also seems like there might be “noisy Calliope’s” out there.

Scott Tuthill

Let me follow up from Larry’s Hummingbird Report with my own
observations here in the Highlands area of Boise.

I got our feeders up on April 30th and immediately had both
Black-chinned and Calliope visiting the feeders. I don’t keep as
accurate of records as Larry but in the last 10-12 years I think we have
had our FOY hummers in April only 2-3 times. The more normal date is May
3-5 or so. So yes, this is an early year.

So far I have only seen male Black-chinned but have both male and female
Calliope. Like Larry’s place, outside of spring and fall migration, the
only hummingbirds we have are Black-chinned. Calliope and Rufous are
brief visitors,  hanging out only until they feel like moving on to
where they really want to be.

I want to pass on an observation and see if others have comments.
Yesterday I heard a hummer come in that sounded like a Huey Helicopter.
It’s wings were really loud. Almost like some of the flying beetles I
have seen and heard. Of course I immediately thought it was a
Broad-tailed – a specie I have only seen 2-3 times here and in the fall.
When I finally got a good look at it I realized it was a Calliope – no
doubt. The question then is why was it’s wingbeat so loud? A damaged
primary? Moulting? Any thoughts? I also want to caution folks to make a
Broad-tailed ID call based on wingbeat noise. I noticed a bunch of
recent eBird sightings of Broad-tailed that referenced this usual field
trait. But, it also seems like there might be “noisy Calliope’s” out there.

Scott Tuthill

Birders,

Missy found us four sp of hummers this morning, three at our feeders, but more important was a continuing male Anna’s hanging out at the “main entrance” to subject cemetery (Hill Rd – Dry Creek Cemetery Rd entrance), continuously active with singing, foraging, inter-species chasing, and sword-play with a fem Rufous. ( our brief look revealed a touch of rufous on her flanks, but there were other hums around, so who knows? ) C ould potentially yield a first report / and record / of breeding in Idaho…!? (hint-hint)

Chipety-chipety, tzeee-chupity-chup, tsip, tsip, tew, tchip, and “long scraping sputter” per Kaufman… a diminutive battle of the bands, eh?

Larry and Missy

Hi,

On my morning walk here in Packsaddle in the NW part of Teton Valley foothills, heard and then saw a Say’s Phoebe. This is the first one I have documented in this area ever. It looked like it was passing through but will see.

Also heard a drumming Ruffed Grouse, and saw a drumming Red-naped Sapsucker, a flock of 27 Evening Grosbeaks, and had two singing House Wrens. American Robins are everywhere in pairs and in groups. Dark-eyed Juncos (Pink-sided) are singing from high perches also. Just a few Yellow-rumped Warblers.. One Lazuli Bunting showed up a neighbor’s feeder also. Two Pine Grosbeak (females) were foraging. Yesterday I saw one Green-tailed Towhee but did not see or hear any others today.

The joys of spring included a few yellow sage buttercups in bloom as well.

Peace, Susan

I’ve had some interesting bird visits to the feeder today. At one point, had all of these at the same time either on the platform feeder or beneath it scratching for seeds: 1 Green-tailed Towhee, 1 Harris’ Sparrow, 1 Lincoln’s Sparrow, 6 White-crowned Sparrows & 1 Pine Siskin feeding with a dozen Am Goldfinches.

I have heard the Blue Jay calling from back in the woods yesterday & today but my last sighting was Fri, the 3rd. Haven’t seen it at the feeder in 2 days. Obviously, the jay no longer needs my seeds &, as it is getting no response to its calls, I suspect it will move on soon.

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot