Very interesting. If it’s indeed a native hummingbird (& not some non-native escape from somewhere), my best guess is a juvenile Black-chinned Hummingbird. Based on size, coloring description & looks like it has a longer bill. The confusion is, indeed, from the triangular black eye patch. Possibly, it’s a male juvenile & just getting its black feathering around the eyes. I may be way off base, but best I can come up with. 

 

Here in SE ID along the Snake, only hummingbirds I’ve seen since last Fri are all Black-chinneds: adults & juveniles, males & females of both. None quite like yours, however. Thanks for sharing! 

 

Brian Carrigan 

Blackfoot 

We had this female hummingbird visit our fuchsia plant today. I apologize for the horrible photos taken with my cell phone, zoomed in through the window. The bird was large for a hummingbird. No signs of rust anywhere. All green back. Very white under the throat. The bird had a very distinct black eye patch in a triangular shape with white above the eye. Our hummingbirds have headed south a couple of weeks ago with an occasional blackchin straggler so not really sure what kind of hummingbird this is. Thanks for any help in identification. 

 

Linda Lamb

Priest River, ID

Working its way along the lower step towards the west. Headed toward the water control structure when last seen. Found by JC Clancy. Occasionally moves out of sight when gets next to the riser. 

Saw godwits, ibis, egret, willet, greater and lesser yellowlegs; Baird’s, pec,least, western, and semipalmated sandpipers, and lots of spotted sandpipers and killdeer. Other birds were grebes, pelicans, a few ducks, tons of Franklin’s and ring-billed gulls.  Hit the filter for both Caspian and Forster’s terns. 

Thanks for the response! Yup, not even close to your numbers, Bill. But, that’s good to hear. Interesting… their migration corridors. 

 

Most entertaining birds today are the W Wood-Pewees. Yesterday, I heard & saw one miss a cabbage butterfly flitting across the yard. Could hear the Pewee’s bills “clacking” together as it missed 3 times, then returned to its perch with no luck. Today, while watching the nectar feeder, heard that same clacking sound, just in time to see a W Wood-Pewee snatch a cabbage butterfly from the air & return to its perch to, literally, gulp it down. A minute later, same Pewee caught another of the butterflies trying to dodge the bird to no avail. 4 zig-zags & down the butterfly went, mid-flight, before the Pewee returned to its perch. Amazing flight maneuverability of the little birds! 

 

Great-horneds are calling &, hear in early AM hours, too. A hen turkey with 3 young comes in towards evening. No Sandhills close by that I’ve seen this year. Haven’t checked out backwaters of Amer Falls lately, tho. In past, have always found a few there. Most abundant seed feeder bird is Black-headed Grosbeak. The young are all flying now &, at times, will have up to 11 (adults plus juvies) vying for space atop the platform feeder. 

 

Brian Carrigan 

Blackfoot

Ok, here goes. Still have four feeders up, probably going through 2-3 4 cups feeders a day. I keep thinking they are slowing down, but then the mob hits again and all ports are occupied. I think all four species, fewer calliope, and the short billed stubby juvies. They seldom sit long enough to ID. I thought BC were down, but then the majority for a while. Guardy rufous try to monopolize a feeder, but don’t succeed long. Made up four batches yesterday and now they’re all out in feeders.

Wrens fledged from  the satt dish nest yesterday. Turkeys are roaming and getting bigger, but not great flyers yet. Sandhills are working fields and sticking around. Great Horns are noisy in predawn light.

Bill Moore

Hoot Owl

Inkom 

Getting 3 hummingbird species at feeders: Black-chinned, Rufous & Calliope. No Broad-tailed, as of yet. Have seen adults & juveniles of all the 3 that are pushing through, at present. But, in noticeably fewer numbers than past years. Only going through 2 to 3 oz, total, per day of nectar. 

 

Be curious if Bill Moore will weigh in & let us know his numbers? I did read where E Oregon birders noted a significant decrease in Spring arrivals, of all bird species usual for their region, this year. Various explanations, including drought conditions in Western US. I’ll be curious to see what rest of the month & Sept brings at my location. But, so far, a decrease in hummingbird migrants at my spot on the map. 

 

Brian Carrigan 

Blackfoot 

Just saw my first Calliope Hummingbird of the season, a female, come into the feeder this evening. As usual, she’s even more aggressive than the Rufous! Battling off both Black-chinned & Rufous Hummingbirds, and taking over the feeder for herself. 

 

Brian Carrigan 

Blackfoot