English and Scientific names:

Broad-billed hummingbird (Cynanthus latirostris)

Number of individuals: 

1, Second Year Male

 

Locality: LOUISIANA: 

St.John the Baptist

Specific Locality:

Home of Ronald Stein,

Reserve, LA

Date(s) when observed:

Feb 16, 2004

 

Time(s) of day when observed:

2PM

Reporting observer and address:

                          Lynn Becnel

                          Donaldsonville, LA 70346

 

Light conditions:

 Sunny.

Other observers who independently identified the bird(s):

Ronald Stein, homeowner

Nancy L Newfield (banded bird 11/11/03)

 

Optical equipment: 

Olympus C-2100 Digital Camera

Distance to bird(s): 

Ten feet

Duration of observation:

Several 15-second observations as it came to the feeder

 

Habitat: 

Back-yard garden 

Behavior of bird: 

Bird has established "territory" in the corner of garden.  A nectar feeder is hung among a 10-foot abutilon and a 4-foot winter honeysuckle. Bird was observed guarding this area and alternately flying to a wooded area 200 feet away.  Bird chased away 2 Rufous hummingbirds and several chickadees that came to the area.

 

Description: 

Bird slightly larger than the several Rufous hummingbirds in the area.  Red bill, dark tail, vivid iridescent blue gorget with equally vivid iridescent emerald green stomach. White eyespot behind eye, green back. The bird was banded by Nancy Newfield on 11/11/03 and is color-marked with white spot on top of head.

                                                

Voice:

N/A.  I am hearing impaired.  Ron Stein can readily identify its call and alerted me when the bird was in the area.

 

Similar species:

Similar to the buff-bellied hummingbird in size and shape and red bill.  Eliminated by absent of buff-color on flanks and tail.

 

Photographs or tape recordings obtained?

Digital images were taken and are attached. The original un-cropped photos are about 450K in size and can be supplied. Images are also available on web-page http://www.geocities.com/lbecnel/humphoto12.html?1076974306403

Previous experience: 

This is first experience with male broad-billed.  A female was observed and banded 2 years ago at a neighbor's garden by Nancy Newfield.

 

Identification aids: at time of observation:

Bird was previously identified by Ronald Stein and Nancy Newfield; I take no credit for initial identification.

 

Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain: 

Yes. 

 

Reporter: 

Lynn Becnel

Date and time: 

Feb 21, 2004 11:00AM