OUT-OF-RANGE HUMMINGBIRDS REPORTED IN NEW ENGLAND

FALL 2009

3. Harwich, MA  Allen's Hummingbird   Selasphorus sasin.  October - January

This bird had been present since sometime in October, but was finally banded and fully identified by Sue Finnegan on January 1, 2010. It was a juvenile male Allen's -- the third state record, the second Allen's in 2009!!  The homeowners, Christine and Rich Omar, welcomed birders, and the bird was counted on the Cape Cod Christmas Bird Count on 12/30.  A video appeared on the Cape Cod Times website. The feeder had been encircled with Christmas tree lights in an effort to keep it warm. However, on January 10 the bird was in distress: apparently some sugar water had frozen onto its wing, and it dropped to the ground unable to fly. As Blair Nikula and Tom Prince reported on 'massbird,' the bird was then taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center. 

2.  Scituate, MA  Allen's Hummingbird  Selasphorus sasin.  October 22 -December 29.

This bird was coming to the feeder of a family who reported it to one of the Mass Audubon sanctuaries. John Galluzzo and others were able to see it. On October 28 it visited the feeder about a half dozen times despite heavy rain. The next day, October 29, the bird was banded by Sue Finnegan. The identification was adult female Allen's!! There was no emargination in R2, and apparently all but one of the relevant measurements fell squarely within Allen's and just outside of Rufous.  The photo below was taken at the banding on 10/29. Other photos and information are available at www.massaudubon.org/southshorejournal.  John Galluzzo reported that the bird had died overnight Dec 29-30, apparently due to the extreme cold and high winds that kept blowing it off the feeder.

This was the second confirmed Allen's Hummingbird in Massachusetts. The only prior confirmed Allen's was in 1988, on Nantucket. Of course, some of the many birds reported only as "Selasphorus spp." over the last 20 years might have been Allen's. In-hand examination is usually the only way to accurately decide between Rufous and Allen's Hummingbirds.

1. Hollis, NH.   Rufous Hummingbird.  October 18 - November 2.

This intriguing bird was coming to the feeder of Shel Michaels and his wife Vicki. It was first thought to be a Ruby-throat, but the photo below by Shel showed it to be almost certainly a Selasphorus spp.  The bird was banded on October 25 by Anthony Hill, and turned out to be a hatch-year Rufous, sex indeterminate. It was healthy and weighed 3.6 grams. It (warily!) returned to the feeder shortly after being banded. Thanks to Steve Mirick, for getting the word out to birders, and to Shel and Vicki for graciously allowing people to see this bird, and posting status updates on nhbirds. The bird was last seen Nov. 2 at 7:30 AM.  As Shel Michaels said---God speed, little one!