Date: 7/11/25 6:49 pm From: Zac Denning via groups.io <zdenning1...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Is this an Allen's at Blake Garden?
Hey Claude,
This is a juvenile male, so the ID is a bit more subtle than for adult
males. Unfortunately, by this time of year, my understanding is that the
adult males have mostly left the scene, so the tougher birds are what were
left with ...
Others are more expert, but for what it’s worth, here’s my take:
The R2 feather (next to innermost tail feather in your 3rd shot) appears to
be missing the slight notch that juvenile male Rufous would usually show.
If you happen to also have a shot of the outermost tail feather that’s
separated enough from the others to see the feather width, that might help
clarify further.
In terms of whether the 3rd photo (with spread tail) meets the reviewers’
threshold for listing as Allen’s, I’m not sure. The default right now would
be listing all these birds as a slash (Allen’s/Rufous Hummingbird).
If you don’t get definitive feedback from a reviewer/expert on this email
thread, and if you have the reviewer’s contact, you could list as a slash
on eBird, reach out to them, then wait for confirmation before proceeding
with a more definitive ID. Otherwise, you could try listing as Allen’s,
and say in the eBird description that you’re seeking reviewer feedback. If
your reviewer responds (whatever the outcome), please be sure to thank them
for their unpaid work to keep eBird data accurate! It’s not an easy job.
Maybe someone has another suggestion, but that’s usually how I’d usually
handle this type of situation.
I hope that helps.
Zac Denning
Albany
On Fri, Jul 11, 2025 at 5:44 PM Claude Lyneis via groups.io <cmlyneis=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> After seeing several eBird reports of Allen’s Hummingbirds in U.C. Blake
> Garden I thought I would try again to get some definitive photos that would
> pass expert judgement and not have to be labeled Allen’s/Rufous. A couple
> of these photo show good detail of the tail feathers, but is that enough?
> There were several of these Hummers buzzing around and at least one
> Anna’s. Blake Garden seemed a rather magical place hidden away in
> Kensington.
>
> Here is an album with four photos of the bird.
>
> [image: 54648983475_d4aa3e69a4_c.jpg]
>
> Allen's Hummingbird <https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCm8Gz> > flic.kr <https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCm8Gz> > <https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCm8Gz> >
> Claude Lyneis
> <cmlyneis...>
> https://www.youtube.com/bhsvideodad > Flickr Photos at https://flic.kr/ps/36it5P >
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