Date: 7/11/25 6:59 pm From: Bob Lewis via groups.io <RLewis0727...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Is this an Allen's at Blake Garden?
Wow, I just sent Claude a note saying it was a female. Reasoning being the tips of R3-R5 are bright white, and immature male is more tan-tipped. I do think the R5 is quite narrow, supporting Allen's. If indeed it's a male, then I think Zac's comments regarding the absence of a notch (or nipple-like tip) is convincing, and it's an Allen's. But obviously I have no real clue!!Bob
On Friday, July 11, 2025 at 06:48:58 PM PDT, Zac Denning via groups.io <zdenning1...> wrote:
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 DenningAlbany
On Fri, Jul 11, 2025 at 5:44 PM Claude Lyneis via groups.io <cmlyneis...> 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.
