Date: 7/2/26 12:45 pm From: Phil Davis <pdavis...> Subject: Re: [MDBirding] When was that Rufous HB in Takoma Park?
Hi Gail, et al.
This is probably all been resolved, but here is some additional info ...
First, as Tyler mentioned, a abridged copy of the MD/DC Records Committee database is online as a large PDF document at the URL in my signature block.
The committee has gone defunct after my well-announced in advanced "off-ramp" and having no volunteers willing to either take on, or preferably reshape the committee in the face of the all-pervasive eBird landscape. (Anyone interested should contact the MOS!). Regardless, I am still here and have access to the full, unabridged database and documentation.
1. [MD/DCRC accession # MD/1990-014] The famous Rufous Hummingbird (RUHU) in Sam Pancake's well-landscaped yard in Takoma Park was Maryland's first accepted record. It was present from 11/08/1988 through 04/17/1989. It was banded but not positively identified during the banding process since a wrong tail feather was pulled. However, it was IDed as a hatch year (HY), female bird. When the bird was present, Sam's yard was in PG County, but, as others have noted, the jurisdiction was changed. Wikipedia notes: "In a historic jurisdiction change on July 1, 1997, Takoma Park was fully unified into Montgomery County. Prior to this, the city was split between Montgomery and Prince George's counties, but a years-long legislative process successfully moved the county line to place the entire municipality within Montgomery County." In keeping with biological record protocols, the MD/DCRC changed our database to show the physical record from the current political jurisdiction, Montgomery County.
Database notes on documentation: "AB 43(2):297. Bird was banded on 11/16. Band #7000-47918. Three color slides by T Oberman; one color print by M O'Brien. Feathers deposited at CMNH."
Committee findings: "Despite some doubt generated by an unfortunate mix-up over the tail feathers collected when this hummingbird was banded, this record was accepted unanimously on its third circulation. The measurements and photographs submitted, plus F. G. Stiles' article on Rufous and Allen's Hummingbirds, were most helpful to the committee in determining that this was an immature female Rufous Hummingbird."
2. [MD/1997-111] Sam's yard continued to attract western stragglers. A non-banded bird IDed and accepted only as an adult male member of the Broad-tailed/Rufous/Allen's complex was present from 10/24/1993 through 11/17/1993.
Documentation notes: "MB 51(2):73. AB 48(1):97. Color slide by G Jett."
Committee findings: "The committee eliminated Calliope Hummingbird as a candidate based on some of the field marks described. However, the narrowest group of Selasphorus species agreed to by at least eight members was the Rufous/Allen's/Broad-tailed complex. Therefore, this record was accepted as at a "group" level with the group defined as these three species."
3. [MD/1997-192] The next winter, another bird, a non-adult male, was accepted as a member of the BT/RU/AL/Calliope complex. It was present from 11/05/1994 - 11/08/1994.
Documentation notes: "FN 49(1):32. Found at the feeder of Sam Pancake. Third wintering Selasphorus hummingbird at this location."
Committee findings: "The majority of the committee members found that the details provided could not determine the identification to a level lower than to the Rufous/Allen's/Broad-tailed/Calliope Hummingbird complex."
4. [MD/2001-079] Finally, a fourth bird, banded and accepted as a HY female was present from 10/31/2001 - 11/03/2001. [MD/2001-079]
Documentation notes: "MB 58(1-4):60. USNM specimen #2308. Two photos of specimen by M Gustafson. Remeasured on 9/2/2005 by M Gustafson."
Committee findings: "The committee found that the banding measurements confirmed the identification of Rufous Hummingbird."
Over the years, as Selasphorus hummingbirds became more regular in MD and DC, the review criteria evolved over time to eliminate the more "common" vagrants from the review process.
Hope that is of interest ...
Phil
At 01:17 PM 6/30/2026, 'Gail B. Mackiernan' via Maryland & DC Birding wrote:
Hi all,
Trying to find out the dates when that Rufous Hummer was at Sam Pancake's home in Takoma Park, MD. Would have been in the late1980s...
=================================================== Phil Davis, Secretary Emeritus MD/DC Records Committee 2549 Vale Court Davidsonville, Maryland 21035 USA web: https://mdbirds.org/records-committee/ email: <pdavis...> phone: 301-261-0184 ===================================================
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