IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES: Anna's Hummingbird, Calypte anna
HOW MANY: one

REPORTER: Terry Gray 890 Stephany Ln Moscow ID 83843-9635 208.882.1585
REPORTER EMAIL: clgtlg@moscow.com
OTHER OBSERVERS: Terry Gray

DATE REPORT PREPARED: 9/10/2009     DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED: September 9, 2009

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION: This bird observed in my yard in Moscow, Idaho. Latah County.
HABITAT: backyard

CONDITIONS: On at least 4 separate occasions this bird came to my feeders from early morning until just before dark. Clear warm fall day with temps in am at 50 degrees to the mid 70's by afternoon. Used nocks and 30x camera

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?: Yes, during the observation
DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?: Yes, during the observation
WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?: The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America.

DESCRIPTION: Hummingbird - Calypte anna. This bird is a sub-adult male. This bird had a stright somewhat short bill and was slightly larger in comarison to a Black-chinned hummingbird that was present as well. Bird was quite green in color on the back and very green as well in the flank. This bird with out the correct angle of light appeared to have a very large central central spot that would turn red when the light angle was right.Wing length was not quite to the top of the tail. Also there was a hint of red that would appear on the head when the light reflected off the bird.
BEHAVIOR: This bird would drink from all three of my Hummingbird feeders and also was gathering nector from Coral Flowers and Sunflower blossoms. I have a large number of finch coming to the feeding station as well and the Hummingbirds would not interact with these birds. The Black-chinned Hummingbird that was also present would sometimes try and feed at the same time and these two birds did the usual thing in trying to be the boss of the feeders but with three feeders they did get along.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU? First observing the bird the feeders were in the shade and I thought the bird might be a female displaying the red central patch but once in the light I could observe that the hed crown was starting to appear indicating it was a young male.
HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY? having green flank and not a buffy color and red on the throat and head I was able to rule out Black-chinned and the other normal hummingbirds that visit my feeder. The bird was also a large hummingbird comparred to the Calliope and Ruffous with no hint of buff or ruffous color on this individual.

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES): First observed this species in 2004 when I drove in a snow storm from Moscow to BonnersFerry to observe a young male coming to a feeder in 15 below zero weather. Have observed both males and a female in winter in this area on at least 6 occassions. This is the earlies I have observed this species. Ususally observed from Thanksgiving until early spring in this area.
GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE: I have been an active birder for over 10 years and a confident birder for birds normally seen in northern Idaho.

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?: Photo