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Rufous Selasphorus rufus
Louisiana's most reported winter species is the Rufous Hummingbird. The summer range of this feisty bird is also the most distant from us -- the Pacific Northwest, even into Alaska. The majority
of Rufous spends the winter in central Mexico.
Adult males have rufous backs and flanks, copper to red gorgets, and green crowns. Females have all green backs; their throats have from a few to a lot of reddish gorget feathers concentrated in the center of the throat. Immature males tend to look like females in early winter until they begin to molt their contour feathers. Their backs begin to have a speckled green and brown look; their gorgets begin to fill in. Also, the white-tipped rufous-colored tail is very noticeable when spread open, another identifying feature for females and immatures.
The personality of this hummer is as flaming as its color. Its emphatic vocalizations declare its presence in a garden, a first warning to would-be interlopers. Foolish hummers, and even people, are soon swooped upon and challenged by this fiery imp! Upon hearing the “tic tic tic” call notes of Rufous, a Geiger counter comes to mind. Because adult males have modified tips on their outer wings, when they fly, their wings create a trilling sound, much like whirring of bicycle gears.
Buff-bellied Amazilia yucatanensis
This is a take-your-breath-away beauty with its red bill, large green throat, and rufous tail, but you'll first notice this bird by its larger-than-Ruby-throat size. This is a mostly tropical hummer that resides year-
round in the Gulf coastal region of eastern Mexico and the Yucatan and coastal southern Texas. However, some individuals migrate north to spend the winter along the Gulf coast, even to the
Florida Panhandle.
Buff-bellieds have a variety of vocalizations: squealing mews, bug-zapper tics, and whistling cries that flaunt its demeanor. This species can also be highly aggressive and territorial. Males and females look alike, but males may be brighter and more aggressive.
Black-chinned Archilochus alexandri
The western counterpart to the Ruby-throat, Black-chins breed across most of the western half of the United States and winter along the Pacific coast of central Mexico.
Adult males are almost carbon copies of adult male Ruby-throats, with one major exception: the throat is mostly black, with the lower edge a deep violet! Female Black-chins are very difficult to differentiate from female Ruby-throats. One distinguishing feature is tail-pumping while feeding from flowers. Longer-bills, longer wings, and shorter tails also set this bird apart from Ruby-throats.
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