Natural Hybrid Hummingbird (Anna's X Allen's)

A lovely male hummingbird showing a gorget that is intermediate between the Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte Anna) and the Allen's Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin). Apparently, hummingbirds occassionally interbreed. This Anna's x Allen's hybrid was once named as a new species, Selasphorus floresii, until it was determined that it was actually a naturally occurring hybrid.

When I shot this picture, I remember being simply transfixed by the brilliant gorget feathers that reflected a brilliant copper-orange and metallic red, thinking it was the most beautiful hummingbird I had seen.  I was so transfixed, that, while I registered that the coloration was uniquely attractive and hypnotic under the sun,  I only realized this handsome male bird was likely a hybrid when I looked again at the picture, comparing it to multiple pictures before posting.  After much searching online, I finally found pictures of hummingbird hybrids and confirmed that this is likely an Anna's by Allen's hybrid.

Hummingbird Hissy

Two Anna's Hummingbirds (Calypte anna) fighting over a prime view perch.

A Quick Visit With the Hummers

The hummingbirds are back in full force, particularly in the evenings when there can be whole clouds of them surrounding the feeders.  The dry weather has probably made it tough to find regular food sources.  I'll need to head out to the nursery and see if I can find more drought-tolerant nectar bearing flowers for them.  Of course, I haven't had any grass for years, having eliminated the grass in favor of succulents and shrubs.  Much lower maintenance and much prettier, IMHO.  But then that's just me.

Male Anna's Hummingbird

Male Anna's Hummingbird

Male Allen's Hummingbird

Anna's Hummingbird on a Fence

Anna's Hummingbird, Calypte anna, on a fence

Anna's Hummingbird on Chuparosa

A female Anna's Humingbird, Calypte anna, feasting on Chuparosa (Justicia californica) nectar.  The chuparosa is one of the finest nectar producers in the desert, refilling fairly rapidly with nectar.  The hummingbirds, having learned this tidy little fact, do rounds from chuparosa flower to chuparosa flower, coming back to each flower in intervals, giving each flower time to refill with nectar!  Studies have shown that hummingbirds will seek out the flowers that offer the nectar with the highest sucrose content (not fructose or any other sugar, just sucrose!).  Yep, they have a discriminating sweet tooth!

The Allen's Hummingbirds are Back

I decided to spend a little "me time" on the back porch with the hummers this morning.  I was pleased to see that the Allen's Hummingbirds are back in full force!  While I love the Anna's, it's quite a treat to see the Allen's at the feeder.  They moved in about three years ago and have apparently decided to stay!

 The Allen's Hummingbirds were typically found out in the chapparal.  However, during the dry summers of the last three years, they have increasingly relied on residential feeders and floral plantings for food.  They are a little smaller than the Anna's but make up for size by being really feisty!

 Female Anna's Hummingbird taking flight.

 Female Allen's Hummingbird.

 Female Allen's Hummingbird.

 Female Anna's Hummingbird with a beak full of pollen.  Hummingbirds are significant pollinators.  In fact, some plants, such as the Heliconia, have long, tubular flowers specialized for being pollinated only by Hummingbirds!  Notably, my Heliconia, here in San Diego where we have lots of Hummingbirds, are almost 100% pollinated while, in Hawaii, where there are no Hummingbirds, are almost never pollinated.  As you would suspect, there are lots of Hummingbirds in South and Central America, where Heliconia are native.  In fact, Columbia is the most likely origin of hummingbirds from where they continued to speciate and spread throughout both North and South America.

Male Anna's Hummingbird, showing the bright red gorget for which they are famous!  When chasing other hummingbirds, they flare the gorget like a lion's mane, making look particularly large and fierce.  Only the males have the large, brilliant gorget.  Both females and juveniles lack the large gorget, possibly making them less threatening to the males, allowing them to co-exist in the same territory.

On a side note, you might ask whether these are really Allen's Hummingbirds or whether they might be Rufous Hummingbirds or both.  The difference between the two rests on some small differences in the tail feathers which are not apparent when the tails are not spread.  Thus, it's pretty hard to tell, to say the least.  However, given that these pictures are all taken in San Diego during February, it's far more likely to fit into an expanding Allen's Hummingbird range that into the Rufous Winter range.  Of course, I'm keeping an eye out for pictures with the tail open but, if you've ever tried to take pictures of hummingbirds in flight, you'll know that it's a lot harder than when they're perched so...we'll go with the assumption that these little guys are Allen's, based on range, for now at least.

Hummingbird Wars!

Allen's and Anna's Hummingbirds fighting over a prime perch.  The Allen's hummingbirds are a little smaller than the Anna's Hummingbirds but make up for it by being extra feisty!

 Allen's hummingbird rushing off to chase another hummingbird, while defending it's perch.

 Allen's hummingbird chasing an Anna's hummingbird.

Anna's hummingbird defending itself from the little Allen's hummingbird (see the talons up above).

Hummingbird in Flight

Male Anna's Hummingbird in flight, making a beeline for the feeder.

Anna's Hummingbird Waiting for a Berth at the Feeder

Male Anna's Hummingbird, Calypte anna, waiting for a berth at the feeder.  It's been a dry, dry year (i.e., no food in the sage scrub/wild) and the hummingbirds are at the feeder in record numbers.  I just put up a second feeder to handle some of overflow.

Anna's Hummingbird

Anna's Hummingbird, Calypte anna.  These lovely little birds are amazing acrobats, flying every which way at amazing speeds.  This one is darting backwards in reaction to the sound of my camera shutter opening.  They apparently have good hearing as well...

Hummingbirds at the Feeder

Here's a short video of the hummingbird feeder in back of the house.  Those are Allen's (reddish-brown and green) and Anna's (red throat, green body) hummingbirds.  You can hear them tweeting at each other as they jockey for a perch.  Meanwhile, I'm off to re-fill the feeder.  They've been emptying it out daily!

Normally, I just have Anna's hummingbirds, typically with one really aggressive one guarding the feeder and chasing the rest away.  This is the first year that I have seen the Allen's Hummingbirds in such numbers and would really enjoy it if they would stay in the area.  They are native to the coastal chaparral and I suspect that the huge fires in Southern California (a bit East and North of us) and the longstanding drought may be one reason for them being at my feeder in such numbers.  I may have to run to the nursery to find some flowers for them so that they get a little natural food as well.

Anna's Hummingbirds Fighting over Feeder Rights

Anna's Hummingbirds fighting over feeder rights, talons out front, in a flurry of wings and color.  They're really cute but pretty doggone feisty if you're another hummingbird.

Anna's Humminbird and Ocotillo

Female Anna's Hummingbird on Ocotillo.  One the drive to Anza Borrego, the desert was awash in blooming Ocotillo and red barrell cactus!  You could see the tall spiky branches covered with orange flowers, spread across the desert for miles.  It's been a really dry year so most of the wildflowers didn't come up this year but the Ocotillo, having deep roots to tap into subterranean water supplies, are blooming like clockwork.

Anna's Hummingbird with Attitude

An Anna's Hummingbird, with serious attitude, rushing off to challenge another hummingbird which was poaching his food!

Finding Tranquility Along The Mission River (A.K.A. Bird Nerd Has Fun)

The weather has been unseasonably warm and dry for January, hitting the 70s and low 80s (F) in the daytime.  It's still been in the 40s and 50s at night, just to remind us that it is really January.  Clearly, however, there is no Polar Vortex here.  Perhaps the Polar Vortex pushed all the hot air over the Southwestern edge of the country.  

Fire danger warnings have been issued and the California Governor has also declared a drought emergency and water rationing for much of the state.  There is a huge fire raging outside of Los Angeles that forced over 3000 people to evacuate their homes.  

Still, the worries of the world seem far away when you walk in some of the many preserves here in San Diego.  These pictures are two of my favorites from today's walk in the Mission River preserve.  I hope they help you imagine the peace and tranquility of the moment.  While we didn't see any new birds (new to me anyhow), most of our favorites were there including northern shovelers, blue-winged teals, American wigeons, green-winged teals, cinnamon teals, ruddy ducks, buffleheads, northern pintails, egrets, little blue herons, great blue herons, avocets, curlews, and many more.  Days like these remind me why we live in San Diego.

 Anna's Hummingbird, Calypte anna, stretching his wings and tail (and looking a bit fierce).  This little guy let me get close enough to get some great shots with the telephoto, occasionally flitting from one branch to another, while I snapped more pictures than I care to admit to.

Northern Shoveler, Anas clypeata, demonstrating that ducks really can walk on water.  The feathers on the head of a Northern shoveler glow an iridescent blue-green when the sun reflects off of them.  However, in the shadows, they look a dark black.  The trick, of course, is getting the sun in just the right angle for a photo.

Happy 2014!

First Anna's Hummingbird of the new year.

Happy New Year!  Hope your 2014 is a Humdinger!

Anna's Hummingbird

Anna's Hummingbird, perched on my apricot tree.  I never tire of watching these guys.  This one is keeping a wary eye on the feeder.

Anna's Hummingbird

Anna's Hummingbird on the apricot tree in the back yard.  This one is keeping an eye on both me and on the feeder.

Anna's Hummingbird Chicks

2 baby hummingbirds (Anna's probably) on a nest of spider webs, lichens and dried grass.  They've feathered out and will leave the nest soon.  I got there just in time to snap a picture!  Another week and they'll probably both be off on their own.

Anna's Hummingbird

Anna's Hummingbird, Calypte anna. The hummingbird feeder is full of hummingbirds feeding on sugar around dusk, as they stock up on energy to survive our cool February nights. While there may only be one or two hummingbirds at the feeder during the Summer, during the Winter there may be four or even as many as six hummingbirds sitting at or hovering around the feeder at any given time.