DISTIIBUTION, IDENTIFICATION

taken in 1%5, 1973 and during the win- Rufous ter of 1973-74, leavingno doubt as to the identity of the . Although the Buff- in eastern bellled breeds in the lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas and Documenting the little-recognizedproblem of the south through eastern Mexico to Guate- mala and Belize, two individuals were identificationof hummingbirdsin the East in fall recorded May 10-1 !, 1964 in Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts Albert t. Conwavand SusanRonev Drennan (AFN 18:4%). B!ack-chinnedHumming- bird (Archilochusalexandri) occurs fairly HE FIRSTSPECIMEN of the Rufous once in Charleston, South Carolina, pos- regularly in the southern part of Loui- Hummingbird (Selasphorusrufus) siblyonce in both Emmitsburg,Mary- siana in winter, especiallyin lush gar- east of the Mississippi River lay incor- land and Jamesvii!e,Virginia, once in dens and areas of New Orleans where rectly identified in the collection of the Orono, Maine and at least 13 or 14 times people keep hummingbird feeders.This Charleston, South Carolina Museum for in the Florida panhandlebefore it was species has occurred occasionally in 19 years(Sprunt 1929).The 1928 meet- recordedin the northernpeninsula of Florida and its identity has been doc- ing of the American Ornithologists' Florida, November 2, 1958, at Merritt umented with a specimentaken in Pan- Union was held at the Museum, and it Island. ama City, Florida (January 6, 1941). was then that J. H. Riley of the United Additionally, there are records of StatesNational Museum recognized that Florida in PensacolaApril 27, 1964 what was labelled a Ruby-throated HummingbirdTHERTHANTHE RECORDSlisted, fourofRutbus other and at JacksonvilleJanuary 12-13, 1974. Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) westernhummingbird specieshave been This primarily western species, has was actuallya Rufous Hummingbird. It reliably documentedeast of the Missis- strayed as far north and east as 6 miles had beencaptured in a Charlestongar- sippi: Allen's Hummingbird (Selaspho- west of Antigonish, Nova Scotia on May den December 18, 1909 by Edward A. rus sasin). an adult male in Reserve, 30. 1%4 (AFN 18:495-96). Additionally, Heyer. Realizingthat to be a very late LouisianaOctober 8, ! 975through March thereis a possiblebut not definitivesight date for a hummingbird,Mr. Heyer pre- 16, 1976 for the first sentedthe specimento the Museum. It record in that state seems not to have occurred to anyone (AB 30:730); March that it was not a Ruby-throated,then 22, 1978 one iden- thought to be the only hummingbird tified in New foundeast of the Mississippi. Orleans (,4B 32: The Rufous Hummingbird was not 1020); Broad-tailed recorded again in the East until Hummingbird (Sel- November 26, 1934 when the mother of asphorus platy- Robert McC!anahansaw a humming- cerus) occurred in bird in their yard at Pensacola,Florida. Baton Rouge from It was identifiedthe next day by Robert December, 1952 McC!anahan. He subsequentlyfound a through January 7, deadRufous three days later. Twoothers 1953 (Lowery, were seen in December, 1934 (Auk 52: 1974; (Buff-be!lied 187). Hummingbird(Ama- Conway'sinterest in easternrecords of zilia yucatanen- --DE RufousHummingbird was sparkedby sis) has been an article in a Delawarenewspaper, that documented on the reported that on November 27, 1978, New Orleans Mrs. W. G. Crichton, Jr., of New Castle, Christmas Bird Delaware,found a live hummingbirdin Count (AB 29: somecockleburs •anthium sp.)brought 702) as well as win- into her home as decoration.Although tering over in sew the bird appearedto be well and took eral parishesin Loui- KEY: sugaredwater, it died that night. Con- siana. It has been waysuspected that the bird might not be documented in that ß -- One spring record a Ruby-throated Hummingbird and obtainedthe specimen.David M. Niles. imenstate collectedwith a March spec- ß '--0ne fall record of the Delaware Museum of Natural His- 28,1974 (AB 28: tory, confirmedmy feelingthat it was a N • Number of area records .9 = Possible records Rufous Hummingbird, adding that he sight651), asrecordswell as well-with considered it an immature male. substantiatedwith Rufous Hummingbird had occurred color photographs

130 AmericanBirds, March 1979 record of Broad-bfiled Hummingbird RufousHummingbird records east of the MississippiRiver (Cyanthus lattrostrls ) for Pensacola, Date Location Record Reference Florida seen December 27 and 31, 1953. July 18-22, 1976 Contoocook, NH ad. d, • AB 30:929 July 28, 1957 Orono, ME one d, • AB 31:231 VIDENCECERTAINLY INDICATES that the Rufous Hummingbird is the August7, 1975 St. Petersburg,FL ad. d, • AB 30:57 August8-9, 1967 Bedford,N.S. one d, t AFN 22:11 mostlikely of all of thesespecies to visit Aug. 28 - Sept.3, 1966 Rockledge,FL ? (presumedone)$ Fla. Fld. Nat. 6:24 or overwinter in the southeastern United States. Sept. 8- Nov. 30,1971 Rockledge,FL min. 4 indivs. AB 26:52 It has been documented as far north Sept. 12,1963 Ocean City, MD one, * AFN 18:22 as Nova Scotia and as far south as Sept. 18-19,1975 Jacksonville, FL one bird, • AB 30:57 Sept. 19,1965 Fort Lauderdale,FL onebird, photo Fla. Fld. Nat. 6:24 Homestead,Florida. Along the Atlantic Sept. 19,1975 Panama City, FL onebird, t AB 30:85 coastat least nine have been reported as Sept. 24,1963 Rockledge,FL one d, t AFN 18:26 far south as South Carolina and a min- Sept. 26,1968 Rockledge,FL one bird, t AFN 23:38 imum of 50-55 birds have been recorded Sept.27,1977 Delray Beach,FL onebird, • AB 32:195 Sept.29,1967 Rockledge,FL one d, • AFN22:29 in Florida. Identification hasbeen amply confirmed by a minimum of sevenspec- Oct. 7 - Nov. 2, 1972 Rockledge,FL one/tworid, t AB 27:47 imens; at least five males have been Oct. 19, 1974 Homestead,FL oneimm. 9, photo photographed. Dates of occurrence (netted) AB 29:46 Oct. 29, 1954 St. Andrews,FL onebird, • Sprunt,Addendum 11 rangefrom July18 throughMay 1; with Oct. 29, 1975 Gainesville, FL one bird, t AB 30:57 Junebeing the only month with no rec- ords. Of the aggregate records, over Nov. 2, 1958 Merritt Island, FL one bird, • AFN 13:23 one-half have occurred in November and Nov. 3, 1973 Cocoa, FL one bird, t AB 28:43 December. Nov. 5, 1969 Maitland, FL one/two birds, • AFN24:36 Nov. (early),1969 AltamonteSprings, FL one/twobirds, • AFN24:36 Rufous Hummingbirds migrate in Nov.6, 1975 Devon,PA oned, captured-- autumn to Central Mexico, with the alive -- to Philadel- adult males leaving the breeding phia Zoo (Nov. 14) AB 30:44-45 groundsfirst: from about mid-to late Nov. 6, 1976 Gainesville, FL one bird, • AB 31:168 Nov. 16, 1950 Pensacola, FL one bird, • AFN5:23 June.Migrants begin their returnto the Nov. 16, 1954 Rockledge,FL one bird, t AB 29:46 north approximately late January or Nov. 17, 1973 Cocoa, FL one bird, t AB 28:43 early February. Northward (Spring) Nov. 18-19, 1952 Pensacola,FL one imm. bird, • AFN7:20 migrations is probably completedby Nov. 18-27, 1967 Rockledge,FL one d, • AFN22:29 mid-April, at the latest. Nov.22, 1952 Pensacola,FL onead. d,'t AFN7:20 Nov. 23, 1975 High Springs,FL onebird * AB 30:57 There are several possible explana- Nov. 24, 1946 Pensacola, FL one bird, • AFN 1:7 tions why the Rufous Hummingbird is Nov. 26-27, 1934 Pensacola,FL one/twobirds, t Auk 52:187(1935) the most commonwestern hummingbird Nov. 29, 1934 Pensacola,FL one bird, * Auk 52:187 (1935) thus far recorded in the East north of Nov. 27, 1978 New Castle, DE one imm. d, * AB 33:130-33 Nov. 29, 1971 Jacksonville,FL one bird, t AB 26:52 Florida. Its breeding range extends as Nov. 30, 1958 Pensacola, FL one bird, t AFN 13:300 far north as latitude 61øN, in southeastern . Easterly migra- Dec. 1, 1959 Pensacola, FL one bird, t AFN 14:316 tlonal drift from there could explain its Dec. 1, 1975 Pensacola,FL one bird, t AB 30:730 appearance in Massachusetts, New Dec. (early),1949 Pensacola,FL onebird, t AFN4:206 Dec.8, 1935 Pensacola,FL onebird, t Sprunt,1954 Hampshire,Maine and Nova Scotia.It is Dec. 10, 1934 Pensacola,FL two birds, t abundantthroughout its rangein North Dec. 12, 14, 17, 1935 Pensacola,FL onebird (presumed)$ Auk 53:217(1936) America.CrossingtheContinental Divide Dec. 13, 1953- mightnot presenta real obstaclesince it Mar. 27, 1954 Pensacola,FL one imm. bird, t AFN8:256 is found regularly and in numberswell Dec. 14, 1951 Pensacola,FL one imm. d, t AFN6:200 Dec. 15, 1975- above the tree line in the Rockies. Feb. 15, 1976 Pensacola,FL one bird, • AB 30:730 A. R. Phillips (Condor 77:199)shows Dec. 18, 1909 Charleston, SC one bird, * Auk 46:237-38 the apparent migration route of adult Dec. 26-28, 1963 Pensacola,FL onebird, • AFN 18:362 male S. rufus to be elliptical, an almost Dec. 1941-- Pensacola,FL onebird, • Aud. Mag. 44:2, Jan. 6, 1942 Part 2:7 (1942) oval path, which takes it southeastward Winter Season in mid-summeralong and atop the east- Dec. 1, 1956-- onebird, • ern ridgesof the Rockies,then westward Mar. 31, 1957 Pensacola,FL ("presentas usual") AFN 11:272 approximatelymid-to-late January and Winter Season northwestwardalong the west coastsof Dec. 1, 1971 -- two birds, • Mar. 31, 1972 Cocoa, FL ("wintered") AB 26:595 Mexico and the United Statesbeginning in February and lasting through late Jan. 16, 1965 Lantana, FL one bird, • AFN 19:373 April and May. A definite coastalroute, Jan. 17, 1974 Rockledge,FL one bird, • AB 28:630 west of the Sierra Nevadas, is followed, Jan. 29, 1976- Feb.20, 1976 Gainesville,FL onebird, • AB 30:710 proceeding northward, during spring Jan. 30- migration. This may accountfor the Feb. 24, 1959 Rockledge,FL onebird, t AFN 13:288 scarcityof springrecords in the East. (Continuednext page)

Volume 33, Number 2 131 RufousHummingbird recordseast of the MississippiRiver and has a completelyrufous back (show- Date Location Record Reference ing no trace of green whatsoever)it can Jan.(3 unspecified then be safely called a Rutbus Hum- dates). 1965 Pensacola, FL ? bird(s), t AFN 19:386 mingbird. However, if an adult male doesshow green in the back it may not Feb. 7, 1964 Kendall, FL onebird, photo AFN 18:349 safely be called an Allen's becausesome

Mar. 19-20. 1976 Lakeland, FL one bird, t AB 30:710 Rufous Hummingbirdsshow varying Mar. 22- amounts of greon in the back. Female April i. 1974 Tallahassee,FL one bird, t AB 28:630 Black-chinnedsare indistinguishable from their Ruby-throatedcounterparts, April 15-17, 1978 Newton,MA one bird, photo AB 32:1139 but the malescan usuallybe separated. May i. 1971 Lilvpons,MD one bird, $ Arian. Natur. 26:125-6 The upper portion of the gorgetof the Black-chinned is black and the lower * = specimen• = sighting portion is purple. That of the male Additionai_possibieRufous Hummingbird records east of theMississippi River Ruby-throatedis a fiery geraniumred. Date Location Comment Reference In the field non-breedingbirds not in Sept. 8, 1975 Bar Harbor, ME "one imm. adult male plumagecan almostnever be " AB 30:33 identified as to sex or age. This should Oct. i 3, 1962 Ft. Pierce, FL "probable Rufous" AFN 17:26 Nov. 2-4, 1976 Raleigh,NC "q• Selasphorus" AB 31:165 not however,discourage the birder from Nov. 8, 1952 Emmitsburg,MD "rufous-backed" Md. Birdlife 10:36-7 closelyscrutinizing all hummingbirds Nov. 10, 1959 Philadelphia,PA "rufous-colored" AFN 14:22 seen during the normal migration sea- Nov. 30, 1952 Jamesville, VA "rufous-back" Raven 24:24-5 son. The identification of the females Jan. 11-12, 1962 Ft. Pierce, FL "presumedto be a and immature males of the Rufous and Rufous" AFN 14:303 Broad-tailedis difficult if not impossible unlessthe bird is in the hand. Lowery (1974)gives helpful hints for separating thesespecies. More detailedanalyses of plumages and measurementsof Selas- phorus hummingbirdscan be tbund in papers by Stiles (1971, 1972) and Ortiz- Crespo(1972).

Careful observation of every hum- mingbirdmay leadto the additionto the list of records of the Rufous or other westernhummingbirds in the East.

LITERATURE CITED

FISK, ERMA J., HENRY M. STEVENSON and HERBERT W. KALE II. Records of the Rufous Hummingbird in Florida. Florida Field Naturalist, 6:23-26 1978. LOWERY. G. H., JR. 1974. Louisiana Birds, 3rd edition. Louisiana State University Press.Baton Rouge. ORTIZ-CRESPO, F. i. 1972. A New Method to Separate Immature and Adult Hum- RufousHummingbird, San Juan Nat 7 Forest,Colo. Photo/J. Russell Hoverman. mingbirds.Auk 89:851-857. Records of Rutbus Hummingbird in LLFALL HUMMINGBIRDS shouldbe SPRUNT, ALEXANDER, JR. 1929. The studied to determine species. Any Rufous Hummingbird(Selasphorus rufus) the East may in fact simply be a caseof in South Carolina. Auk 46:237-238. exceptionalstragglers drifted too far east hummingbird showingbuffy underparts SPRUNT, ALEXANDER, JR. 1954. Florida while proceedingsoutheastward in fall. on the flanks or rump or which has Bird Life. Nat'l Aud. Soc., N.Y.; Adden- Many of the more hardy individualshave rufous basally on the tail is almost cer- dum June, 1963. adaptedthemselves to the southeastern tainly not a Ruby-throated. STILES, F..G. 1971. On the Field Identifica- and central southern climates with rec- tion of HummingbirdCalifornia Only some adult male Rufous Hum- Birds 2:41-54. ords of birds overwintering. Examples mingbirds are identifiable in the field -- __ 1972. Age and Sex Determination in are one at Hattiesburg, Mississippi;six with absolute certainty. An adult male Rufous and Allen's Hummingbird. Condor on Dauphin Island and one at Bayou La has a completered gorgeton its throat 74:25-32. Batre, Alabama; and four at Le Met- and its tail is very extensivelyrufous. airie, Louisiana, all overwintered in That will separate the Rufous from -- 713 Woodsdale Road, Wilmington, 1975-76. There are also several records Ruby-throatedmale; but not necessarily Delaware19809 (Conway), and of Rufous Hummingbirds wintering in from adult male Allen's Hummingbird. American Birds, 950 Third Ave., NYC the New Orleans, Louisiana area. If an adult male is not a Ruby-throated 10022 (Drennanj

132 American Birds, March 1979