Broad Tail or Rufous Hummingbird in Pahrump, NV (1 Viewer)

[PJinNV]

These two are new to my feeder today (July 28, 2014)! Try as I may, I can't make up my mind if they are broad tail or rufous hummingbirds though. Not even quite sure if they are females and/or immature. I'm hoping you all can help! Thanks!

P.S. Pahrump is about an hour outside of Las Vegas

 

[Bird_Bill]

IMHO, Broad-tailed. Posture of the birds sitting looks typical with wings folded up,
providing they're not torqueing to jump, and froze by the pic.
Tails, also at rest, appear broad, rather than folded to a point, as Rufous would show.
Necks look as juvenile Broad-tail should look. Selasphorus ssp are known to be tricky (reserve my right to be wrong)

P.S, welcome to BF, PJ'

 

[PJinNV]

Behavior Info and Additional Pics

I don't know if this will help, but several times today I have seen one hanging on the cord that holds the hummingbird feeder. It always seems to be looking up and around, as if it may be looking for insects or something.

Looking at the tail in the two pics I'm attaching, it does seem to have a broader tail (not pointed) as Bird_Bill pointed out.

Can anyone else confirm if this is an immature broad tail?

Thanks!!

 

[PJinNV]

Pics of male at feeder tonight!

Tonight I finally got a couple of pics of a male hummingbird on my feeder! I'm almost positive that this is a broad tail, so I'm now going to assume that the females in my original post are also broad tails.

Anyone agree or disagree with my conclusion?!?!

 

[Tiraya]

Tonight I finally got a couple of pics of a male hummingbird on my feeder! I'm almost positive that this is a broad tail, so I'm now going to assume that the females in my original post are also broad tails.

Anyone agree or disagree with my conclusion?!?!

That one is broad-tailed yes.

 

[ovenbird43]

I agree they are all Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, especially given the relative size of the tail (larger than on Rufous) in the flight shots of the females.

 

[PJinNV]

Thank you all very much!!!

 

[rkj]

I also think they are all Broad-tails, but I do not think it is wise to assume the identities of the females based on those of the males. Your birds are migrating away from the breeding grounds, and, while I do not claim to be an expert on hummingbird migration, I think males and females potentially practice different migration strategies. In hummingbirds females do all of the parental care and may well be tied to their nesting sites longer than males.

 

[PJinNV]

I also think they are all Broad-tails, but I do not think it is wise to assume the identities of the females based on those of the males. Your birds are migrating away from the breeding grounds, and, while I do not claim to be an expert on hummingbird migration, I think males and females potentially practice different migration strategies. In hummingbirds females do all of the parental care and may well be tied to their nesting sites longer than males.

Yes, I understand that. Given all the other aspects that already had me pretty certain the females were broad tails, seeing the male just made it seem all the more likely to me.

I find it interesting that the broad tail is the only male that I've seen at my feeder (I've seen him often, just never was able to get pics until last night), yet the other night was the first time I had ever seen the females. Which, of course, goes along with what you are saying.

 

[DarkFireFalcon]

Actually, at least one of the birds (I suspect both) is a Rufous Hummingbird. Note the rufous extending into the inner tail feathers (r2). Broad-tailed only have rufous in the outer 3 (r5-r3) tail feathers. It's hard to tell which is which in the 5 pics, but both seem to have more rufous in the flanks and tail than I'd expect in a Broad-tailed.

 

[PJinNV]

Oh no, just when I think one is solved, the mystery continues!

 

[PJinNV]

They were back this morning!! Wasn't able to get many pics because they were being VERY aggressive and chasing each other away. They even paired up and chased away the male broad tail when he tried to come to the feeder. I was able to get a few pics of the only one that managed to land on a the feeder and feed for a bit! Maybe something in one of these pics will help settle what they are.

I also have a short (I think about 30 seconds) video from the other night. Can videos be posted on here? Maybe something in it would help.

I'm also going to add that these seem much louder when flying. I can hear them coming before I can see them! I know I've read that broad tails make a lot of noise with their wings. Helpful or not, I don't know!

Thanks for everyone's input!!

 

[PJinNV]

OMG! I just realized that this is a totally different bird than from the other night! When I was looking at the pics that posted, I happened to pay more attention to the markings on it's neck. I went through all of the pics (about 60) from the other night and neither of them had this type of neck markings! When there were two of them again this morning, I just assumed it was the same two!! You know what happens when you assume?!?! LOL!!!

 

[DarkFireFalcon]

I'd say that's another Rufous Hummingbird. Broad-tailed typically don't show quite that much rufous on the flanks. Also, the super aggressive behavior fits with Rufous.