: : I didn't find the other picture convincing. These give a good enough view of the wings to see that it is a Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
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: : The most reliable way to tell them apart is the wing shape. Black-chinned's have a paddle-shape, whereas Ruby-throated's have a knife-shape. There's also more curve to the Black-chinned's wing.
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: I agree with John, the bird is a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, not a Black-chinned Hummingbird. The bill is not long enough and not curved enough. Another way to tell is the tip of the wings; P10 is the same width as P9 on a Black-chinned. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird has a narrower wing tip, thinner than P9. P10 is the outer most primary feather, P9 is the next primary feather inline, etc. etc. I have posted a photo of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird that looks almost like a Black-chinned when you see the wings. The bill is not long enough or curved enough for a Black-chinned Hummingbird. It also did not pump its tail while in flight like a Black-chinned Hummingbird does.
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: Ruby-throated Hummingbird
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: Look at the wing tips on this photo of the same bird above, P10 is narrower than P9, this makes it a Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
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: : I took this photo at Fairchild Tropical Gardens the bird was perched in the Chinese Hat Plant.
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: Larry Manfredi
: Homestead, FL.
: E-mail: birderlm@bellsouth.net
: http://www.southfloridabirding.com
:
I am only posting to point out the other obvious feature that less experienced birders, like myself, might want to know about if they are first approaching the Ruby-throated Black-chinned problem.
Personally, if the bird is actively feeding I find hard to conformtable comment on the wingshape when it is perching for 1/6th of a second. Looking at the relation of the wing and tail lengths to eachother helps me lean one way or the other and can usually be seen very quickly. The first photograph Trey posted was misleading on this point and I can see why Alex thought the wings extended past the tail.
These new photos show the wings stopping well short of the end of the tail further proving it is a Ruby-throated hummingbird.
Good birding everyone,
Orion
Orion Z. Weldon
Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
1277 NE 79th Street Causeway
Miami, FL 33138
(305) 795-3486; Fax (305) 795-3470
orion.weldon@dep.state.fl.us