Posted by Bob Russell on January 22, 2016 at 02:21:06
Stopped by Castellow Hammock on way north to MIA to search for the Buff-bellied Hummingbird. Managed to find and photograph that species and saw a female Ruby-throated. A third species of hummer was seen in the upper reaches of the hummingbird garden feeding on a red tubular flower. It was a medium sized hummer perched with his back to me. A brilliant dark green patch of emerald green on the middle of the back really got my attention. The bird reversed position facing me and thoroughly confused me as I've seen all regular North American species. There was a broad dark patch or irregularly shaped line a third as wide as the breast than ran directly down the middle of the breast from the throat all the way to the undertook coverts and it was flanked by a patch of white on either side of this broad dark area. The white was white not dull grayish background like a female ruby-throat. The bird directly faced me so I never got a look at the bill but the broad dark swath down the center of the breast seems to be only typical of Green Mango after perusing all the world's hummers in various guides. Hope someone can confirm this as it was most unique. It kept in the canopy on the SE side of the butterfly garden. I did not see it again after first sighting.