Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris), Flagstaff, Coconino County

This Ruby-throated Hummingbird was found and photographed by Jason Wilder on 02 June 2017

Pending Arizona Bird Committee acceptance, this will likely represent the seventh state record, probable sixth individual, and the first for Coconino County and northern Arizona. Also first spring report with all prior records in the state have been fall or winter records.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds breed across southern Canada to extreme eastern British Columbia, winter as far north as southern Sinaloa, and are uncommon but regular migrants as far west as the Trans-Pecos region of Texas. Identification of female and juvenile male Ruby-throated Hummingbird is extremely difficult due to similarity to its congener, Black-chinned Hummingbird, and different hybrid combinations. It is possible that these identification challenges contribute to the scarcity of convincing reports from Arizona.

Identification of adult males, such as this one, and more advanced immature males, is more straightforward. Note the ruby-red gorget, black chin stripe, black eye mask and rich green upperparts. Tail deeply forked with no hint of rufous at the base of the retrices. The bird flew silently with no wing trill, unlike male Black-chinned or Broad-tailed Hummingbird.

02 June 2017, photo by Jason Wilder

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