White-eared Hummingbird (Hylocharis leucotis), Miller Canyon, Cochise County

This White-eared Hummingbird was photographed by Bryan Pfeiffer on 06 May 2008, the first day that it returned to the Beatty's feeders in Miller Canyon this year.  White-eared Hummingbird is a rare summer resident of high elevation pine-oak canyons in the sky island mountain ranges of Southeastern Arizona. It is most frequently seen in the Huachuca Mountains, usually at hummingbird feeders

Overzealous birders who have not previously encountered a White-eared Hummingbird will occasionally get fooled by the light gray eyeline of a female Broad-billed Hummingbird, but, once seen, the bright white eyeline of a White-eared is really unmistakable.

Submitting photos to AZFO does not constitute reporting a rare bird for consideration as an official record. To ensure that a record becomes official, details or photos of Sketch Details Species should be sent to the Editors of North American Birds and a full report of Review Species should be submitted to the Arizona Bird Committee. Most rare birds are under _documented and subsequent observers of a rarity are always encouraged to submit reports and additional photos, especially for birds that are challenging to identify.

06 May 2008, photos by Bryan Pfeiffer