Verification of Unusual Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2005-02

Common name:

Broad-billed Hummingbird
Scientific name: Cynanthus latirostris
Date: around 8/15/2004
Time: not known
Length of time observed: bird was observed for several days
Number: 1
Age: immature
Sex: possibly male
Location: Hyrum, Utah
County: Cache
Latilong:  
Elevation:  
Distance to bird: The bird was coming to our feeder over several days.
Optical equipment: Nikon N65
Weather: Clear
Light Conditions: Good
Detailed description of bird: We had been seeing the bird, but we were not aware of it being a rare bird. However, we did take a picture of it.
(See photo)
Song or call & method of delivery: none
Behavior: Perched on feeder
Habitat:  
Similar species and how
were they eliminated:		 Two similar species are the Black-chinned and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds.

The reason that I say I believe it to be a Broad-billed are, according to all my field guides and other books and sources of info, are as
follows:

1. The dark eye line going through the eye, which neither the Black-chinned nor Broad-tailed have.
2. The white line above this dark eye line, which again neither of the other two have. The Black-chinned has a little white behinds its eye,
but this is not as distinct as on my bird.
3. The dark stuff on the chest could be the start of the greenish coloring that Broad-billeds get as they "mature".
4. The tail seems to be the same "length" as the end of the wings. Broad-tailed and Black-chinned tend to have tails that are "longer" than
their wings.
Previous experience with
this & similar species:		 We have experience with Black-chinned and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, two common other similar species in our area.
References consulted: Several.
Sibley's Guide to Birds, Kauffman's Birds of North America, National Geographic's Field Guide to the Birds of North America, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Guide to the Birds of North America, Volume 3, among others.
Description from: Notes made later
Observer: Jill and Richard Wood
Observer's address: 392 W. 300 S. #4, Hyrum, UT 84319
Observer's e-mail address: rwoodphd@msn.com
Other observers who independently identified this bird:  
Date prepared: 01/02/2005    (General Public)
Additional material: Photo
Additional comments: