Verification of Unusual Sight Record
For Utah

Rec. # 2016-41a


Common name:

Broad-billed Hummingbird

Scientific name: Cynanthus latirostris
Date: 11/18/16
Time: 12:48
Length of time observed: 32 minutes
Number: 1
Age: Adult
Sex: Male
Location: 331 W 1910 S, Hurricane, 84737
County: Washington
Latilong: 37.1465x-113.2953
Elevation: 3,373
Distance to bird: 5 ft or greater
Optical equipment: Nikon D7200, 55-300mm lens
Weather: mostly sunny
Light Conditions: moderate to bright
Description:        Size of bird: 3 1/2" longą
(Description:)       Basic Shape: typical
(Description:)  Overall Pattern: brilliant blue throat, green overall, white stripe behind eye
(Description:)            Bill Type: bright red/pink to black on tip
(Description:)                              
Field Marks and
Identifying Characteristics:
(see photos)
 
Song or call & method of delivery: Short chatters, primarily. When further away from primary feeder and me he would perch in a nearby creosote bush or tamarisk bush on the edge of my property and combine a song and chatter calls, sometimes making short flights around the bushes while singing. This is, however, unlike other hummingbird species who perform a more visible courtship display. There is less pattern and consistency to his behaviors in conjunction with the songs.
Behavior: See above for some. Intermittently perches and flies nearby, and flies out of sight. When spending 30 minutes stationary to watch his behavior he will leave for about 10 minutes at a time. After about 10 minutes he flies back into the yard, or down from a tamarisk perch and makes a stop at the feeder. Much more willing to sit and rest than other hummingbird species I have visit my yard.
Habitat: Residential property on an alluvial fan. A few hundred yards from orchard and rural farm ground; about 80 yards from open scrub desert. Yard has artificial turf, but a few dozen rosemary bushes still in bloom (usually frequented by honeybees and butterflies more than hummingbirds), and a variety of small and large bushes and trees within and around the parcel.
Similar species and how
were they eliminated:
The yard gets visited by Black-chinned and Rufous as appropriate seasonally. Both species left the area about 2 months ago and are plenty distinctive male to male. I also have had a single male Costa's visit my yard over the past 3 winters. He has arrived about this time each year, but his purple/magenta plumage and smaller size is quite distinctive.

My experience with hummingbirds, previous submissions to utahbirds and ebird, along with reference to the AudubonBirds app, and Merlin Bird ID app.
Previous experience with
this & similar species:
As mentioned above: My yard is visited by many Black-chinned and Rufous as appropriate seasonally. Both species left the area about 2 months ago. I also have had a single male Costa's visit my yard over the past 3 winters. He has arrived about this time each year.
References consulted: AudubonBirds app, Merlin Bird ID app
Description from: Notes taken at the time of the sighting
Observer: September Smith
Observer's address: 331 W 1910 S, Hurricane UT 84737
Observer's e-mail address: **
Other observers who independently identified this bird:  
Date prepared: 11/20/16
Additional material: Photos
Additional comments: