White Hummingbird

[hughes]

I took this picture this morning while cleaning my yard very much a snatch shot

just happened to have the 300mm lens and flash on the camera handy.

I've never seen one before does anybody have any info on all white Hummers as

it doesn't seem to be in any of my guides. Taken in Santa Barbara Ca.

Have I captured something rare any info from more experienced birders would be

appreciated

 

thanks Steve<div></div>

[mark_chappell]

Cute. Clearly a partial albino or some similar pigmentation mutation. These odd pigment

deficits occur at low frequency in pretty much all species, including humans. Can't tell the

bird's species (color is a big part of field marks!) but it sort of looks like an Anna's

hummingbird, the most common hummingbird in California.

[michaelging]

Its a very interesting photo, I think another name of this bird might be the Edgar Winter hummingbird. :)

[awahlster]

Great catch not something your likely to see at your next Nature Photographers get together!

[jwhite3.0]

Steve, how do you like that birdfeeder (Petco)? I have one as well but pulled it down as it was leaky possibly due to manufacturing or larger birds pecking at it.

[doug herr]

The trace of buffy coloration makes me think it's a hatch-year <I>Selasphorus</I> sp. such as Allen's or Rufous. Rufous have been migrating south for a few weeks; this was from Warner Valley, Lassen Volcanic National Park a couple of weeks ago:

<P>

<CENTER>

<IMG SRC="http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/ruhu01.jpg">

</CENTER>

[jimitoucan]

Google white hummingbird. Very rare.

[mark_chappell]

<I>The trace of buffy coloration makes me think it's a hatch-year Selasphorus sp. such as

Allen's or Rufous.</i><P>

 

Very possible, but most likely not a rufous. In coastal California, we seldom see those in

fall migration,

which is primarily

inland through montane regions. Could be an Allen's. The tail offers some cues. It

shows no signs of reddish or greenish color, as is usualy seen in Selasphorus. Instead, it

appears dark/

blackish, as is typcially the case for male Annas. But it has white corners, typical of female

Allen's, rufous, and Anna's. Given the partial albinism, it's hard to interpret white

patches as 'natural' -- although I'm not sure what to expect in a single feather.<P>

 

I'm still inclined towards Anna's, given that species' abundance in coastal California, and

the admittedly vague impression of greater robustness than I expect to see in rufous/

Allen's. And those three species don't exhaust the possibilities: it might also be black-

chinned, I suppose.<P>

 

Hovering male rufous (shot in shadowed light at fairly low shutter speed) showing rufous

in tail;

perched male Anna's (also shot in dim light) showing dark tail (but some pale color).<P>

 

<center>

<img src="http://faculty.ucr.edu/~chappell/INW/birds4/rufousmale11.jpg">

<img src="http://faculty.ucr.edu/~chappell/INW/birds4/Annasmale5.jpg">

</center>

[greg s]

Very cool! I haven't seen an albino hummer before, or knew that was a potential color phase. Thanks for sharing :)

[dave_sams]

From http://www.rubythroat.org/AlbinoMain.html

 

Leucistic hummingbirds are still rare but are seen more often than true albinos. Like "normal" hummingbirds, lecistic forms (see photos above right and below) have black eyes, feet, and bills, but their feathers may be pure white, buffy, tan, or gray instead of green or some other "normal" color.

 

When you see an albino or leucistic hummingbird at your feeder, please report it as soon as possible to Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History at research@hiltonpond.org. Include information about when and where the bird was seen and if it is coming regularly to a feeder.

 

dave

[liam_evans]

Great shot! I wish the hummingbirds would come around my yard more often. They're always

so quick! And I have that bird feeder too! But the ants suck it dry!