Green-backed Male Rufous Hummingbird

Seeing and photographing a male Calliope Hummingbird at my front porch feeder this past week was a real treat. The story and images of that bird and other hummingbirds can be viewed by clicking here.

After not seeing the Calliope Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning I turned my attention to the backyard feeder because I had noticed a male Rufous Hummingbird sporadically at that feeder. I wondered if it might still be around or had possibly moved further south on its annual migration through Utah to Mexico. While the Calliope may have moved on it pleased me to discover that the male Rufous Hummingbird at the back feeder was still around AND it was actually a "green-backed" adult male Rufous. My Sibley Guide to Birds of Western North America indicates that green-backed adult males make up about 5% of the total adult male population. Naturally I became eager to photograph and study the bird because there was an even smaller chance I'd have an Allen's Hummingbird. Their range this time of year is the California and west Mexico coasts. Both birds look very similar in appearance. However, Allen's are expected to have a mostly green back and rump where the green-backed Rufous would likely have a rufous-colored rump. The best way to distinguish between the two is to get a good look at their tail feathers. The Rufous has two notched feathers, one on each side of the two central tail feathers, where Allen's have tapered feathers.

After finishing a meal with my wife and mother in law and cleaning the kitchen I began to set up my green-backed Rufous Hummingbird lab in the back yard. I set up my blind with the sun at my back. Inside I placed a camp chair and a small electric fan. I then ran an extension cord so I could actually use the fan inside the blind because it can feel like a sauna inside that blind on hot summer days.

The target bird briefly appeared at the feeder about every fifteen minutes. After about an hour it finally landed where I could get the images I was hoping to get--the green back and the tail feathers in a full spread.

Green-backed Male Rufous Hummingbird at Pleasant Grove, UT Yard Feeder

Here's a typical male for comparison. There are no green feathers on the back and very few on the crown.

Typical Adult Male Rufous Hummingbird Utah County, UT

The rest of the green-backed Rufous images were captured with his wings in some stage of flight.

Green-backed Male Rufous Hummingbird at Pleasant Grove, UT Yard Feeder

Green-backed Male Rufous Hummingbird at Pleasant Grove, UT Yard Feeder

Green-backed Male Rufous Hummingbird at Pleasant Grove, UT Yard Feeder

Green-backed Male Rufous Hummingbird at Pleasant Grove, UT Yard Feeder

The next three images provide the telltale (pun intended) sign this is a Rufous rather than an Allen's adult male. The feathers on each side of the two central tail feathers had the notch expected for Rufous and not for Allen's.

Green-backed Male Rufous Hummingbird at Pleasant Grove, UT Yard Feeder

Green-backed Male Rufous Hummingbird at Pleasant Grove, UT Yard Feeder

Green-backed Male Rufous Hummingbird at Pleasant Grove, UT Yard Feeder

Here's a few more images from today. Enjoy!

Subadult Male Rufous Hummingbird Pleasant Grove, UT

Subadult Male Rufous Hummingbird Pleasant Grove, UT

Subadult Male Rufous Hummingbird Pleasant Grove, UT

Who will win this stare down? I watched these two encounter each other over and over. The bird gave way to the wasp in every encounter.

Young Male Rufous Hummingbird Being Challenged by Wasp in Pleasant Grove, UT