[EBB Sightings] "White Hummer"

On Mar 28, 2007, at 5:12 PM, judi sierra wrote:

> Kay Loughman and I found the  "White" Hummer today, first seen by   
> Mary McCanta, without any problem in the area  and time as  
> described by her near the Emerville UA theatre. It sat for us  
> nicely in a bare tree as we observed it's rufous undertail and  
> mottled body. It's most definatly a leucistic selasphorous hummer.  
> If it hangs out for the summer we can guess that it's an Allens.

On the other hand, perhaps residual color isn't the best indicator  
for a bird whose dominant characteristic is aberrant color. ;-) The  
bird was present in the same location this afternoon from about  
12:30-1:00. To my eye, it looks pretty good for Anna's structurally  
(but I've been wrong before ;-). There was a regular Anna's male  
nearby in the trees toward Christie Ave. for close sequential, if not  
quite simultaneous, comparison. Also, I never heard the Selasphorus  
wing-whir when it flew, and then just before I left it gave a fairly  
typical Anna's display flight, complete with final "boink".  
Interestingly, however, the "boink" was somewhat muted and I never  
heard the typical Anna's chatter, even at times when Anna's always  
chatter, e.g. during the display flight. It even seemed to be opening  
its bill as though to vocalize (when perched at the top of a tree for  
instance) but I never heard anything other than the muted "boink" at  
the end of the display flight. In fairness, the parking lot isn't the  
most silent spot, so it's possible that I could have missed some soft  
vocalizations, but I certainly would have heard normal Anna's  
chatter. It would seem that the bird may have some unique vocal  
characteristics to go along with its unique appearance. I'm going to  
have to remember to bring my camera next time!

Good birding,
Kirk Swenson
Davis, CA <--> Emeryville, CA