Ornithology 3B Summary
If you miss a class, please check this page and study the listed topics in your field guide. For last year's
calendar, click here. I've been posting some Australia photos here.
Please preregister if you plan to enroll in the Spring. Click here for details.
December 8
We completed and reviewed the hummingbirds on pages 266 &268. Click here
for my account and photos of a male Broad-billed Hummingbird in Sonoma, here
for my notes on a Broad-billed Hummingbird in Goleta, and here
for a photo of a Broad-billed Hummingbird at Weldon, California. Click here
for details and photo of California's first Magnificent Hummingbird and here
for photos of a Magnificent Hummingbird in Eureka, California. Click here
or here for my photo of a Plain-capped
Starthroat at Ash Canyon, Arizona 20 July 2003.
Female Archilochus hummingbirds do not show the white supraloral stripe evident in female Calypte hummingbirds.
Female Ruby-throats have a shorter bill, greener crown and narrower outer primaries compared to female Black-chinned.
Female Costa's are grayer above, whiter below and longer-billed than female Anna's. Calypte is the only
hummingbird genus in which the birds habitually sing from a perch. Click here
for photos of an immature male Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Arcata, here
for photos of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird on the Farallons, and here
for two photos of a possible Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Death Valley. Click here
for a photo and discussion of a mystery hummingbird (probably Black-chinned). A photo and discussion of a mystery
Calypte sp. (possibly Costa's) at Pinnacles is here;
and one of an Anna's is here. Click here
for my photo of a male Anna's Hummingbird.
December 1
We completed and reviewed the swifts and hummingbirds on pages 262 &264. Click here
for Les Chibana's sequence of photos of White-throated Swifts engaged in aerial copulation . Click here
for a photo of a Violet-crowned Hummingbird in Humboldt County. A photo of Northern California's first Violet-crowned
Hummingbird, March 1992 at Kenwood, Sonoma County is here
down towards the middle of the page.
November 17
We completed and reviewed the nighthawks and nightjars on pages 258 & 260. Click here
for a photo and analysis of a Lesser Nighthawk and here for
a photo and analysis of a Common Nighthawk. Click here
for a photo of a Buff-collared Nightjar in California.
Note: There is no class next week, November 24th because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Class
resumes December 1st.
Note: This was the last class for Part A. Please register as soon as possible for Part
B which starts November 3rd. You can register online, or mail or fax this registration
form.
