Hummingbird WESTERN BIRDS 



Columbia to Lower California, and as far east as west- 

 ern Montana and central Texas. It is a summer resi- 

 dent, only, spending its winters in Mexico and farther 

 south. 



The chief difference in the plumage of these two birds 

 is that the western species has a velvety black chin, 

 edged with a purple metallic band which flashes blue 

 and green lights, and is in turn edged with a narrow 

 white band. The throat patches of both birds are 

 rounded, rather than elongated as in some of the Hum- 

 mers. The tail is less deeply forked, the outer feathers 

 being as short as the middle ones, thus forming a double 

 curve. The females are similar, the western one being a 

 trifle larger and having some of the much-rounded tail 

 feathers slightly different. This really matters little, 

 since the range of the two never overlaps. It is of interest 

 to know that female Hummingbirds are larger than the 

 males. Sometimes these females are slightly over four 

 inches long; while the males are three and three-quarters 

 at most. 



In southern California these little Black-chins are very 

 abundant, frequenting canyons, flower-covered foothills 

 where grow the wild fuchsias (Hummingbird Sage) and 

 the wild gooseberries which furnish brilliant red tube 

 flowers to their liking. In the mountain canyons where 

 grow gorgeous scarlet larkspurs and red pentstemons, 

 these tiny birds, of many species, are as lively and abun- 

 dant as a swarm of bees. Members of this species, also, 

 are found at high altitudes and come freely into the 

 gardens to rear their families. 



The nest of Black-chin differs from Ruby-throat in 

 that it is not decorated, but is rather a small yellowish 

 ball made of plant down bound together with spider 

 webs, and is of a spongy consistency. The buffy down 

 found on the under sides of sycamore leaves is often 

 used for these nests which are thin-walled and about one 

 and one-half inches across the top. I once found one 



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