BIRD NOTES AFIELD 



ARTIFICIAL KEY TO MALE HUMMING-BIRDS 



A. Crown with special ornament in contrast to back. 

 L Crown and throat patch bluish or purplish Hlac. 



Costa Humming-bird 66 



II. Crown and throat patch Hlac crimson; size larger than the pre- 

 ceding. 



Anna's Humming-bird 67 



B. Crown without special ornaments in either sex. 



I. Sides white or green. 



1 . Throat velvety black, bordered with violet. 



Black-chinned Humming-bird 65 



2. Throat violet, iridescent feathers springing from a white ground. 



Calliope Humming-bird 70 



II. Sides rufous or cinnamon. 



1 . Back chiefly rufous. 



Rufous Humming-bird 68 



2. Back chiefly golden green. 



Allen's Humming-bird 69 



THE HUMMING-BIRD FAMILY 



The smallest of birds, with long slender bills, very weak feet, and 

 buzzing wings, giving the bird much the appearance of an insect. Orna- 

 mented with throat-patches or gorgets of shimmering iridescent colors. 

 The following specific characters refer to the adult male bird. In all 

 but one of the six species commonly found in California the back is 

 golden green and the belly whitish or grayish. In the females the orna- 

 ments are wanting or restricted. 



65. Black-chinned Humming-bird; Trochilus alexandri Bourc. 

 & Muls. 



The western representative of the eastern ruby-throated hummer. No 

 special crown ornament. Gorget velvety black, bordered with iridescent 

 violet. 



66. Castas Humming-bird; Cal})pte costs (Bourc). 



Head, like gorget, ornamented with steel blue or violet iridescence. 

 Small in size. Southern California, San Diego and Colorado Desert. 



67. Anna's Humming-bird; Cal^pte anna (Less.). 



Head, like gorget, ornamented with purplish red iridescence. Large 

 in size. An abundant resident over nearly all the State. 



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