Al Jaramillo asks -

>I need some ID help.

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>So is it possible for an Allen's/rufous immature male to show so little
>rufous on the tail? Are there any other possibilities, like hybrid
>Allen's-Anna's which could look like this? This is what I get for not
>bothering to look carefully at immature Rufous while I lived in Vancouver!
>Another reminder to always look at common birds.

>I appreciate any comments or discussion.

Al - In my experience, young Rufous come in a bewildering array of
"non-standard" plumages during their first few months of which your bird
sounds like a typical example. I have even seen leucistic types with NO
rufous colouration at all. Having said that, I have never seen an Allen's but
would imagine the same variety holds for that species, too. Of course, hummers
are notorious interbreeders so a hybrid cannot be ruled out either (great lot
of help this was!).

,Jack

Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
CANADA
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca