Mike,

Actually, Rufous is a very rare breeder in California, I understand, with
just one or two records from the northern coastal mountains. When I was
a California birder we looked for Rufous away from the coastal lowlands
in migration. So if Rufous does not regularly breed in California it
must peter out somewhere in Oregon. Does its breeding range overlap that
of Allen's? It sounds as if it doesn't or only rarely. If not, how wide
is the gap? Does Rufous breed south in Oregon at higher elevations?

Also, has the role of the tail feather in the sound made at the bottom of
the dive been demonstrated by high speed photography or by experiments
involving cutting the tail feathers or is it surmise?

Gene Hunn.

On Tue, 21 Feb 1995, Mike Patterson wrote:

>
>
>
> The gap is one of habitat choice. Allen's seem to prefer drier coastal
> scrub, Rufous wetter, greener places. Allen's is only confirmed as breeding
> in Curry Co. on the extreme southern Oregon Coast where the habitat is
> most similar to California. I am told that one of the ways to distinguish
> Allen's and Rufous in the breeding season in California is by habitat.
>
> It's the notch in the tail that gives Rufous it's distinctive chatter
> at the bottom of its dive.
>
> >
> >Mike,
> >
> >What still puzzles me is whether there is a gap in the breeding range of
> >Selasphorus hummers on the Oregon coast and, if so, just where it is. My
> >impression is that Rufous Hummers are common nesters all along the
> >Washington coast.
> >
> >Also, the contrast between the chattering squeal of Rufous and the whine
> >of Allen's. Could it be due to the sharpness of the angle that Rufous
> >Hummers make at the bottom of their dive versus the shallower pendulum
> >curves on Allen's? Or is it due to some structural difference.
> >
> >Gene Hunn.
> >
>
> --
> ********************************
> * Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR * God abhors a naked singularity
> * mpatters at ednet1.osl.or.gov * S.Hawking
> ********************************
>