Mike, Tweeters,

The specimen is at the UW. I've checked it out and it is a male Allen's,
dating to 1894, however all more recent reports are likely green-backed male
Rufous (a photo of the spread tail of one such was printed in Washington
Birds).

Gene Hunn.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Patterson" <celata at pacifier.com>
To: "Tweeters" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2004 6:52 AM
Subject: Re: Allen's Hummingbird report


> There was at one time a specimen record for Allen's Hummingbird
> in Washington, the the specimens has apparently been lost and I
> don't believe the record is considered valid any more.
>
> The birdbox report is most probably another case of a green-
> backed Rufous male being ID'd based on the green-back and no
> other field marks. Rufous Hummingbirds males especially later
> arriving second-year birds can have quite a lot of green in
> the back (as much 75%, routinely 30%).
>
> http://home.pacifier.com/~neawanna/humm/gbRUHU_phen.html
>
> As always, the report should be checked out, because one just
> never knows, but it is most probably not an Allen's.
>
> --- original post ---
> Subject: Allen\'s Hummingbird report
> From: birdbooker AT zipcon.net
> Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2004 20:50:51 -700
>
> HI:
> Did anyone follow up on this report from the birdbox:
> I would like to report an ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD at my feeder in my back
> yard for
> the last two days. We have taken a picture and I'm hoping someone will
> give me
> a call back about this sighting.
>
>
> --
> Mike Patterson
> Astoria, OR
> celata at pacifier.com