From your "sound" description, and failure to mention orange flanks,
I'd say Anna's is a good bet; otherwise, that sound "sounds" like
Black-chinned, if it's made with the wings.... BCHU sometimes have
flecked throats, but only lightly so, and not as heavily or messy as
in Anna's... Look at bill length -- Anna's are relatively short, BCHU
being in opposite direction, about the longest. Head and neck of
latter sometimes appear skinny and long when peering at you while
perched, while Anna's generally look squat or at least somewhat plump.
Jim Greaves
Thompson Falls MT


>I haven't gotten much of a look at it yet. It's got a green back
>and a dark-flecked throat. It held its tail closed while
>feeding. But, I've been hearing this soft snore-like sound and
>wondering if it's my pond pump going bad, my camera whirring, a new
>jay sound or a mysterious new yard bird. It actually is the sound
>of this hummingbird flying. I don't recall my Rufous hummingbirds
>making this sound. Is it a late juvenile Rufous or possibly an
>Anna's hummingbird? What diagnostic visual cues should I
>concentrate on to distinguish between the two species?
>
>Thanks much,
>
>Sandy Daniels, Enumclaw Plateau