I always look forward to the Washington Field Notes, beautifully produced and well -edited. But then I seem pause at the hummer section, where it talks of the "expanding range" of Anna's Hummingbird in Eastern Washington, specifically in the winter months. This species is a little tricky, in that it is a resident species in its overall range, while it does make a post-breeding down slope movement in S. California, and it clearly wanders to northern and eastern states to take up new residence.

Its habitat seems tied to human occupation, flowery suburban and neighbourhood gardens year round but using feeders if they are handy. But in the Pacific lowlands it does not, in my opinion, need those feeders for survival during the breeding season, nor during some winters, given the abundance of native blooms and ornamental plantings.

The number of winter sightings in Eastern Washington is less than half a percent of a normal Western Washington total and one guesses they are feeder-related. One hybrid is mentioned and there are also rumours of Anna's from the Methow Valley with possible hybridisation. But does all this amount to a "range expansion"? Is there more data out there and are there breeding records east of the Cascades? I think I would call them "strays" or out of range, at this point. What does anyone else think?

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David Hutchinson, Owner
Flora & Fauna: Nature Books
Discovery Gardens: Native Plants