Yes, as others have mentioned, the distinctive hmms/buzzes that the various
hummingbird species make are a function of the tips of their wing feathers,
especially the adult males. Most birds molt their flight feathers in
July/August, which can change the buzz noise.

In Port Orchard, Anna's (year-round) and Rufous (summer only) are the only
expected hummingbirds, and both are common. All others are very rare. Bar
graphs for Kitsap County on eBird show only a single other hummingbird
record-- a Calliope in migration. See
https://ebird.org/barchart?r=US-WA-035&yr=all&m=

At least on eBird, there are no records for Broad-tailed Hummingbird in all
of western Washington, and only two for the state, both in Walla Walla
County, so they would be a mega-rarity here.

good birding,



On Fri, Jul 16, 2021 at 6:01 AM <rae at raehight.com> wrote:


> That's what we were wondering, if something had happened to a tail feather

> or wing. How fun to give it a name! When we sit on the deck and hear it

> buzz by, we laugh and make our own buzzing sounds.

>

>

>

> Thanks!

>

>

>

> Rae

>

>

>

> *From:* Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com>

> *Sent:* Thursday, July 15, 2021 11:56 PM

> *To:* Robert O'Brien <baro at pdx.edu>

> *Cc:* THOMAS BENEDICT <benedict.t at comcast.net>; rae at raehight.com;

> tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> *Subject:* Re: [Tweeters] Anna hummingbird

>

>

>

> Several years ago, we had an Anna's that had lost or had molted a wing

> primary feather.

>

> We always knew when "Buzz" flew in.

>

> Dan Reiff Sent from my iPhone

>

>

>

> On Jul 15, 2021, at 9:53 PM, Robert O'Brien <baro at pdx.edu> wrote:

>

> 

>

> Can't add to what Thomas Benedict says.

>

> Except that a neighbor of ours, years ago, had what was very likely a

> Broad-tailed Hummer, as Tom describes, at her feeder.

>

> It's possible. A photo or even a sound recording would be interesting.

>

> Bob OBrien Portland.

>

>

>

> On Thu, Jul 15, 2021 at 1:14 PM THOMAS BENEDICT <benedict.t at comcast.net>

> wrote:

>

> Are you questioning whether it's an Anna's? Your description matches the

> Anna's we have here in Seahurst (Burien,WA). They definitely 'hum' when

> they fly by. Broad-Tailed hummingbirds make a stronger, metallic 'whirr'

> and look like a larger Anna's with a white breast and green crown, but they

> typically stay in the Nevada-Utah-Colorado-Arizona-New Mexico region.

>

>

>

> Tom Benedict

>

> Seahurst, WA

>

> On 07/15/2021 12:38 PM rae at raehight.com wrote:

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> We have what we believe is an Anna hummingbird who visits our feeder. The

> sound during flight is like a low pitched thrumming (at first we thought it

> was a brush cutter). Makes us think of the sound of cards clattering

> against the spokes of a bicycle wheel when we were kids. It is a dark

> emerald colored (though part of its back seems almost black), short beak

> and tail. We live in Port Orchard. Thoughts? Thanks -; Jim and Rae Hight

>

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--
Steve Hampton
Port Townsend, WA
*Qatay, S'Klallam territory*
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