Hummingbird ID question

[andrew22]

Hi

I had my first Hummingbird ever show up in my backyard which has been landscaped for Butterflies. I have always heard they share a lot of same nectar plants. I havent been able to get very close for pics because its so fast and shy. It showed up on August 22 (my birthday so I will never forget that!) feeding on large Coral Porter weed and Purple Porter weed. Of course I had to go get a feeder the next day. It also likes the Mexican Petunia (Ruellia), Firespike, butterfly bush (a little bit), Salvia (Indigo Spires), Chaste tree (loves that plant as you will see in the pics below), a Red large leaved salvia (that I dont know the name of) and a Upright bottle brush tree that I just bought and havent even planted yet! I noticed it likes all the purple and red flowers in my yard!! So heres some pics I took! I did the best I could. Hopefully you can help me find out what kind of hummingbird I have coming to my yard. I think its a Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird or a Young Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

[vallepatt]

Hi Andrew,
Congrats on getting some photos! After waiting all summer there is now one HB feeding daily at our feeder. I have been able to spy it through the binoculars, but have not yet ventured to try any photos. They are so shy and skidish, that for now I'm just enjoying watching from the screen porch. You photos are nice!
Valle

[Steve Backes]

Andrew,

Female Ruby-throat is a possibility since I don't see much marking on its throat. It could be the quality of the photo and there may be some stippling that's not showing up. Stippling would indicate that it's a young male. Without stippling, it would most likely be a female.

Steve

[sugarb]

I had two hummingbirds in my yard yesterday 10/2/09, they were feeding on mexican petunias. They were smaller than a Ruby and being new to this area don't know what they were. Could these be Calliope? Small and brownish.

[Steve Backes]

Sugarb,

It sounds like you're describing sphinx moths. Visit the Hummingbird Moths/Sphinx Moth thread here: floridahummingbirds.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=moths and view the photos on the threads.

Steve