Just last week, on Thanksgiving Day, a hummingbird was spotted at a feeder in western Davidson Co. on the Cheatam Co border. The homeowner was outside taking a break from cooking when the bird was seen going to a feeder she keeps out all winter. The homeowner, a long time Warner Parks employee who has a hummingbird banding license immediately prepared one of her traps to put the feeder in. It didn’t take long for the tiny visitor to enter the trap for the nectar. The bird was captured, measured and weighed, banded, then released. With the data compiled there was reason to believe this bird is an Allen’s hummingbird. It was in fact determined to be a young female but because an Allen’s can be so similar to another species, the Rufous hummingbird, the jury is still out.
Other bird banders are discussing the details and data to make the ID official. Regardless, it is very interesting to know we have small numbers of hummingbirds that spend, at least temporarily, the fall and winter with us. It doesn’t mean you should put your humming feeder out but certainly you can and there is a chance you may see one of these western U.S. hummingbirds. I’ve been trying for many years with no success. If you do please contact us at The Wood Thrush Shop, and for more information about wintering hummingbirds visit southeasternavianresearch.org