FEATURED PHOTO: FIELD IDENTIFICATION OF FEMALE ALLEN'S AND RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS

Abstract

Probably no other pair of North American bird species poses greater field identification problems than the Rufous (Selasphorus rufus) and Allen's (S. sasin) hummingbirds. Observations of anything other than rufous-backed adult males (at least outside of known breeding ranges and breeding seasons) are usually lumped as "Rufous/Allen's," since even a small percentage of adult male Rufous are fully green-backed, matching the pattern of adult male Allen's (McKenzie and Robbins 1999).