Hi Joanne,

Your hummingbird indeed has some rufous wash to the flanks. However, young
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds can show this feature, with some individuals
being very rufous on the flanks. If rufous is not apparent on anywhere else
on the bird (like the back or the head), the KEY area that needs to show
rufous is the base of the outer tail feathers. Here is a photo sent to me
last year that I was originally SURE that it was a Rufous Hummingbird based
on the amount of rufous on the flanks:

http://tinyurl.com/3e2qcd5

It turned out to be a very buffy Ruby-throated, with rufous present no where
else but the flanks. Here's a photo that shows a Rufous Hummingbird that has
the rufous on the flanks and tail, but nowhere else:

http://gerlachnaturephoto.com/Photos/Rufous2.jpg


Best of birding to all!

Sean


---
Sean Williams, PhD Candidate '16
Department of Zoology
Michigan State University
203 Natural Sciences Building
East Lansing, MI 48824
617-470-4094

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