Eight species of hummingbirds have been reliably recorded from Inyo County. Two of these have been documented once each and thus are not be expected on a regular basis.
The only record of a Broad-billed Hummingbird was an immature male that came to a feeder put out by Marge Irwin at Lone Pine campground 12-14 September 1992. This species is usually found in southeast Arizona and Mexico. The bird was photographed and the record was recently accepted by the California Bird Records Committee, the official body that accepts or rejects reports of rare birds found in California.
The other very rare hummingbird was an immature male Allen’s Hummingbird found in the bird collection at the museum of Death Valley National Monument. Even though this is the only proven occurrence it is probable that this species occurs in the county on a somewhat regular basis but in very small numbers. The main problem is identifying this species correctly. It may be almost indentical in non-adult male plumages to non-adult male Rufous Hummingbirds which are common at times. The Allen’s is a summer resident along the entire coast of California and a few birds could pass through during migration though we would not consider Inyo County part of their normal route.
The most common hummingbird in the Owens Valley is the Black-chinned Hummingbird. Extremely rare anywhere in the state in winter (there are only a few records) this species returns from Mexico in early April. The earliest arrival record is 24 March 1974 in Big Pine. This bird is especially significant because the oldest record of any bird in Inyo County is of this species observed by a member of a railroad expedition in Big Pine in 1857! If you have a hummingbird feeder out through the summer in the Owens Valley, this is your number one customer. They have raised young in our yard, and nest in all the towns of the valley. They also occupy watered canyons all around the county. By late August the adult males depart for Mexico, followed in September by the adult females and the young of the year. The latest departure record is 30 September 1993 near Big Pine.
The Anna’s Hummingbird is an uncommon species most often observed in the southern part of Inyo County. It has nested in the Panamint Mountains and probably other lower mountain canyons as well, though further documentation is needed. It is most often found in lower canyons (below 5000′) and around towns. It is our hardiest hummer and has been recorded from February to November. Most records are from July to October and may represent birds that have wandered here after breeding in other regions. The earliest record is from Sand Canyon, southernmost Sierra canyon, on 21 February 1991. The latest was a bird that lingered at Paula Aubin’s feeder at Wilkerson until 24 November 1992. This species has wintered as close as Ridgecrest and has been recorded on their National Audubon Society Christmas Counts. The first record of this bird in Inyo was by L. M. Huey at Hanaupah Canyon in the Panamints on 25 April 1922.
The Costa’s Hummingbird is also a very common breeder throughout the drier parts of the county. It may also be found in canyons and towns during migration. It normally returns to Inyo during February or March, though there is a record of one at Death Valley on 20 January. Nests and eggs have been collected by various museums including the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. These birds usually depart for Mexico by August but one lingered in Big Pine until 9 December 1993. The first Inyo County record was at Resting Springs by the Death Valley Expedition on 13 February 1891.
The Calliope Hummingbird, smallest of the small in North America, breeds in the local mountains. Normally they return in early April but the earliest one showed up in Big Pine on 26 March 1993. The latest fall bird was found by Floyd Bero of Bishop on 20 September 1992 at Table Mountain campground, southwest of Bishop. The earliest historical record was published in 1881 of a nest with eggs found by W. J. Hoffman in Owens Valley.
Broad-tailed Hummingbirds are fairly common in the White and Inyo Mountains east through the Great Basin ranges. They are rare in the Owens Valley and the Sierra. These birds return from their wintering range in southern Mexico by early May though the avant garde are seen in late April. One report in the scientific literature at Tollhouse Spring in the White Mountains on 21 March 1984 was either a case of mistaken identification or a very exceptional bird. Wyman Canyon is an excellent place to see this species. The latest fall sighting was at Hunter Mountain Spring on 24 August 1993. The first record for the county was in Mazourka Canyon on 24 May 1912 when one was found by Harry Swarth from the University of California at Berkeley.
The Rufous Hummingbird is a migrant through Inyo in spring and fall. It was first encountered by the Death Valley Expedition on 18 August 1891 at Kearsarge Pass. Our birds normally begin their spring passage in late March but the earliest record is 12 March 1990 at Big Pine. By early May all have passed to the north with some going all the way to Alaska! The latest spring lingerer was 12 May 1991 in Big Pine. The first birds returning south arrive as early as 24 June but the bulk of fall passage is mid July to mid September. The latest bird was seen on 30 September 1993.
Hummingbird feeders were discussed in an earlier edition of THE WAVE but a few reminders may be in order. During migration we increase water to sugar ratio from 4:1 to 3:1. We boil it and if we expect a freeze at night we keep a heat lamp on it. Remember the birds begin feeding at the first minutes of dawn and may perish if they are unable to locate food very early in the morning. Some species return from Mexico early in the year so feeders should be available by mid-March. Many people feel that by leaving feeders up they may tempt hummers to linger and perhaps ultimately perish from the cold. Because hummers rely heavily on insects they move south when insect numbers dimish. Remember too, some hummers winter as close as Ridgecrest. At 30 MPH how long would it take a hummer in Bishop to get there?
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