Backyard Nature Wednesday: Buff-bellied Hummingbird

Truthfully, I do not have a Buff-bellied Hummingbird in my backyard, although some of these tropical hummingbirds do make it this far north in their wanderings. But in fact, seeing a Buff-bellied at the Estero Llano Grande State Park on one of the good days for birding last week was one of the highlights of my vacation.

The Buff-bellied is noticeably larger than the hummingbirds that I am most used to seeing - the Ruby-throated, Black-chinned, and Rufous. It is 4.25" in length and has a wingspan of 5.75".

The most obvious thing about the bird, other than its size, is that bright red, slightly curved bill. That is a field mark that you just can't miss and you can see it with the naked eye from a good distance. It leaves no question about the identification, which is always a good thing. 

Here is a closer view of bird. They are uncommon within their limited range and are most frequently seen at feeders and flower gardens. This feeder was set out by the staff at the visitor's center at the park. The Buff-bellied is a resident bird there. While we were there, other birders were reporting seeing Ruby-throats and Black-chinneds in spring migration through the park. I didn't see them though. I had eyes only for the Buff-bellied.