by Kelly B. Bryan
El Paso
Davis Mountains Preserve
Davis Mountains Resort
Miller Ranch
Fort Davis
Alpine
Terlingua Ranch
14 Species
9283 Individuals
Broad-billed Hummingbird
10
White-eared Hummingbird
16
Violet-crowned Hummingbird
1
Blue-throated Hummingbird
3
Magnificent Hummingbird
176
Lucifer Hummingbird
378
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
290
Black-chinned Hummingbird
3491
Anna’s Hummingbird
226
Costa’s Hummingbird
2
Calliope Hummingbird
346
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
1973
Rufous Hummingbird
2288
Allen’s Hummingbird
82
Male Lucifer Hummingbird
Female Lucifer Hummingbird
Female Lucifer Hummingbird
Male Lucifer Hummingbird
Male Lucifer Hummingbird
Male Lucifer Hummingbirds
HY M Lucifer Hummingbirds
HY M Lucifer Hummingbird
HY F Lucifer Hummingbird
Lucifer Hummingbird Display
LUHU with nest material
Looking for LUHU nests
LUHU nest in cane cholla
LUHU Captures and Recaptures
by Month
Month
Captures
Recaptures
Totals
Mar
Apr
May
1
2
3
0
0
0
44
39
83
Jun
Jul
Aug
60 104 108
62 72 112
122 176 220
Sep
Oct
57
39
96
4
2
6
Recaptured Individuals
and
Frequency of Recapture
Only one time – 72 (27-1 yr. later; 2-2 yrs. later)
Two times – 27 (13-1 yr. later; 5-2 yrs. later)
Three times – 11 (4-1 yr. later; 2-2 yrs. later)
Four times – 8 (3-1 yr. later; 1-2 yrs. later)
Five times – 7 (3-1 yr. later; 2-2 yrs.; 1-3 yrs.)
Six times – 5 (3-1 yr. later; 2-2 yrs. later)
Seven times – 4 (3-1 yr. later; 1-3 yrs. later)
Eight times – 4 (3-1 yr. later; 1-2 yrs. later)
Nine times – 0
Ten times – 1 (2 yrs. later)
Total Individuals represented – 141 (37.3%)
Chronolog
of the
Most Frequently Recaptured Individual
H47936 banded June 29, 2009 – HY M
Recaptured:
March 24, 2010
June 3, 2010
June 23, 2010
May 12, 2011
June 10, 2011
July 9, 2011
July 24, 2011
August 8, 2011
September 5, 2011
September 23, 2011
Chronolog
of the two
Oldest Recaptured Individuals
R98947 and R98948
both banded on August 17, 2008 – both AHY F
R98947
R98948
July 18, 2009
September 17, 2008
June 23, 2010
September 4, 2009
August 10, 2010
June 23, 2010
May 12, 2011
June 10, 2011
June 10, 2011
July 24, 2011
August 8, 2011
Age – 4 years
Age – 4+ years
Age/sex Ratios
of
Banded/recaptured Individuals
AHY M – 142/171
AHY F – 133/123
HY M – 75/29
HY F – 28/4
Comparison
of
HY LUHUs captured by year
HY Birds
% of Total Birds
2008
2009
2010
2011
Totals
6
42
45
10
103
42.9
57.5
44.6
5.3
27.2
Morphometrics
by
Age and Sex
AGE/SEX
N
WING CORD
TAIL
CULMEN
AHY M
126 37.28 (35.28-39.32)
31.2 (29-34)
20.96 (17.64-23.01)
AHY F
126 41.21 (39.05-43.70)
25.6 (23-28.5)
21.95 (19.58-24.08)
HY M
71
39.43 (36.31-43.37)
25.4 (23.5-29.5)
20.93 (19.41-22.91)
HY F
26
42.06 (40.16-44.23)
25.8 (24-28)
21.60 (20.30-23.25)
Comparison
of
LUHU/BCHU captures at CMO
2008
2009
2010
2011
Totals
LUHU
14
62
41
82
199
BCHU
47
183
137
192
559
Comparison
of
LUHU captures DM vs. TR
2008
2009
2010
2011
Totals
Davis Mountains
0
10
7
66
83
Terlingua Ranch
14
63
94
124
295
Adult Female LUHU with Gorget Feathers;
this individual was also gravid
HY F LUHU banded October 19, 2008;
recaptured September 4, 2009;
bill measurement 17.38mm-20.61mm
What have we learned, so far?
Lucifer Hummingbirds are more common than anticipated
Recaptures are numerous indicating a strong site fidelity; however,
some individuals are noticeably trap shy affecting recapture rates
LUHU abundance peaks in August which coincides with the peak of
migration for most other western US species
Some individuals move between banding sites
Based on the recapture of two banded female birds from August
17, 2008, their ages are now 4+ years old
Typical of other small NA hummingbirds, LUHU females on the
average have larger measurements than most males
ID of HY M individuals can be determined by presence of gorget
feathers, the wing cord length and/or the length or R1
Despite being a desert adapted species, LUHUs concentrate at
feeder station during times of extreme drought and/or invade
higher elevation habitats searching for new food resources
Male displays are spectacular
Nests are difficult to access and find
The Project is going well!
Sunrise in Lucifer Land
