Life, food, events, and community in Albuquerque, NM

Teal-colored hummers?

Two of us watched a male, red-throated hummingbird the other day. The striking feature was the teal color in the irridecent feathers on it's head and back. A single female also had this teal coloring. Where I live, in South Central CO, we have lots of Broad-tailed, Black-chinned, Rufus and Calliope Hummingbirds...none of which have this odd blue-green color.

I am fairly convinced, thanks to BosqueBill, that the bird is simply a Broad-tailed...but I'm still struck by this stunning color. I've watched the bird over several days now, and there is only the one male on which I see this color. I've never read that the 'green' topside colors of this hummer described as 'teal' or remotely blue-green. Has anybody else noticed this color on a local hummingbird?

Thanks for your help,
Beverly

Tags: hummingbird color

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Permalink Reply by Bosque Bill on August 26, 2009 at 2:05pm: Since I read this on your blog I have not seen the one Broad-tailed male that periodically visits my feeders. So I haven't been able to note his color and report back. I've still got my eyes peeled (as they say.); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Beverly on August 27, 2009 at 7:35am: LOL I think that's always the way it works out.

Still, with only the one Broad-tailed around, it might be hard to spot the teal color I've seen...if it even exists. I wrote here because of all the hummingbird watchers you have; and thought perhaps someone knows what I'm talking about. While I 'see' the hummingbird's green as mostly an emerald-green color...perhaps the teal-green is just a play on lighting and nothing else.

I just hoped to find someone else who's noted it. Yanno?

Thanks for your help...as always, Bill!; ▶ Reply to This