Immature male hummingbirds keep my interest in Las Vegas NV – changes in plumage evident

                Summer and fall are filled with young hummers, raising the resident population to its yearly high. These young hummers also raise the interest level of these seasons.

                Immature birds lack the striking coloring and markings of their parents, be they male or female. This gives them better camouflage during their early life when they aren’t as clever about self-protection as they will be later. With most birds, the new plumage of the adult comes to them when they reach the spring of the next year and courtship time. Some, like the Scott’s Oriole, have to wait two years before the male comes into his full adult plumage. When they do get this more elaborate dress it comes in the course of the normal spring molt which can take just a few weeks time.

Taken after the rain on September 9, one long feather showing.

                Hummingbirds are different. The young male gradually changes, adding one feather to his gorget and then another. It takes time for him to finally get to the full glory of his adult gorget.  This makes him a very interesting study. Does each bird have his own variation as to when he gets what feather? Does this make the immature bird recognizable as an individual?

Taken September 10, note the one long feather.

                I suspect I would have to band my birds and then photograph them daily to discover if that is true. And I can assure you, that isn’t going to happen. At least not by me! I just take what I can get and enjoy watching them go through the changes from youth to adulthood.

Taken October 30, gorget is well on its way to being done, note pin feathers on the throat.

                What I have noticed, and photographed, is that there is a definite variation among young male hummers. I watch as one feather pops out and then another.  The Costa’s, because of their long side feathers, are more interesting to watch change than other, less gaudy males.

This is the same handsome adult seen from the bottom in last post, taken November 9.

                When the day comes my immature is now a full adult he truly is a sight to behold as he visits my patio and feeders here in Las Vegas NV.

As he looks behind him we can see the long side feathers sticking out.