LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRDPRELIMINARY BANDING DATA

2008-2011

by Kelly B. Bryan

Study Sites

El Paso

Davis Mountains ResortMiller Ranch

Terlingua Ranch

Fort Davis

Alpine

Davis Mountains Preserve

Davis Mountains

Christmas Mountains Oasis

Project Totals To Date14 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

Lucifer Hummingbird

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

Month Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct

Captures 1 0 44 60 104 108 57 4

Recaptures 2 0 39 62 72 112 39 2

Totals 3 0 83 122 176 220 96 6

LUHU Captures and Recapturesby Month

Recaptured Individualsand

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 – 0Ten times – 1 (2 yrs. later)Total Individuals represented – 141 (37.3%)

Chronologof the

Most Frequently Recaptured IndividualH47936 banded June 29, 2009 – HY M

Recaptured:March 24, 2010

June 3, 2010June 23, 2010May 12, 2011June 10, 2011July 9, 2011July 24, 2011

August 8, 2011September 5, 2011September 23, 2011

Chronologof the two

Oldest Recaptured Individuals

R98947 and R98948both 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 Ratiosof

Banded/recaptured Individuals

AHY M – 142/171AHY F – 133/123HY M – 75/29 HY F – 28/4

Comparisonof

HY LUHUs captured by year

2008 2009 2010 2011 Totals

HY Birds 6 42 45 10 103

% of Total Birds 42.9 57.5 44.6 5.3 27.2

Morphometricsby

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)

Comparisonof

LUHU/BCHU captures at CMO

2008 2009 2010 2011 Totals

LUHU 14 62 41 82 199

BCHU 47 183 137 192 559

Comparisonof

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 anticipatedRecaptures are numerous indicating a strong site fidelity; however, some individuals are noticeably trap shy affecting recapture ratesLUHU abundance peaks in August which coincides with the peak of migration for most other western US speciesSome individuals move between banding sitesBased on the recapture of two banded female birds from August 17, 2008, their ages are now 4+ years oldTypical of other small NA hummingbirds, LUHU females on the average have larger measurements than most malesID of HY M individuals can be determined by presence of gorget feathers, the wing cord length and/or the length or R1Despite 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 resourcesMale displays are spectacularNests are difficult to access and findThe Project is going well!

Sunrise in Lucifer Land