Here we provide information
for those interested in this fascinating ornithological feature. We encourage
researchers who encounter suspected hybrids to carefully document their
discovery and submit it to a refereed journal for publication. If you would
like to share your photos with other ummingbird researchers through this page,
or if you are aware of published literature we should add to our compendium
below, please email me.
ONLINE PHOTOS /
DOCUMENTATION OF HYBRIDS
BLACK-CHINNED x CALLIOPE
Comparative page
for three Black-chinned x Calliope (August 2004) above. Interestingly, within days of the
August 2004 BCHU x CAHU birds above, Fred Bassett banded another similar one in
Twin Falls County, Idaho. A central diagnostic tail feather was collected from
that bird.
BLACK-CHINNED x RUBY-THROATED
BLACK-CHINNED x BROAD-TAILED
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July 2007
Lakewood-Green Mtn, Colorado
Photographed by Mark Chavez |
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RUFOUS x ANNA'S
April 22, 2008
Eugene,
Oregon
Found by Maitreya & Barry McKenzie
Observed by Dave
Irons & others
Photographed by Peter Patricelli |
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Weird Plumages
SY-Male (lack of molt) Broad-tailed Hummingbird
This is a (presumably) rare example of an "early-blooming gorget" combined with retained
juvenile plumage! In other words, this is likely a funny-looking "second-year"
(hatched in 2004) male Broad-tailed.
May 2005, near Rockland,
Idaho
Stacy J. Peterson
TRADITIONAL PUBLICATIONS dealing with
hybridization in hummingbirds (and selected articles dealing with avian
taxonomic issues)
Articles from all but
the last few years in the journals Wilson's Bulletin, Journal of Field
Ornithology, Auk, Condor, North American Bird Bander, Studies in Avian
Biology, and Pacific Coast Avifauna may be available as PDF files
through SORA: Searchable Ornithological
Research Archive. Search by the authors name and a keyword in the title.
Journal of Experimental Biology articles may be found
here.
- Baldridge, F.A., L.F. Kiff, S.K.
Baldridge, and R.B. Hansen. 1983. Hybridization of a Blue-throated Hummingbird
in California. Western Birds 14:17-30.
- Banks, R.C. and N.K. Johnson.
1961. A review of North American hybrid hummingbirds. Condor
63:3-28.
- Berlioz, J. 1930. A new
hummingbird hybrid, Calypte anna x Stellula calliope. Condor
32:215.
- Binford, L.C. 1985.
Re-evaluation of the "hybrid" hummingbird Cyanthus sordidus X C.
latirostris from Mexico. Condor 87:148-150.
- Bishop, L.B. 1906. Uranomitra
salvini in Arizona. Auk 23:337-338. [Uranomitra salvini =
Violet-crowned x Broad-billed hybrid; see Griscom 1934]
- Bleiweiss, R., J.A.W. Kirsch,
and J.C. Matheus. 1994. DNA-DNA hybridization evidence for subfamily structure
among hummingbirds. Auk 111:8-19.
- Bleiweiss, R., J.A.W. Kirsch,
and J.C. Matheus. 1997. DNA hybridization evidence for the principal lineages
of hummingbirds (Aves: Trochilidae) Mol. Biol. Evol. 14:325-343.
- Cockrum, E.L. 1952. A check-list
and bibliography of hybrid birds in North America north of Mexico. Wilson Bull.
64:140-159.
- Elgar, R.J. 1977. The breeding
of a hybrid hummingbird Brown Violetear X Sparkling Violetear. Avic. Mag. 83:
130-134.
- Jefferies, J.A. 1888. A
description of an apparently new species of Trochilus from California.
Auk 5:168-169.
- Gerwin, J. A. and R.M. Zink.
1998. Phylogenetic patterns in the Trochilidae. Auk 115:105-118.
- Gill, F.B., F.J. Stokes and C.
Stokes. 1973. Contact zones and hybridization in the Jamaican Hummingbird,
Trochilus polytmus (L.). Condor 75:170-176.
- Graves, G.R. 1990. Systematics
of the "Green-throated Sunangels" (Aves: Trochilidae): valid taxa or hybrids?
Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 103:6-25.
- Graves, G.R. 1996. Diagnoses of
hybrid hummingbirds (Aves: Trochilidae). 2. Hybrid origin of Eriocnemis
soderstromi Butler. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 109:764-769.
- Graves, G.R. 1997. Diagnoses of
hybrid hummingbirds (Aves: Trochilidae). 3. Parentage of Lesbia ortoni
Lawrence. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash.110:314-319.
- Graves, G.R. 1997. Diagnoses of
hybrid hummingbirds (Aves: Trochilidae). 4. Hybrid origin of Calothorax
decoratus Gould. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 110:320-325.
- Graves, G.R. 1998. Diagnoses of
hybrid hummingbirds (Aves: Trochilidae). 5. Probable hybrid origin of
Amazilia distans Whetmore & Phelps. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash.
111:28-34.
- Graves, G.R. 1998. Diognoses of
hybrid hummingbirds (Aves: Trochilidae). 6. An intergeneric hybrid,
Aglaiocercus kingi x Metallura tyrianthina, from Venezuela. Proc.
Biol. Soc. Wash. 111:511-520.
- Graves, G.R. 1999. Diagnoses of
hybrid hummingbirds (Aves: Trochilidae). 7. Probable parentage of Calliphlox
iridescens Gould 1860. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 112:443-450.
- Graves. G.R. 1999. Diagnoses of
hybrid hummingbirds (Aves: Trochilidae). 8. A provisional hypothesis for the
hybrid origin of Zodalia glyceria (Gould, 1858). Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash.
112:491-502.
- Graves, G.R. 2001. Diangoses of
hybrid hummingbirds (Aves: Trochilidae). 9. Confirmation of the hybrid origin
of Coeligena purpurea Gould, 1854. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 114:42-50.
- Graves. G.R. 2003. Diagnoses of
hybrid hummingbirds (Aves: Trochilidae). 10. Cyanomyia salvini Brewster,
1893, is an intergeneric hybrid of Amazilia violiceps and Cynanthus
latirostris. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 116:293-300.
- Graves, G.R. 2003. Diagnoses of
hybrid hummingbirds (Aves: Trochilidae). 11. Documentation of an intergeneric
woostar hybrid, Calliphlox mitchelli x Chaetocercus mulsant.
Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 116:820-826.
- Graves, G.R. 2003. Diagnoses of
hybrid hummingbirds (Aves: Trochilidae). 12. Amazilia bangsi Ridgway,
1910, is an intragernic hybrid, Amazilia tzacatl x Amazilia
rutila. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 116:847-852.
- Graves, G.R. and N.L. Newfield.
1996. Diagnoses of hybrid hummingbirds (Aves: Trochilidae). 1. Characterization
of Calypte anna X Stellula calliope and the possible effects of
egg volume on hybridization potential. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash.
109:755-763.
- Graves, G.R. and R.L. Zusi.
1990. An intergeneric hybrid hummingbird (Heliodoxa leadbeateri X
Heliangelus amethysticollis) from northern Colombia. Condor
92:754-760.
- Griscom, L. 1934. The
ornithology of Guerrero, Mexico. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 75:378. [Concludes
Uranomitra salvini = Violet-crowned x Broad-billed hybrid]
- Hartert, E.J. 1900. [Exhibition
of hybrid hummingbirds.] Bull. Brit. Ornith. Club 10:39-40.
- Hinkelmann, C. 1996. Evidence of
natural hybridization in hermit hummingbirds (Phaethornis spp.) Bull. Br.
Ornithol. Club 116:5-14.
- Hinkelmann, C., B. Nicolai and
R.W. Dickerman. 1991. Notes on the hitherto unknown specimen of Neolesbia
nehrkorni (Berlepsch, 1887; Trochilidae) with a discussion of the hybrid
origin of this 'species'. Bull. Br. Ornithol. Club 111:190-199.
- Huey, L.M. 1944. A hybrid
Costa's x Broad-tailed hummingbird. Auk 61:636-637.
- Lynch, J.F. and P.L. Ames. 1970.
A new hybrid hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri X Selasphorus
sasin. Condor 72:209-212.
- Newfield, N.L. 1983. Records of
Allen's Hummingbird in Louisiana and possible Rufous X Allen's hummingbird
hybrids. Condor 85:253-254.
- Pierotti, R. and C.A. Annett.
1993. Hybridization and male parental investment in birds. Condor
95:670-679.
- Ridgeway, R. 1909. Hybridism and
generic characters in the Trochilidae. Auk 26:440-442.
- Short, L.L. 1969. Taxonomic
aspects of avian hybridization. Auk 86:84-105.
- Short, L.L. and A.R. Phillips.
1966. More hybrid hummingbirds from the United States. Auk
83:253-265.
- Sibley, C.G. 1957. The
evolutionary and taxonomic significance of sexual dimorphism and hybridization
in birds. Auk 59:166-191.
- Taylor, W.P. 1909. An instance
of hybridization in hummingbirds, with remarks on the weight of generic
characters in the Trochilidae. Auk 26:291-293.
- Thayer, J.E. and O. Bangs. 1907.
Another hybrid hummingbird - Selasphorus rufous + Atthis calliope
- from California. Auk 24:312-313.
- Wells, S. and L.F. Baptista.
1979. Displays and morphology of an Anna's X Allen's hummingbird hybrid. Wilson
Bull. 91:524-532.
- Wells, S., R.A. Bradley and L.F.
Baptista. 1978. Hybridization in Calypte hummingbirds. Auk
95:537-549.
- Williamson, F.S.L. 1957. Hybrids
of the Anna's and Allen's hummingbirds. Condor 59:118-123.
- Zink, R.M. and M.C. McKitrick.
1995. The debate over species concepts and its implications for ornithology.
Auk 112:701-719.
OTHER DOCUMENTED HYBRID
REPORTS
Berylline x Magnificent
August 2000, Miller Canyon,
Arizona
Photographed by Charles Melton, published in Birding
(37:235)
Lucifer x Black-chinned
unspecified date and
location
Photographed by Dale & Marian Zimmerman, published in
Williamson, S.L. 2001. Field Guide to Hummingbirds of North America.
Houghton Mifflin. Boston.
Send questions or comments to:
Stacy Jon
Peterson
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