Allen's Hummingbird

This is a tiny body feather from an Allen's Hummingbird, a small, aggressive hummer of the coastal West. Males are brilliant with a fiery copper-red gorget and green back; females are green above with rufous flanks. They are famous for their high-speed 'pendulum' and 'J-dive' courtship displays.

Coppery-orange to rufous-red at the tip, transitioning into a pale yellow or creamy white at the base. The color is structural, often appearing iridescent or metallic depending on the angle of light.

The upper portion is pennaceous and tightly interlocked, while the basal third is plumulaceous (downy) for insulation. Fine, delicate barbs.

Thin, almost transparent rachis at the base, darkening slightly toward the tip. Barbs are extremely fine and oriented at an acute angle to the shaft.

The tip has a stiff, glossy, and metallic texture due to the iridescent lamellae on the barbs; the base is soft, matte, and downy.

Likely from the throat (gorget) or upper breast. The intense rufous/orange coloration is primarily found on the iridescent throat feathers of males or the rufous wash on the flanks.

Minute size, brilliant copper-rufous iridescent tip, and creamy-yellow transition toward a plumulaceous base.

Coastal scrub, chaparral, and gardens. Often found in eucalyptus groves and residential areas with abundant nectar-producing flowers.

Breeds in a narrow strip along the Pacific Coast from Southern Oregon through California (including Santa Barbara). Southern populations are resident, while others migrate to Mexico.

Key pollinator for many native California plants. Occupies a high-metabolism niche as a nectarivore and insectivore.

Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus). The feathers are nearly identical; separation in the field usually requires viewing the whole bird (specifically the back color and outer tail feather shape).

Allen's Hummingbirds are early migrators, often arriving on breeding grounds in California as early as January. They are highly territorial and will chase away much larger birds from 'their' flowers.

Hummingbird feathers have historical significance in Aztec cultures and were used in delicate feather-work art. Today, they are admired by nature photographers as jewels of the avian world.

Look for these during the post-breeding molt in late summer. They are often found near nectar feeders or favorite flowers like Cape Honeysuckle or Fuchsia.

Excellent condition. These look like fresh molts with no visible wear, parasites, or fault bars.

Santa Barbara, CA