Hummingbirds Examining the Hummingbird When Nancy takes the hummingbird out of the bag, she looks at it carefully to figure out what species it is, whether it is a male or female, and how old it is. She has banded thousands of hummingbirds, so she can do this much more quickly, easily and accurately than someone without her experience. Examining the Hummingbird Nancy uses a magnifying glass to closely examine this hummingbird's beak and feathers. This Ruby-throated Hummingbird has unusual white feathers on its tail and face. This adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbird looks pretty normal except for the little bit of white feathers at the base of its beak and on its face. See how carefully Nancy holds this female Ruby-throated Hummingbird as she examines it. She looks at the wings and tail. A Rufous Hummingbird has different colors in its tail than a Ruby-throat does.     What do you think this Rufous Hummingbird is thinking about as Nancy examines it?   Next: Banding the Hummingbird Facebook Pinterest Twitter © 1997 – 2025 Journey North. All rights reserved.