Hummingbirds of Southern Arizona: Violet Crowned Hummingbird

The Violet Crowned Hummingbird is only found in Southeast Arizona (in the United States). And fortunately, there is a multi-generational family living in the little town of Patagonia at the Paton House (now run by the Tucson Audubon Society and called The Paton Center for Hummingbirds).

They nest at the Paton House and visit the feeders every 15 to 20 minutes of so. A few hang around all year, but more show up for the summer. It is sometimes found in the Santa Ana,  Huachuca, and Chiricahua Mountains. But The Paton House is almost a sure bet.

Violet Crowned Hummingbird

Hummingbird Season in Full Throttle

What started off as a very slow hummingbird season  -- probably due to last year's fires and flooding, has turned out quite nice. Once again there are large numbers of hummers in Miller Canyon and Ash Canyon. Ramsey doesn't have quite the same numbers, but yesterday I saw 7 species within about 30 minutes including the Violet Crowned. In the last two weeks (in Ash Canyon, Miller Canyon, and Ramsey Canyon) I have found eleven different hummingbird species:

Anna's

Black Chinned

Blue Throat

Broad Billed

Broad Tailed

Lucifer

Magnificent

Plain Capped Starthroat

Rufous

White Eared

Violet Crowned

I may have seen a female Costa's don't know for sure. Calliope has been reported at Ash Canyon but I have not seen it. Lots of Broad Tailed Hummingbirds at Ash Canyon, but for some reason I didn't end up with any photos. Plain Capped Starthroat photos weren't up to standard. He showed up at the farthest feeder for 2-5 seconds every hour or so. Just couldn't get the photo I wanted.

Still no reports this year of Berylline. I'll head down to Madera Canyon sometime this week and check it out. Berylline was an "infrequent" visitor there last year. 

Here are a few of my photos from the last two weeks in the Huachuca Mountains:

Anna's Hummingbird

Black Chinned Female

Blue Throated Hummingbird

Broad Billed Hummingbird Female

Lucifer Hummingbird Male

Magnificent Hummingbird Male

Rufous Hummingbird Female

Violet Crowned Hummingbird

White Eared Hummingbird Male

Quick Trip to Pattons in Patagonia

After breakfast Christine let me loose to see what was happening in Patagonia. I stopped at Patton's for about an hour. Came away with some nice photos:

Summer Tanager

Gila Woodpecker

Violet Crowned Hummingbird

Female Cardinal

Male Cardinal

Back to Patton's in Patagonia

With the B&B, it is hard to get away this time of year for an extended photo trip. So, it ends up being a half day trip. This time I headed off to Patagonia. Today, photos from Patton's in Patagonia.

The Hummingbirds are starting to arrive, both those that pass through and those that stay for the summer. At Paton's I found: Anna's, Black Chinned, Broad Billed, Violet Crowned, Rufous, and Calliope. The Calliope was a male but too brief to photograph. Here are the better photos from Patton's:

Broad Billed Hummingbird Male

Violet Crowned Hummingbird

Northern Cardinal Male

Northern Cardinal Female

Violet Crowned Hummingbird

In addition to the Ivyleaf Morningglory at Patton's I did take a few hummingbird photos. Patton's is the place to find and photograph the Violet Crowned Hummingbird. There is no other site that I know of where the Violet Crowned is a sure thing. What makes it stand out is the red bill and the pure white throat and breast. Patton's has 10 hummingbird feeders along the south side of their home. There is a tent with chairs set up for viewing. But behind the tent facing the Patagonia Creek wilderness area there is a feeder buried (well not quite buried - let's say "nestled") in the wild vegetation. Many people who visit don't even see it. Because it faces the wilderness area it gets a lot of hummingbirds too. Now, while I don't normally photograph hummingbirds  on feeders, because of this unusual setting I couldn't resist. Here are three I particularly liked. (If you click on a photo you can see it enlarged).

Violet Crowned Hummingbird

Violet Crowned Hummingbird

Violet Crowned Hummingbird

Rare Hummingbirds

While on the subject of Hummingbirds I thought I would share with you photos of the rarer hummers of the US. The Calliope is found in very small numbers in the far western states and Arizona. The Berylline, White Eared, Lucifer, Violet Crowned, Plain Capped Starthroat, and Blue Throated are only found in the extreme southern Mountain Ranges of Southeast Arizona (Chiricahuas, Huachucas, and Santa Ritas).

Calliope Hummingbird Male

Berylline Hummingbird Female

White Eared Hummingbird Male

Lucifer Hummingbird Male

Violet Crowned Hummingbird

Plain Capped Starthroat

Blue Throated Hummingbird male

Hummingbird Heaven

I spent most of my time in Madera Canyon at Kubo Cabins. During that time the following hummingbirds were observed: Anna's, Berylline, Black Chinned, Broad Billed, Broad Tailed, Magnificent, Rufous, and Violet Crowned. That's eight different species in one sitting.

Magnificent Hummingbird Male

Broad Bill Hummingbird Male

Violet Crowned Hummingbird

Violet Crowned Hummingbird

Patton's Hummingbird Station in Patagonia is open so I have been a frequent visitor the past month. Although I hear from one of our regular guests and friend that not only is Madera Canyon now open but a male Berylline Hummingbird has been seen (and photographed) at one of the feeders. So, I am going to try to get out this afternoon or tomorrow to check it out. In the meantime, more hummers from Patton's. (There is some wonderful color in these so click on each to enlarge.)

Violet Crowned Hummingbird (tongue extended)

Violet Crowned Hummingbird

Violet Crowned Hummingbird (tongue extended)

Broad Billed Hummingbird

Broad Billed Hummingbird

Broad Billed Hummingbird

Continuing with Patagonia - II

Whenever I go to Patagonia, either Patagonia Lake, of TNC's Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve, I like to stop at the Roadside Rest Stop and at Patton's. On this last trip I stopped at Patton's where I got my first decent photograph of a male Blue Grosbeak. And, of course, there were a couple of Violet Crowned Hummingbirds that would come to the feeders every 15 or 20 minutes. (Patton's is the best place -- probably in the US -- to find the Violet Crowned, so it is a real treat.

Blue Grosbeak Male

Bronzed Cowbird

Violet Crowned Hummingbird (probably female)

Black Chinned Hummingbird Female

More from Patton's in Patagonia

Thanks to Diane from helping identify the Plumbeous Vireo.

Since the Violet Crowned and Rufous Hummingbirds were present at Patton's I decided to stop by again on Wednesday -- with good results:

Young Male Anna's Hummingbird

Male Broad Billed Hummingbird (with tongue extended)

Male Rufous Hummingbird 

Male Rufous Hummingbird

Violet Crowned Hummingbird

Violet Crowned Hummingbird

Patton's in Patagonia - revisited

Spring has sprung. Migratory birds are passing through. And, Patton's in Patagonia (Arizona) provides an outstanding viewing area along the Patagonia Creek. Today, the hummingbirds. While not plentiful yet, I did find Anna's, Black Chin, Broad Billed, Rufous, and Violet Crowned (photographing the latter three):

Broad Billed Hummingbird - Male

Rufous Hummingbird - Male

Violet Crowned -- almost a great photo (hummingbirds are so quick)

Violet Crowned -- males and females have similar plumage

Violet Crowned Close-up