​Black-Billed Cuckoo

Black-billed Cuckoos are uncommon spring and fall migrants through the state, more common (or at least better detected) some years than others. The red orbital ring, bluish bill with a black base, small white tips to the tail feathers, and lack of a rufous flash in the primaries in flight are diagnostic points in separating this bird from Yellow-billed Cuckoo. As cuckoos are secretive, often only one of these features will be apparent, but for the most part, any one is usually sufficient. However, I have seen juvenile Yellow-billeds that show a completely dark bill. There is at least one documented breeding record of this species for the state, from the Atchafalaya Basin. In addition, a rehabber in Lafayette raised a brood of Black-billeds in a nest that was left on her doorstep. The origin of the nest is unknown.

​Green Violetear*

Although its range extends from Mexico south into South America, the Green Violet-ear has not been recorded as a breeder in the United States. Nonetheless, rarely a year goes by without multiple sightings in widely scattered locales in the eastern U.S, and even Canada. As a vagrant, this species is most expected in the hill country of central Texas. Elsewhere, the species is pretty much a "lottery bird".

​Buff-Bellied Hummingbird

The breeding range of the Buff-Bellied Hummingbird barely reaches the U.S. along the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. However, the wintering range of the species takes in most of the western and northern U.S. Gulf Coast. Along the Gulf Coast in winter, identification is usually not much of a problem. Very few hummers can be mistaken for a Buff-bellied.

​Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Ruby-throats are of course the most common hummers in Louisiana, at least from March to October. They arrive in early March and are mostly gone by the last week of October. A very few overwinter.

​Broad-Tailed Hummingbird

This western species rarely makes it to Louisiana, although the number of wintering birds which have been detected in the state has increased within the past few years. This increase is probably as much a result of an increase in expertise in separating this species from more common hummers by enthusiasts as it is a true increase in numbers.

​Allen's Hummingbird

Allen's Hummingbird is a very rare winterer in Louisiana, although the total number present in any given year is unknown due to their close similarity to Rufous Hummingbird. Points of sexing young Rufous/Allen's hummers and of separating the two species are dealt with under the account of Rufous, but to recap in short, the best diagnostic point in identifying Allen's is the shape and size of their tail feathers. Unfortunately for field birders, measuring and noting these rectrices can only be done in hand, by licensed banders. Also, the size and shape of tail feathers varies with age (immature vs. adult) and with sex. One possible point to look for in immature males, at least throughout mid-winter, is the presence of a rusty patch on the sides of the face, including the lores and the area above the eye. This is illustrated below with in-hand photos (of two of the four immature males banded so far in Lafayette) taken by bander Dave Patton. So far, all four young males banded in Lafayette have shown this feature. Certainly the sample size is minute, and may reflect coincidence, but it might also be due to earlier or more complete molt of this area by Allen's. Immature male Rufous often show rusty color on this same area, but in my experience never so completely as early as December.