A Few New Mexico Birds: Apodiformes

 Apodidae: White-Throated Swift (Aeronautes saxatalis)

White-throated swift, Aeronautes saxatalis, New Mexico

 

My hat is off to anyone who has captured a decent photo of a white-throated swift. I created a short video of them, mainly so you can hear the noise they make. Click on the image to the left to watch the video.

 

Trochilidae: Black-Chinned Hummingbird (Archilocus alexandri)

Once spring arrives, these are the hummingbirds in Albuquerque. For males, the purple band at the base of the throat clinches the species ID. That's assuming that the light catches those feathers just right. Otherwise, the male's throat looks all black.

 

Trochilidae: Broad-Tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus)

Broad-tailed hummingbirds breed in New Mexico but up in the mountains. I have seen the males with their bright red throats, but so far only one has posed for my camera—in such low light that its throad, which normally iredesces red, looked black. In a couple of pictures, you can see a bit of the coloration under the tail.

 

Trochilidae: Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)

Just passin' through on their way south.