New bird species for Iowa seen in Des Moines

A new bird species will soon be added to Iowa's current state total of 422 birds.

Sunday, about an hour before sunset, an Anna's Hummingbird appeared at a hummingbird feeder in the back yard of Aaron Brees of Des Moines. The bird has stayed in the area through Tuesday and has been seen by many, as word about the rarity spread.

Brees, an experienced “birder” (birding slang for serious birdwatcher), recognized the bird as an Iowa rarity and photographed it  for documentation for the Iowa Ornithologists' Union records committee. See his photos of the bird here.

Anna's Hummingbirds are common in the western United States but not east of the Rocky Mountains (see range map here). The common hummingbird seen in Iowa from late spring to early fall is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. One distinguishing feature between the two types of hummingbirds is the color of the gorget  -- the Ruby-throated has a bright ruby-red gorget, from which it gets its name, and the Anna's has a bright rosy-red gorget, often appearing as bright pink in certain lighting.

The photos taken by Brees show the rosy gorget flashing while the Anna's is at the feeder.

Below are more links to photos taken of this state-record bird on Monday.

Photo by Reid Allen of West Des Moines: http://www.pbase.com/image/129972169

Photo by Jim Scheib of Iowa City: http://www.icbirds.org/photos/annashbiowa00920em2.jpg

Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds  have migrated out of Iowa by late September or early October so any late fall sighting of a hummingbird should be checked carefully as a potential rare bird.