Subspecies probably pinicola. Was foraging eagerly together with both Broad-billed and Violet-crowned Hummingbirds. These in much larger numbers though.
Probably adult with molting tail. Central pair missing. A large and long-billed hummingbird, and in the area practically unmistakable, though seen from this angle it is less obvious. The white on the tips of the outer rectrices is normally restricted to the inner web, but apparently variable on the outer one. Interesting to see how the shape of the inner ones change with the white wearing away.
Difficult appearance sitting here in the dim light looking all gray and anonymous, almost like a Blue-throated Mountain-gem. But the central whitish line down the belly the longish bill and the apparently lack of very broad white tips to the outer tail feathers make a concluding difference.
The brownish gray appearance seen here is very natural and what you will normally perceive in the field. Long broad wings reaching past the tail and the long black bill are also good indications of this species.
The light cheats somewhat making it look more cold gray than it normally is. It's a good pose, emphasizing what you often perceive in the field: A long thin neck, with a blobbing head ending in a long straight bill.
Seeing the bird like this it could resemble an Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem, but several things exclude that option: Too much white in the outer tail feather, too cold basic color and the posterior vertical white patch on the head is normally stronger than the one in front on the mountain-gem. And taking location into consideration it would be unlikely to see the mountain-gem here at the ranch.
The diffuse whitish patch on the back is diagnostic in this part of the country, and the id well-supported by the long black bill and the grayish brown plumage.
Another gray pose, still with the long black bill, the white mustache, whitish belly line and a fair amount of white on the outer tail feather. Many different birds came to the feeders this day...
A good study of this species. In front: Very large white tips to the outer tail feather (which is a variable feature, see 3119), dark centered under tail coverts, whitish line down belly and the strong white mustache surrounding the throat patch.
From the side the classic head pattern and the long black bill.
From the back the diagnostic whitish patch on the back and the gray brown plumage with a strong greenish cast to it. 5 pairs of rectrices, the center pair without white tip.
Yet another variant of white to the outer tail feather. Here bleeding up along the shaft on the outside. And also, the characteristic mentioned by both Neotropic Cornell and Howell, that rectrices 2-4 normally show black to the tip of the outer web does not apply here.
Tail study. Neotropic Cornell as well as Howell mention that the outer tail feather only shows white on the inner web of the tip, which my photos of the species this day, including this one, clearly show is not always the case. On this bird, however, it does this pattern does apply to the other tail feathers, except for the central ones which appear to always be dark-tipped.
A very drab looking bird. Probably a young one. Looks like the white on the tail tips has been worn completely off which is more expected to happen on young birds with the plumage quality normally being poor.
A bird with a very large white tip to the tail, giving associations toward Blue-throated Mountain-gem. The rest of the bird, however, is perfect for the species.
Flight study. Again the tail pattern is a good way to identify individual birds. This one also showing what appears to be close to what could be called the normal pattern with all white tip to outer rectrice and only white on the inner tip on rectrice 2-4.
Another classic looking bird. Especially the head with the strong mustache separated from the vertical white patch behind the eye by a broad dark elongated cheek patch is common. Apparently an individual with more white at tail tip than 'usual'.