Is it a female or an immature? Did the bander catch and band it?

What is the black on the feeder? Something to keep it from freezing?

Yes female and that is some kind of heat tape or cable around that feeder. The Jacksons had two feeders out the other feeder had a heat lamp on it to keep it warm but the bird never went to it while I was there. The bird would go to a large pear tree in the backyard then to the feeder every 20 minutes. It was a fun time something I had never had part of before. Im adding an in depth article for anyone interested.

heres a shot of it in the pear tree

Here is a link that might be useful: indiana state record calliope

hi steve, that is so cool;nice pics;fyi; some one northwest of me had a hummer till jan.6 ; they even had it on our local news. pete

Pete

Thanks, yeah it takes a keen eye or an experienced bander to notice the difference in this area that it is not a rubythroat. Being female it is very similar to the rubythroat female but it is smaller than a RT. But the fact this bird has been staying at the jacksons since august says something right off the bat. Im glad I took the time to go down to north vernon, maybe a once in a lifetime event.

Steve