Returning Female Rufous Hummingbird
Auburn, Alabama
Ventral view of tail feathers.
A hummingbird has 10 tail feathers called retrices
They are divided into 5 tail feather per side.
The retrices are numbered from the inside out with
retrix 1 (r1) being the two tail feathers in the center
and retrix 5 (r5) being each tail feather on the outside.
SOURCE: Bert Filemyr (www.thefilemyrs.com/Birding/BirdPhotographs/2013Pictures/2013/2013TailMolt/TailMolt.htm
In this bird, R1 through R3 are new feathers (short white pins)
R4 and R% are old feathers still present.
This bird likely began its molt before arriving in Auburn.