Improved methods for color-marking hummingbirds

Individual color-marking is an essential tool for studying the behavior of free-living birds. Hummingbirds represent a particular challenge for traditional avian color-marking techniques because of their small size and short tarsi. Although several techniques have been successfully used, the retention time of color-markers and their safety and ease of construction could be improved. I developed two new color-marking techniques for marking Little Hermits (Phaethornis longuemareus): (1) a plastic back tag constructed by fusing colored beads, and (2) a leg tag attached to a metal band fitted around the tarsus. Both tag designs were visible in field conditions, and neither appeared to adversely affect behavior. Both back and leg tags had high retention rates within seasons, but back tags had a poor retention rate between years. Although these marking techniques were designed for use on one species of hummingbird, they would likely also be useful with other species of hummingbirds.