Wow. Bird sighting. I stepped out on my terrace to see the progress of my pattipans, tomatoes and the rest, and I heard a loud buzzing. I thought "this must be a very big bug!" It was a hummingbird. but unlike the ruby-throated we have around here, it was black (or very dark) and with white markings at the throat and lower body.

I only saw it for half a second or so, then it flew away, so I could be wrong, but I definitely saw no red at its throat. It looked kinda like this one;

Inca à collier - Coeligena torquata - Collared Inca

but then it would be thousands of kilometres away from "home"...

I am trying to see if there are cases of melanism in hummingbirds...

(Hm. It may have been a female ruby-throated hummingbird, which would make. lot more sense.)

Ah... Here: Colibri à gorge rubis "Depending on the lighting, the ruby throat may appear black." That would be it, then. So not so rare a sighting, but still fun!

Very cool! I love hummingbirds.