the bird died yesterday, the finders reporting that it smelled like creosote (a wood stain) and had white feathers beneath the black feathers. all we're left with are viral photos of a distressed bird and another obvious example showing that clout is in no way correlated with knowledge.

but photographers instead promoted the idea that the bird was melanistic—black due to a genetic mutation—and made viral post after viral post highlighting the bird's rarity. they also asserted that, although preening constantly and allowing for close approach, the bird was acting normally.

amazing, congrats!!!

in florida they just hang out in suburban parking lots apparently!

having seen rainbow starfrontlet in person i am going to go with that one. they are beastly hummingbirds in every sense of the word

that's crazy!!!

it was a vagrant to suffolk county, new york! seen by lots of birders here

woof, the fourth record, my bad!

exactly