Uncommon visitor: Rare hummingbird sightings draw birders from across U.S.

Green-breasted Mango seen at Quinta Mazatlan.

Posted: Wednesday, December 6, 2017 9:28 pm

By DANIEL A. FLORES Staff Writer

McALLEN — Avid birder and author Sheri L. Williamson was lounging in her Bisbee, Arizona, living room this weekend when her husband said the words: “green-breasted mango in McAllen.” 

The re-creation of her response can only be described as a yelp of optimism.

To the hummingbird enthusiast, the phrase represented a chance to check off a rare species from the American Birding Association checklist.

This bird hadn’t been spotted in the United States since 2009. Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center urban ecologist John Brush observed the hummingbird Saturday morning and spread word of the green-breasted mango, eventually reaching Williamson’s husband’s Facebook feed.

Williamson delayed booking her flight, fearing the rare-bird sighting would be a one-off.

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