In the backyard... Rufous Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird, Forest Grove, Oregon on 21 April 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

The Rufous Hummingbird is common throughout the Pacific NW. Males first arrive along the southern Oregon coast in early February and reach Portland and the northern Oregon coast about the first of March. From then on through April reports increase northward, east of the Cascades, and into the mountains. Males arrive about two weeks earlier than females and set up a feeding territory that they defend vigorously against all other hummingbirds.

When the females arrive, they mate and then set up a separate nesting territory. Females take care of all nesting, incubation, and feeding duties.

Interestingly, Rufous Hummingbirds breed as far south as SW Oregon, but apparently not (or rarely) into northern California. Brookings, on the southern Oregon coast, seems to be the dividing line between breeding Rufous Hummingbirds to the north and Allen's Hummingbirds to the south.

Male Rufous Hummingbirds are cinnamon-colored with bright reddish-orange throats (see photo above). Some males also have green backs--thus appearing as Allen's Hummingbirds. Female Rufous Hummingbirds have green backs and lack the colorful throat, and are nearly identical to female Allen's Hummingbirds. In both cases, narrower tail feathers in the Allen's can separate them in-hand or with close-up photos at just the right angle.

Rufous Hummingbirds are most common in moist Coast Range forests and the west slope of the Cascades. They are found in other moist forests , riparian areas, and in towns throughout the Pacific NW. They feed on flower nectar and insects.

After mating, males generally depart into the mountains and start heading south to Mexico for the "winter." It is unusual to see adult male Rufous Hummingbirds in the breeding areas much beyond the first half of July. Females start migrating south in August and it is mostly immatures that are present in the Pacific NW from mid summer to the first week of October.

For instructions on making hummingbird nectar to attract them to your yard, and debunk some myths, see: Bird feeding... Hummingbirds that appeared here back in April 2009.

West of the Cascades, and in some towns just east of the Cascade crest, from Vancouver, British Columbia, southward, the Anna's Hummingbirds are found year-round.

NW Birding blogs

Rufous Hummingbird, Forest Grove, Oregon on 16 April 2010, by Greg Gillson.

 

It has been 9 months since I last wrote a birding carnival--a peek at the various topics that birding bloggers in the Pacific NW are writing about.

As always, I am especially interested in good photography, interesting topics, and accurate and educational information.

Dave Irons wrote about refractive colors on birds on the BirdFellow blog: When Black is Green: Iridescence on Common Loons

Mike Patterson's North Coast Diaries discusses the migratory races of Ruby-crowned Kinglets passing through right now in: Two kinds of kinglets

On Rich Ditch's Photography Blog, Rich explains how he uses his vehicle as a birding blind in How I did it.

John Rakestraw took us birding in Tillamook Bay, Oregon, in Three Graces Tidal Area. I've only known those rocks as "Harlequin Duck Rocks."

Lee Rentz takes us exploring in the Bodie Hills of California. No birds, but great scenic photography of a little-known place in his post titled: Shhhh … Don’t tell anyone about this leaked federal document!.

The Northwest Nature Nut takes us Down the Garden Path at Bishop's Close Gardens.

The Backyard Bird Shop discusses The Hazards of Migration and what we can do about it in our own backyards.

The Portland Oregon Backyard Birds blog visited Commonwealth Park in Beaverton.

John E. Riutta reviews the new iBird Yard, the digital field guide for the iPad.

In an inexplicable range expansion east of Portland, Andy Frank photographed the first Multnomah County, Oregon Wrentit.

Another County Birding Record, Charles Swift photographed a Latah Co. Long-billed Curlew near Moscow, Idaho on his BirdaPalousa Blog.

Spring has arrived in Seattle, and the Nature Geek Northwest (aka Fiona) photographed some spring flowers. And I even recognize some of them! Her post is Now blooming in Oak Bay Native Plant Garden.

Robert Mortenson, the Idaho Birder, gives us some Swainson's Hawk ID tips.

Bill Schiess' Wild in Idaho gives a personal look at a bird I've never seen, in his post Sharp-tailed Grouse are at it again.

Rhett is Bound to Bird with American Bitterns as his target species at Ridgefield NWR, Washington in his post Sunshine and Life Birds.

Up in Vancouver, British Columbia, the White-crowned Sparrows have arrived and Rick Wright of Aimophila Adventures blogs about their songs.