Saturday, April 18, 2015

The Feisty and Colorful Rufous Hummingbird

It's only April, and I've been seeing the Rufous hummingbird here in Oregon since March.   These colorful tiny hummingbirds are enjoyable to watch, and don't mind buzzing around you to get where they are going!
 
 
Rufous Hummingbird
 
The Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) is the most common hummingbird found in Oregon, and are one of the smallest and the most aggressive hummingbirds in all of North America.  They will stand up to birds many times their size.  They also migrate further than any of the other hummingbirds, sometimes as far as 2000 miles.
 
Male Rufous Hummingbird
 
 

Males have a rusty colored crown. The more common males have a orange colored back, but a small percentage do have a green back. Their tails are orange with black tips.
 
 
Male Rufous Hummingbird
 
 
Female Rufous Hummingbird
 
 
The females are just a little bit larger than the male, and their head and back are green in color.  Their belly is mostly white with some green. Their gorget (throat) is a whitish color, which may have some orange/red in the middle. The female tail has a mix of rust at the base of the tail, dark in the center, and white tips on the outer feathers.
 
 
Female Rufous Hummingbird



In certain lighting, these aggressive little birds glow!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Their wings do not reach their tail when perched.
 
Juveniles look like the females, but without as much bright colors.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Happy Bird Watching!
 

Monday, April 13, 2015

Around My Yard: In March

It amazes me how each month brings something a little different.   With Spring finally here, we see the flowers starting to pop, new birds coming to the area, and I love being outside!
Male House Sparrow
Female House Sparrow
Jack taking a walk with me around the property on one of many beautiful evenings this month.
  
Honey Bee



White-crowned Sparrow
There are frogs everywhere on the property, but this guy was spotted at the wetlands nearby.
        I had to include the visit from this little cutie too.