Name That Hummingbird

Sports section features the Rufous Hummingbird…

Adult Male Rufous-Hummingbird (copyright - Joe Burgess - www.wikipedia.edu)

I was doing a bit of research on the little Rufous Hummingbird, and I came across the following item in the Yakima Herald-Republic Outdoor Sports Section.

On the first Tuesday of each month, they feature the Wildlife Moment, featuring native wildlife, with the cooperation of the Yakima Valley Audubon Society.

Rufous hummingbird not afraid to ruffle feathers

July 4, 2011 in YH-R Outdoors  

YAKIMA, Wash. — The rufous hummingbird has a definite behavioral problem. In the parlance of the playground, it clearly needs “a time-out” because, quite simply, it does not play well with others.

When this feisty bird finds an attractive sugar water feeder or clump of flowers, it becomes intensely territorial, chasing off any other hummingbird that dares to approach. It bullies other hummers even if there seems to be plenty of feeders or flowers to go around.

From May through the end of June, the black-chinned hummingbird is the species that nests and breeds at lower elevations in the Yakima Valley and Cascade foothills. The black-chin is a relatively placid hummer and for these two months, life is relatively peaceful. When the first southbound male rufous hummingbirds arrive at the end of June, though, hummer tranquility is replaced by instant warfare. Continue reading →