Rufous hummingbirds have black bills that become smoother in adults. Males appear to be more colorful than females. They can have spots of color, but overall are dull in appearance. There are insufficient data on birth size of these hummingbirds. On average, they are 9.5 cm long with a wingspan of 11.4 cm. Rufous hummingbirds weigh 2.6-5.7 g (average 3.4 g). ( Calder, 1984 Healy and Calder, 2006 Tello-Ramos, et al., 2015) Because these areas are more desert-like, they are dryer and therefore do not provide adequate food supply. In their migratory journey, these hummingbirds spend most of their time in the southwest of the US. Throughout their range, rufous hummingbirds live at elevations of 1830m to 3000m. The urban areas of Washington state and British Columbia offer include suitable habitats at high elevations and seasonally cool environments.ĭuring the winter, rufous hummingbirds migrate to warmer locales in Mexico’s and southern California’s mountainous and woodland regions. Typical areas for these hummingbirds are plentiful with an abundance of green plants. In the breeding season, rufous hummingbirds inhabit terrestrial habitats such as meadows, parks, orchards, coniferous forests, chaparral and gardens. ( Healy and Calder, 2006 Supp, et al., 2015)
By March, they travel northward along the coast of California to reach Washington again by the end of April. These birds remain there until late February or early March. This range is roughly 200 km along the Pacific northwestern coast of North America.ĭuring winter migration (July-early September), the hummingbirds travel southward through the western US to reach southern California and nearly all Mexico (except the southern peninsula). The hummingbirds’ range includes Washington state in the United States northward to British Columbia, Canada. The breeding season lasts from April to July. Rufous hummingbirds travel in a loop pattern when migrating, rather than a linear pathway. Migratory distances average 2,700 km, but can be as long as 4,000 km. They will frequent hummingbird feeders that are kept clean and fresh.Rufous hummingbirds ( Selasphorus rufus) are migratory birds that inhabit the Nearctic region. Like other hummingbirds, they do not form pair bonds, so males do not participate in nest building or caring for the young.įOOD: Rufous Hummingbirds feed on floral nectar and small insects. NESTING HABITS: This species begins nesting in March. At the end of the male’s display dive, a stuttering ch-ch-ch-ch-chi sound is diagnostic for this species.
Rufous hummingbird series#
The display is a series of J-shaped dives, all starting at different points but ending at the same point. Males make display flights to attract a female or intimidate intruders. Females and juveniles do not create this sound.
In flight, the wings of adult males produce a metallic trill. Juveniles resemble adult females, but with little or no markings on the throat. The three outer sets of tail feathers have white tips. Tail feathers are rufous at the base, then green and/or black. The underparts are white with pale buffy-orange sides. Throat is whitish with dark spots and a concentration of orange-red spots in the center. Female: Females are a dull bronze-green above, with very limited rufous on the rump. The tail feathers are rufous with black tips. The breast is white, while the belly and sides are rufous. The gorget (the reflective feathers on the throat) is coppery-red, often with a greenish sheen. Male: Males are rusty-orange overall, with green on the crown, and variable amounts of green on the back of some individuals. This species uses a broad range of habitats, including mature forest, open woodland, meadow, and residential areas.ĭESCRIPTION: Rufous Hummingbirds are small, yet very aggressive, often chasing other species away from food sources. They arrive in Oregon in March, usually when Red-flowering Currants are in bloom, and leave in September for their winter range in Mexico and along the Gulf Coast.
Rufous Hummingbirds (Selasphorus rufus) range farther north than any other hummingbird, breeding as far north as southeastern Alaska. In March we welcome Rufous Hummingbirds, who fly up to 3,000 miles from their wintering grounds to join us in the northwest.
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