Friday, July 17

waiting for rufous, ruby and Calliope

The hummingbirds come through the Black Hills on their migration back to warmer climates, usually arriving about August 1. In the mean time, we grow fuschias, petunias, morning glory and salvia and wait for the real thing to show up.

To my great surprise, an early traveler showed up on Tuesday evening! A feisty little male broad-tailed hummingbird has taken possession of the backyard and the feeders. He seems to think chickadees and violet-green swallows are a threat to
his feeders. The distinctive "trilling" sound from his wings is diagnostic for identification, kind of like having a demented cricket zooming around the yard, you can hear him even inside the house! If he will co-operate, I will get his picture, in the meantime, I have borrowed one from www.birdzilla.com. Isn't he gorgeous!
http://www.birdzilla.com/images/stories/hummingbirds/broad-tailed-hummingbird.jpg

3 comments:

Becka said...

Oh how cool! You must be having so much fun watching him!

Jann said...

Thanks for the info..I've never seen hummingbirds here, will have to get a feeder.

Caroline said...

Jann E.
Folks in Sturgis and Whitewood have had male rufous for a week or so. Usually I get the females or young of the year here, they stay around for about a month or so and then move on. I have had all 4 of the mentioned species at least once, most commonly it is the rufous.