Overview
Rufous Hummingbird: Medium hummingbird, bright rufous-brown overall with white breast and ear patch, red-orange throat, and green shoulders. Rounded tail is rufous with black edges. Some males show green on back and head. Feeds on insects and nectar. Direct and hovering flight with rapid wing beats.
Range and Habitat
Rufous Hummingbird: Breeds from southeastern Alaska, British Columbia, southwestern Alberta, and western Montana south to Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and northern California. Spends winters mainly in Mexico and occurs in small numbers along the Gulf Coast during migration and in winter. Preferred habitats include forests, riparian shrub, lowland stream bottoms, foothill brushlands, coasts, and high-mountain meadows.
Topo Map:
Hummingbird-like Body
Listen to Call
Similar Sounding
Voice Text
"zeee"
Interesting Facts
The Rufous Hummingbird has the longest migration route of all North American hummingbirds.
With sufficient food and shelter, this species has been known to survive in temperatures well below freezing.
This bird has an excellent memory for location. They have been observed investigating where an absent feeder was located the previous year.
A group of hummingbirds has many collective nouns, including a “bouquet", "glittering", "hover", "shimmer", and "tune” of hummingbirds.
Bird Term Glossary
Author
Gary Owen Dick
Artist
Yury Lisyak
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