This just in...there is a Rufous Humingbird coming to a feeder in Westmoreland, NH. This unusual occurence was reported to the NHBirds listserve, spreading the news. To see a photo of the NH bird, click here.The Rufous Hummingbird is a western hummingbird who's breeding range goes as far up as Alaska. Over about the past decade this little hummer has extended its wintering range to include the Southeast and, increasingly, this hummer is showing up in fall in many places in the eastern half of the country. Theories as to why that is range from the increasing number of people putting out hummingbird feeders, to variations in the hummer's internal compass. We once had a Rufous Hummingbird show up at our feeder in Oct. a number of years ago when we lived in MA. If you live in the East and have any hummingbirds with rufous on them coming to your feeders, report it to your local bird or nature organization.
1 comment:
That certainly is exciting news; especially since the East Coast only gets the Ruby Throated. This past spring was the first time I ever saw (in a fleeting moment) a rufous visit my orange tree in my back yard here in San Jose, on his migration to the Pacific Northwest.
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