Post by Gord on Jan 14, 2020 20:49:42 GMT -8
I had a report of a male Rufous Hummingbird at a feeder in Abbotsford. He sounds like quite the character and he's holding his own quite well with the Anna's.
As to why there's the odd report of a migratory hummingbird in the winter, I suspect it's because the bird is/was slightly injured (doesn't seem to be the case in this guy) or just was confused as to which direction to fly in migration. This happens in many migratory species and sometimes results in birds popping up far far from home. I do not believe it's because people have left hummingbird feeders out that prevents them from migrating. There are still many flowering plants in bloom when Rufous Hummingbirds leave for warmer climes. I think one of the reasons these wayward hummers are actually seen is because of the feeders available for the Anna's which also sustain a lost hummingbird. Otherwise, these lost or injured Rufous Hummingbirds would succumb quite quickly once conditions worsen and likely not be detected. Here's to this bird surviving and getting better oriented for next migration.
As to why there's the odd report of a migratory hummingbird in the winter, I suspect it's because the bird is/was slightly injured (doesn't seem to be the case in this guy) or just was confused as to which direction to fly in migration. This happens in many migratory species and sometimes results in birds popping up far far from home. I do not believe it's because people have left hummingbird feeders out that prevents them from migrating. There are still many flowering plants in bloom when Rufous Hummingbirds leave for warmer climes. I think one of the reasons these wayward hummers are actually seen is because of the feeders available for the Anna's which also sustain a lost hummingbird. Otherwise, these lost or injured Rufous Hummingbirds would succumb quite quickly once conditions worsen and likely not be detected. Here's to this bird surviving and getting better oriented for next migration.