While attending a hummingbird banding on September 5, 2009 in Killen, AL- someone at the event informed me that there was a Rufous Hummingbird hanging around the site. That was exciting news to me- Rufous Hummingbirds are not very common in Alabama- they are much more common to the western United States.
While at the banding, kids (and adults) were allowed to hold a hummingbird after each hummingbird had been weighed and banded. A reporter from the Florence, AL Times Daily newspaper was also at the banding and wrote a nice article about it. A photo of my son, Sven, was also featured in the article. Here is a link to the account: http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20090906/ARTICLES/909065055
The scientific name of the Rufous Hummingbird is Selasphorus rufus. The website, hummingbirds.net states that the Rufous Hummingbird has the ideal size-to-weight ratio which allows it to "outfly" all other hummingbird species- giving it a big advantage in chasing the other hummers away from the hummingbird feeders. The Rufous Hummingbirds also have the longest migration routes of any of the North American hummingbird species. (source)
4 comments:
I would love to see a Rufous Daniel. Great pictures! Thanks for the links, this is another great post.
Wow! Lovely photos!
Amazing photos, Daniel!!!!
These birds are amazingly fast and incredibly combative. I have seen and heard them smashing into each other while fighting over a feeder and seeing them performing their ariel combats is breathtaking. I wish all of you had an opportunity to see them in action!
If I knew how to post a photo here I would add a few of my favorites taken in CO.
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