Recently for a 2-to-3 day period we had a Rufous Hummingbird in New Brunswick. That is a rare event, this species occuring only accidentally in this province. Previously, one occurred in Grand Manan in 1993 and another in 2005 in Shippagan. The one in Shippagan stayed for several days giving many birders a chance to see it. Fortunately the recent visitor arrived at a feeder where it was recognized as rare. The hosts made the event known among the birding community and several people went to see it. Some of the photos in this blog (Ron Wilson Photos) are from one such viewer.
Rufous Hummingbirds (Selasphorus rufus) is a common hummingbird species in western North America where it spends its summers on breeding range as far north as southeastern Alaska. If it accidentally occurs in the east, it is most often in fall and winter. It winters in the extreme southeastern US and Mexico. It prefers riparian habitats, forests, shrub and brush areas, coastland and high mountain meadows. Rufous Hummingbirds feed mostly on nectar, sap from sapsucker wells, insects and spiders. It consumes up to 3 times its body weight daily. No wonder it is difficult to keep hummingbird feeders full! This species is hardy. It can survive temperatures below freezing as long as it gets sufficient food and good shelter.
The Rufous Hummingbird is a small, compact hummingbird. It is 8-9 cm long (3.2-3.7 inches). It can be a difficult species to identify especially if the individual is female or immature. The male is relatively easy to identify. He is bright rufous with a white breast and ear patch. He has a red-orange throat which shimmers in light and he sometimes has green shoulders. His rounded tail is rufous with black edges. He may have green on the back and head. The photos above show the male plumage.
The female is another story. She has green upperparts, rufous sides and undertail, and a white breast and belly. Her throat is mottled light gray with an orange central spot. Her tail is rufous, black and green with white on the outer tail feather tips. The juveniles resemble the females.
The Rufous Hummingbird is known for its dive displays. The males climb up to 10 metres (30 feet) to a starting point from which they make a 'J'-shaped dive emitting a buzzing sound. When the flight levels out they do a fancy fluttering and then climb to repeat the spectacle. Ornithologists have shown that the females have longer wings than the males. This allows the males to beat their wings faster than females giving them a better ability to chase away other birds from their territory. This unfortunately is used against the females as well. The males chase the females away from the best food sources which they keep for themselves. The females then need to fly farther to gather food for their young. Apparently this is compensated for by the longer wing and thus an easier, less metabolic-draining flight.
There are 3 Selasphorus hummingbird species; Rufous, Broad-tailed, Allen's Hummingbirds. Rufous females and juveniles are difficult to differentiate from the Allen's Hummingbird. They can be safely distinguished only in the hand. Identification involves rectrices' width and taper with respect to age as well as other features.
I was lucky to see a female Rufous Hummingbird one time on Vancouver Island. I was walking on a raised gravel path about 2 metres above ground level with large softwood trees on the sides. I looked sideways and there on one of the wide softwood branches just below my eye level was a very small nest with a hummingbird sitting on it, a Rufous Hummingbird. It was a female in the daze that sitting birds get into while incubating eggs. She did not even see me and I watched her secretly for a few minutes before I had to move on. That was a special moment!
No description of a species is complete without a few interesting facts. The Rufous Hummingbird has the longest migration route of all North American hummingbirds. The one that appeared here certainly had a long flight! This species has such a good memory it returns to the exact location of last year's feeders seeking food for the new season. A good reason to fill your feeders every year.
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