Hummers three

 

We are a few weeks into the hummingbird season. It started slowly with the arrival of male Rufous Hummingbirds. Then some female Rufous arrived. Now are added the Calliope and Black-chinned. Sometimes they share a feeder, sometimes they fight to dominate access to what is actually a plentiful resource. 

This is a week-old view of a male Rufous when it had the feeders all to itself.

The male rufous hummers spar over feeder access.

Female Rufous hummers have arrived.

An occasional Black-chinned Hummingbird visits.

Our smallest hummingbird, the Calliope, comes often and seems to go unchallenged by Rufous.

My most spectacular shot of the morning was of a male Rufous Hummingbird that was attacking another hummer from above. Its two notched tail feathers are clearly visible.

 

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9 Responses to Hummers three

  1. Beth Hillard says:

    These photos are stunning! Seeing the different species so closely is wonderful. Thank you!

  2. Allan Hobden says:

    Last pic stunning! Wow.

  3. Della C. Fenkner says:

    Thank you for your consummate skill in bringing us close to
    these exquisite little creatures. Such a treat.

  4. Dawn Cooper says:

    I did not know that we had the Black-chinned hummers. Are they just passing through, or do some stay for the summer?

    • Alistair says:

      Dawn, we regularly get three species of hummingbird for the duration of the warm months: rufous, calliope, black-chinned. And sometimes we get Anna’s.

  5. Judy Brown says:

    Amazing photos! Thanks for sharing!

  6. Vicki says:

    Here in the Little Slocan valley, I saw for the first time ever, a Black-chinned, last summer, and again yesterday at the magnolia tree. I also saw my first Ruffous a couple of times. The Calliope has been constant over the years.

    The Ruffous approached some cut flowers I was holding , and I could feel the wings fanning my hand and hear them clear and loud. He then darted up to my face, and quickly away. I was in heaven.

  7. Cathy Walker says:

    Fantastic shots and commentary. Thanks for sharing through the email list of the White Rock Surrey Naturalists. I will share them in turn with my grandchildren in Ontario. They will be thrilled to see these photos.

  8. Carl Smith says:

    Absolutely amazing photographs Alistair

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