H - Hummingbirds

For the past few years we've kept a hummingbird feeder outside our kitchen window and we now have resident hummingbirds in our plum tree.  It's wonderful to see them dipping their long beaks into the syrup in the feeder.  In winter the Anna's hummingbirds live here but this spring they've been supplanted by another type, the Rufous Hummingbirds.

Here's the female taking a little rest between dipping her beak in the feeder.  You can see a little bit of greenish iridescence on her back.  She's a fat little thing and that's good because she's nesting now, I think. 

This afternoon when we were up on a ladder moving the fairy lights around for our Easter celebration we heard the loudest warning call and saw the her hovering above us.  Needless to say we quickly decamped.

Here's the male Rufous.  He's smaller and instead of perching on the feeder, he hovers as he sups.  The other day as he was eating the female chased him away.  

These birds migrate over 2,000 miles to winter in the Mexican state of Guerrero -- quite a trip for a tiny bird weighing only a couple of ounces!  Just look at the beautiful iridescence on his neck!

The Rufus male has a distinctive S-curve to his body as he feeds.  Here you see him with his beak buried in the feeder.  And his little claws curled up underneath him. So cute!

I can't tell you how happy these avian visitors make me!