SO LONG, MR. RUBY-THROAT!

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SO LONG, MR. RUBY-THROAT!

I knew summer was waning for certain when I awakened this morning, took my morning coffee to the deck and found female Ruby-throated Hummingbirds doing sentry duty at the feeders.

All summer it's the male hummers who have guarded the backyard food sources with a vengeance. From several good perches in a nearby smoke-bush and crab-apple, the Ruby-throated Boys surveyed their domain and woe to any other - male or female - who ventured too close! Demonstrating several types of aerial antics, including dive displays, tail-spreading and vertical flights, this territorial behavior often became quite aggressive. My husband and I passed many delightful hours watching and enjoying their acrobatics.

Here in the eastern half of North America, we are normally graced with only Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris), and welcome them back with great joy the last week or so of April. Then in late August to early September the males head south and the females quite enthusiastically take over the perches and give all comers a run for their money. When that happens, I know fall is near and winter not far behind!

Incidentally, if you live in the eastern half of the country, keep your hummingbird identification skills keen. For while it's true the Ruby-throated is the only breeding hummer in the east, several of the western species wander east, especially in the fall. Good Birding!

Cheeps & Chirps!
Marjie

To learn more about bird identification go to:
www.easybirdidentification.com

Posted by Marjie Gemmell