Species · GBIF taxon 2476855
Rufous Hummingbird
Selasphorus rufusAlso known as Rufous-backed Hummingbird, Red Hummingbird
Rufous hummingbirds are fiercely territorial dynamos, known to aggressively defend nectar sources from much larger birds and even bees. These tiny migrants travel thousands of miles annually in an immense clockwise loop across western North America, breeding as far north as Alaska and wintering in Mexico. Males display a brilliant, glowing orange-red throat gorget and a rich copper-colored back, while females show green backs with rufous-washed flanks.
MigratoryTerritorialNectar-feeding
Licensed referenceVJAnderson / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
- diet
- Flower nectar, tree sap, and small insects
- family
- Trochilidae
- threats
- Habitat loss, climate change shifting bloom times, and pesticide use
- life Span
- 3 to 5 years
NT
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Listed as Near Threatened due to rapid population declines linked to habitat loss and climate-induced mismatches in flower bloom times.
Observe nesting females from a distance of at least ten meters to avoid causing nest abandonment.- Feeder Maintenance: Clean sugar-water feeders every few days to prevent deadly mold growth.
- Native Planting: Grow red tubular flowers like salvias and penstemons to attract them naturally.
- Keep Distance: Avoid approaching active nests to prevent parents from abandoning their eggs.