365Caws is now in its 14th year of publication, and was originally intended to end after 365 days. It has sometimes been difficult for me to find new material, particularly during the winter months, but now as I enter my own twilight years, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to provide daily posts. It is my hope that along the way I may have inspired someone to a greater curiosity about the natural world. If so, I can rest, content in the knowledge that my work here has been done.
Thursday, April 13, 2023
Red's Back!
Day 182: Red's back! Unlike the Anna's, my Rufous Hummingbirds don't over-winter here with very rare and individual exceptions, and thus it was cause for celebration when I spotted Red at the feeder a few days ago. I haven't noticed a female yet, but they resemble Anna's closely enough that I simply may not have been paying attention to whether the breast was grey or just rain-wet. That said, there's no mistaking Red in his rust-coloured coat! They tend to be the dominant species through the summer, often arguing territorial rights with the Anna's, but having a reliable and abundant food supply keeps friction to a minimum. Nevertheless, one famous ornithologist was heard to remark that "a hummingbird's vocabulary consists of 90% swear-words," and although my crowd may not get into serious fights very often, they can certainly turn the air blue with insults!
Labels:
Rufous Hummingbird,
Selasphorus rufus
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