Male hummingbirds begin their courtship rituals in the spring shortly after females arrive.

 Ken Bosso

"We have had a huge influx of hummingbirds buzzing about our bottle brush trees, feeding, and displaying mating dives."
04/13/15 Arroyo Grande, California

Courtship is a dramatic time for hummingbirds. Both males and females are following instincts telling them it is time to breed. Males start by puffing out the gorget to flash iridescence in the sunlight, then engaging in specialized flight behavior to attract a female.

Ruby-throats Reach 43°N
Hungry Ruby-throats arrived this week in Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, and Massachusetts.

"Hummer came streaking in from the south. May be more than one...not sure."
04/19/15 Cohasset, Massachusetts

Rufous Continuing East
Rufous are holding steady at 58°N in Alaska. At lower latitudes they're moving east into Montana following a migration pattern typical for late April.

Western Species Highlights
A variety of western hummingbird species have arrived in higher elevations this week—

"This morning we have cold weather and snow, and a Broad-tailed stayed put at the feeder, probably since it's a bit sheltered."
04/15/15 Castle Rock, Colorado

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