Hummingbird News: April 22, 2015
By Mary Hosier
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Male hummingbirds begin their courtship rituals in the spring shortly after females arrive.

Male Ruby-throat
 Ken Bosso

Highlights: Courtship Begins
It's been two months now since the first Ruby-throated hummingbirds arrived along the Gulf Coast states. In some places courtship is now underway.

"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

Rufous males
Courtship Shuttle
Christopher Clark
 
Rufous males
Courtship Sounds
Christopher Clark
 
Ruby-throated
Early Birds
Riona Nally
Spotlight: Hummingbird Waystations
Plant a garden with nectar-rich flowers to help support hummingbirds, monarchs and other butterflies, and bees. Monarch Watch, headquartered at the University of Kansas, sponsors the Monarch Waystation program. The program offers information about how to get started with a garden that will help offset the loss of natural habitat.

Journal page
Tracking Migration: Maps
Hummingbird Migration: What to Report

Hummingbird Migration Map: Ruby-throated Hummingbird Hummingbird Migration Map: Rufous Hummingbird
What to Report Ruby-throated
map | animation | sightings
Rufous
map | animation | sightings
tnail of other species map Hummingbird Migration Map: Other Observations nectaring map
Other Species
map | animation | sightings
Other Observations
map | list
Nectaring
map | list
 
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Next Update April 29, 2015