Summer resident or early migrant?

[Fred Lebsack]

After enjoying a leisurely drive up Poudre Canyon (CO 14) Tuesday (7/22) afternoon, I was sitting on the deck at Mishawaka watching the Broad-tailed Hummingbirds at the feeders and the river rafters on the water while sipping a soft drink. Much to my surprise an adult male Rufous Hummingbird showed up. He of course ran off any other hummers at the feeder he wanted to use and was around for the 30 to 45 minutes I was there.

[Gary Lefko]

On-time migrant. Gary

[Fred Lebsack]

Thanks, Gary. Fred

[Beverly]

I've had Broad-tails and Black-chinned Hummingbirds since early June...and these days have them plus the Rufus and Calliope Hummers by the droves. Was it Birdchick who asked if there is a Hummingbird shortage this year? Not in Southern Colorado, it seems; they're thick here!

Lots of juveniles... it must have been a good year, huh? My pal BosqueBill recommends a book by a local man, Dan True, which includes some good information describing all 16 species of North American hummers and their migration habbits. Other reviews are good, too!

[Beverly]

BTW…if I come off as blasé about who has which hummingbirds; I didn’t mean to. My comments have to do with how odd it seems to me what a few hundred miles makes or that one species might seem in short supply at one place and plentiful in another. I’m sure it has to do with the whole migration thing possibly mixed with weather changes and wind patterns, huh?

[Fred Lebsack]

The Rufous has confirmed breeding status in only a few latilongs in the northwest and the far west parts of WY. A few records exist of summer resident non-breeders and a couple of suspected breeders in a very few others. There are many records of fall migrants around the state. In my 30 or so years of birding in the southeast and primarily Cheyenne areas, I have seen Rufous in fall migration fewer than five times and all were in August. Of course I have seen many more but those were in the Big Horns and other more appropriate summer venues for them. This summer I have expanded my range to include relatively close areas in CO now that I'm retired. Not knowing the status in CO of the Rufous, especially in the mountains, I didn't know whether to expect a migrant or a summer resident. As we all know the mountains make a world of difference in the general north/south distribution of many species, hence my question. Thanks for your reply and the book tip which I'll check out as time allows. Fred

[Beverly]

Fred, I can’t begin to tell you how little I know about migration. I recently confessed to a friend that I knew birds did this, but somehow assumed that meant 50% of their time in the north and 40% of their time in the ‘tropics’…and never considered travel time, time to find mates & build nests, lay clutches of eggs or the time it takes for nestlings to fledge and grow strong enough to fly ‘back’. That these birds accomplish all this and the immatures accompany them home before the snows fly is amazing to me.

My friend Bill talks a bit about migration here: ... and made me realize that when I see hummers in July, it is likely part of their Fall Migration back to South & Central America! Fall in July/August? See; I had no idea! Fascinating!!! He also includes some beautiful photos (and a place to find that book...)

(oh...and I found another site with some great info here, too)

[Gary Lefko]

HUMMINGBIRDS (From Colorado Birding Society)

Green Violet-ear Hummingbird** GVHU Very Rare non-Winter Vagrant
Broad-billed Hummingbird** BBHU Very Rare non-Winter Vagrant
Blue-throated Hummingbird** BLUH Rare non-Winter Vagrant
Magnificent Hummingbird** MAHU Rare non-Winter Vagrant
Ruby-throated Hummingbird** RTHU Rare non-Winter Eastern Plains Visitor
Black-chinned Hummingbird BCHU Common Summer Local Resident
Anna's Hummingbird** ANHU Very Rare non-Winter Vagrant
Costa's Hummingbird** COHU Very Rare non-Winter Vagrant
Calliope Hummingbird** CAHU Uncommon Spring & Fall Migrant
Broad-tailed Hummingbird BTLH Common Spring, Summer, & Fall Resident
Rufous Hummingbird** RUHU Common Spring & Fall Migrant

[Beverly]

Gary, please bear with me here…I do not have answers; I’m trying to figure stuff out, here.

Wouldn’t such statements have to do with WHERE, in a state as large as CO, one happened to be? Seriously, we’re about 5 hours N/S and 8 hours E/W and thousands of feet in altitude in between…there are huge differences in habitat from one place to another. How can such statements be made? It strikes me as odd that only one mention of where, in the state, is mentioned (Rubies).

This reminds me of the debate surrounding what the meaning if ‘is’ is! [smiles] I wonder how great is the difference between ‘rare’ and ‘uncommon’, ‘vagrant’ and ‘visitor’, and what is meant by ‘Local Resident’ as opposed to just ‘Resident’?

The sort of stuff I experienced a couple months ago when someone thought I photographed a female Calliope (in May, was it?) and insisted I report it as a ‘rare sighting’…has left me skeptical, to say the least. I realize I’m showing off my utter lack of understanding, but…so much of what is pronounced fact for one place, seems to me to have little relevance to another place some three to four-hundred miles away. Or…perhaps I’m struggling with gray here; maybe facts like these are not meant to be black and white.

There are times I feel like a total rube...

[Gary Lefko]

Those observations are just general in nature for state--doesn't imply specifics--so, for example, in the right place, at the right time of year you can find Rufous Hummingbirds in Colorado. Gary

[Beverly]

Yeah!

LOL Thanks Gary!

I'll tell ya though...I wanna see a Magnificant Hummer...just for fun. Course, I have other birds I wanna see too: Towhees, Blue Grosbeaks, Yellowthroats and Chats, to name a few. I've not even started on water/shore birds! [sigh] I'm thinking of a drive out east on Saturday...to a little lake or two.