Fairly numerous and seen in the western parts of the continent from Texas to Washington. Migrates south from the northern states, western Canada and southern Alaska where it spend the breeding season to the Gulf Coast and into Mexico for wintering.

Wide spread from mountain meadow to lowland gardens.

The adult male has a white breast, has rufous face, flanks and tail and has an iridescent orange-red throat patch or gorget. Some males have some green on their back and their crown. The female has green, white, some iridescent orange feathers in the center of the throat, and a dark tail with white tips and rufous base.

The rufous hummingbird is a small hummingbird up about 3.5 inches long. The rufous has a straight slender bill and is dark in color. These birds are known for their extraordinary flight skills, especially in that they fly some 2000 miles during their migratory journey. The rufous is one of the seven species in the genus Selasphorus.

Rufous hummingbirds feeds on nectar from flowers and also catches small insects on the wing. These hummingbirds require frequent feeding while active during the day but become torpid at night to conserve energy

Awake this morning to a comfortable temperature, rise, open the jammer and begin preparing my morning meal, a cup of hot coffee, cup of tea and a cup of Daystart, which does not take long to make. Right away, the Rufous hummingbirds that had showed up yesterday, return for some breakfast. I work at taking a few photos, but the light and the angle do not make for good photos. Still, I get a few new photos for the gallery.

Another cold night, awaking to a cold morning, dress in my winter blues, turn on the jammer engine and turn on the computer to begin my journal entry for today while I warm up. Then, at seven, I turn off the jammer engine, open the sliding door to get out and make a cup of hot and a cup of Daystart and to my surprise, it has begun snowing. I continue to the rear or the jammer, open the lift hatch, get under the cover and begin breakfast as the temperature quickly drops to freezing. I watch the snowfall and before I finish boiling water, the ground is white.

Right before nine, I hear the rufous flying just over my head returning to the feeders, so I grab my camera to take a few photos. As I walk up to them, they do not flee me like when they first began coming to feed. They have gotten so accustomed to me walking up to the feeders methinks they now let me know they are coming in to feed. Gordon put out the feeders and I have really been enjoying these bird because they buzz me early in the morning every time the fly into camp.

I sleep in today, at least until seven and upon arising notice an eastern sky fraught with clouds. I go inside to make coffee and work on my journal. Also, I set up the bird feeders for some photos and while standing at the kitchen window at nine making my third cup see a humming bird stop briefly, looking to eat.

As he stops, he turns to look at me in the window and then a moment later he is gone.

Since the temperature has dropped to below freezing each morning, it would be a good time to set up the feeders for some bird photography.

Also, many more different bird begin coming to my feeders including: juncos, chickadees, sparrows, a hairy woodpecker and soon after a male starling.