Rufous Hummingbird

Description:

Brown and green upper parts with some white. Some iridescent green and orange feathers in the center of the throat, and along her back. A dark tail with white tips and rufous base.

Habitat:

Spruce and Willow bushes. Tons of wildlflowers and tiny annoying bugs around here.

Notes:

I admit it, I've never seen a hummingbird in my lifetime until I came here to Chenega Bay. By the way, they are very hard to capture a decent photo of. I finally caught this one sitting on a branch outside my living room window yesterday evening. I was amazed she sat there long enough to grab my camera from 15 feet away. I got about 15 shots off before she took off way too fast for me to get it in flight. I'm seriously doubting the capability of my lens to do this tiny bird any justice. After a quick google search I learned that this bird is called a Rufous Hummingbird and is the northernmost known hummingbird species. Several years ago a year old Rufous was banded in Tallahasee, FL during winter then was caught 6 months later here in Chenega Bay, marking a 3,530 mile migration! Thats pretty impressive for any bird none the less this little girl.