Birds and Nature

This is an immature Rufous Hummingbird that stays in my neighborhood and feeds daily on pollinator plants in my yard. All the hummers really like this Sunset Agastache rupestris (Licorice Mint Hyssop) that has trumpet shaped flowers.  In the top pic this hummer was perched on a leaf on the Agastache plant then just leaned over to sip the nectar from flowers nearby.

Like many species of birds, female hummingbirds are not as colorful as their male partners. However, female Rufous Hummingbirds like the one in this pic are still colorful with cinnamon/rufous feathers on their underparts. This female was one of several Rufous Hummingbird's feeding at my friend Connie's feeders. SeEtta

Today several of us had lunch at our friend's, Connie, home in the Royal Gorge area. Sitting by a picture window, we had front row seats at the hummingbird feeders. This very brightly colored adult male Rufous was definitely the star of the show. My friend reported that all the hummingbird species coming to her feeders, Rufous, Black-chinned and Broad-tailed, were feeding together. This is unusual since when the Rufous Hummingbirds arrive they aggressively defend feeders from other hummingbirds, even of their own species. It is exceptionally dry in the area with few wildflowers for them to feed on so this may be the reason they are sharing the feeders. However, while I was there the male Rufous chased other hummingbirds away several times though it didn't try to hog both feeders. Double-click on the pics for super close-up views. SeEtta