Our hummingbird feeders have not been visited in over a week, so I think the two species of hummingbirds that are here during the warm months have left.I took the above picture of an immature Rufous Hummingbird back in July. We have two different kinds of hummingbirds that visit our feeders: Rufous, which have brilliant green heads when mature, and Anna's Hummingbirds, which have iridescent red heads and are larger than the Rufous ones.
Anna's Hummingbirds are not truly migratory, even though they don't stay up here during the cold months. They spend the cold months at the coast and in the warmer inland valleys of Southern California.
The tiny Rufous Hummingbird is migratory, spending the cold months in southern Mexico; in some cases that's a journey of over 2,000 miles!
So goodbye for a while, little friends. See you in late Spring!
Our Ruby-Throated Hummers have moved south though I've left the feeders up in case of stragglers.
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