Rufous Hummingbird Drawing by Lucia Harrison

Lushootseed Name for Hummingbird:  tətíʔəd   Click to Listen

Scientific Name:  Selasphorus rufus

Photo by Nick Thompson, reversed by LH
Photo by Steve Beradi
Photo by US Fish and Wildlife
Click on the Hummingbird to Enlarge Image
Rufous Hummingbird, Photo by Marv Dreessen
Rufous Hummingbird with tongue hanging out; Photo by Marv Dreessen

Rufous Hummingbirds migrate to and breed in the Pacific Northwest spring from their winter habitat in Mexico.  They begin arriving when the Red Flowering Currant and Salmonberry flowers bloom.  In the Pacific Northwest they like shrubby areas, forest edges, backyards and parks. They build their nests in deciduous or coniferous trees.  They feed on nectar from colorful tubular flowers like the red flowering currant.  They also eat flies, midges, gnats and aphids as a protein source.

For more information about and photos, videos, and sound of  Rufous Hummingbirds go to Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds Website.https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rufous_Hummingbird

Also visit the Audubon Society’s on-line field guide that includes information about the impact of climate change on Rufous Hummingbirds.  https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/rufous-hummingbird