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2023 Feeder Bird of the Year - Rufous Hummingbird

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The bird-feeding community has spoken, and the Rufous Hummingbird is your 2023 Feeder Bird of the Year! Here's what you should know about the 2023 champion.

 

Firstly, let's talk about the Rufous Hummingbird's eating habits. These tiny birds are known for their voracious appetites, consuming up to twice their body weight in nectar every day. They are also known to eat tiny insects, which provide important sources of protein and other nutrients. They often visit red tubular flowers such as penstemons, red columbines, paintbrush, scarlet sage, gilia, and many others. By attracting Rufous Hummingbirds to backyard feeders, bird lovers can help ensure that these energetic little birds have access to the sustenance they need to thrive.

 

But the Rufous Hummingbird isn't just an interesting bird to watch at your feeder. They are also known for their impressive migration habits. Every year, they make a journey of over 3,000 miles from their breeding grounds in Alaska and Western Canada to their wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America. This incredible feat of endurance makes them one of the longest migrators of any bird species in the world.

 

If you're interested in seeing Rufous Hummingbirds in action, the best regions for viewing depend on the time of year. During their migration in spring and fall, they can be spotted in a wide variety of locations across the western half of North America. In the summer, they breed in forested areas in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Some of the best places to see them include coastal areas of California, Oregon, and Washington, as well as the Rocky Mountains and the Southwest.

 

Overall, the Rufous Hummingbird is a fascinating and deserving candidate for the 2023 Feeder Bird of the Year. Not only are they a joy to watch at feeders, but their impressive migration and breeding habits make them an important and iconic species of the western half of North America.

 

We’ll see you next year to see who will win the 2024 Feeder Bird of the Year!

 

Sources:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rufous_Hummingbird/overview

 

https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/rufous-hummingbird#:~:text=Mostly%20nectar%20and%20insects.,water%20mixtures%20in%20hummingbird%20feeders.