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It seems that there are quite a few hummers that have not completed the migration to their winter territories yet. My latest migrant just left NY on Oct. 26th which is way late for me. There is still a Ruby throated in Wisconsin that hasn't left yet and several reports for the Carolinas.

Penny

Here it is!

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I was on the deck this morning, throwing bread out for the birds and there on my hummingbird feeder (which, thankfully, was full) was a hummingbird. I'm not sure if he just hadn't left the area - although I haven't seen a hummer for months or if he is just passing through on his migration travels. I am curious - when hummers migrate, do they go alone, together in a group, or along with other types birds? There was also a group of about 6 robins in the yard and I was wondering if he flew in with them.

georgia mountain lad
your hummer is a western vagrant Selaphorous possibly an adult female Rufous. You should consider contacting a licensed master bander to have it banded and documented. Here is the name of one in Georgie
Rusty Trump
Rusty_Trump@hotmail.com

Penny

darbygirl,

You may also have a western migrant or perhaps a very late ruby-throated hummer. Do you have a picture?
Ruby throated hummers start their migration southward as early as July or Aug. beginning with the adult males. next the adult females that are no longer nesting follow about 10 days to 2 weeks later and lastly the juveniles leave along with late nesting females. This has been a very unusual year with many many late migrants. Usually they are all gone by mid Oct. They are solitary travelers. Each leaving at his or her appropriate time. No they do not travel with their own kind or with outher species. Leaving a feeder up will not keep them from migrating when it is time but it can help to insure their survival when nectar plants are dying off. A fresh feeder for a late migrant can mean the difference whther or not they survive.

Penny

Georgia Mountain Lad
Great pic. You have posted a fairly rare pic for these eastern us. states, especially this late in the year ,but once again for the bird you have posted they seem to like colder temps than the common bird for eastern states, being the rubythroat. You appear to have a pic of an adult female rufous. For any pics Ive seen of the male rufous will have even more brown and also the bright red or scarlet to purple tinge around the neck that cannot be missed. It would be great if got a pic of the other bird you have.
Jobird--thanks for the info you posted of image posting a lot of us including me need that info

That looks like a bird that I had this year!! I can't be certain, but there was one bird that looked different than the others. It was very noticeable. I'll pay more attention next year, maybe I had a rufous!!

But wait! I remember taking pictures of it. I looked it up, and still have those pictures. They're not very good, I have a 3 second delay on my digital camera, and I have since cleaned the window :)

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Christy,
I don't have a very well trained eye but yours also looks like aan adult female Selaphorous

Penny

Thanks Penny!
I don't know why I didn't even consider it, when I saw her. She was here through the month of August, if I remember correctly. She only came to the window feeder, and I frequently saw her at the same time everyday. If she comes back next year, I'll see if I can get some better pictures! Thanks again, Christy

Christy, you must feel honored , not everyone gets a visitor like that. Yes anytime you get a bird that looks different , you can bet what it is.

Hello everyone!

This is only my second posting at this board....I am so thrilled to have found a board specifically for hummies!

All these years I've had hummies until the second week of Oct. and then they'd disappear.

The hummies were quite content feeding from all my garden plants with flowers that were trumpet-shaped.

I moved one of my container plants closer to the sunroom window last year and really enjoy and was fascinated by the hummie visitors. So this year, at the beginning of April I got myself a couple feeders.

Of course, I did all the wrong things...yellow flower ports, dripping feeders, red nectar, etc. But I still got a good share of hummies to watch up close and personal.

I figured as soon as I didn't see any more hummies for at least a week, I'd take down the feeders for good, as every other year that's about the time the hummies disappear.

Not this year, thankfully! I have two hummies that decided not to follow the crowd and they both make sure they keep me entertained all day long. I am sooo loving this!

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Thanks for the words of encouragement - now I feel better about leaving my feeders out for the hummers. The little fellow was still here today and it was a sold, rainy, nasty day. Thanks for the photos - I got out my binoculars and feel that it may look like those in the photos rather than a ruby throated hummer. I noticed that it has alot of brown although bright green on the back - could it be? Or is the green a dead give away for the ruby?

Hey Darbygirl it could be you have a female rufous. Check this site out and judge for yourself. Congrats for still having hummers.

Here is a link that might be useful: hummingbird pictures

Darbygirl, You should consider trying to contact a bander for a positive ID. You could have an adult female rufous or a juvenile Rufous. The adult females and the juveniles are very difficult to differentiate without being able to examine the tail feathers. Selaphorous (Rufous and Allens) hummers have green backs and crowns while the side are 'rust" colored. Here is the name of a bandeer in Kentucky:
Brainard Palmer-Ball
brainard.palmer-ball@ky.gov
502-330-3998

Penny

This link provides some excellent photographs of a female Rufous that was just banded in Ohio. Just scroll all the way down as there are a lot of photos with excellent close ups
Rufous Banding in Dayton, Ohio

Penny

Thanks Penny for posting the rufous banding in ohio. I found it very interesting and some of the comments over there on net54. I would find it exciting just to see a rufous in person , let alone a banding situation.

Steve,
I had a chance to see a rufous last November. Actually it was a year ago tomoorow that we went up to see her. She was across the Niagara River from me in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. She didn't make it through the winter but she was well cared for while she was alive. There were plenty of feeders for her and they were kept warm with lights but there weren't enough bugs to supply the additional protein she needed. She died just before Christmas. Here is a link to Hannah's Story. It is a real tear jerker I warn you. After that I decided I didn't want to have one here for the winter. It broke my heart to hear than Hannah didn't make it.

Penny

Yes thats a sad story to any bird or animal lover , anyone else would just say its just another bird. But it appears Hannah became quite a star which makes the story even more sad and to the people who became close to one of gods creatures.