Hi boxofrox,

I am no expert, but I have read that Anna's Hummingbirds breed, starting around December in Southern California, and sometime after that here in the PNW. I think Feb-March is a pretty accurate breeding time for Anna's here, but there are a lot of factors at play here. I have fewer Anna's at my place as well, if that helps at all. Take care.

-Brian

Yes, it's mating/nesting time :-)) My Anna's always disappear for about 6 weeks right around this time of year. They'll be back before you know it and with some tiny additions.

thanks for the question and answer. mine have done the same.some are still here, just not acting the same. I was afraid the cold snap had got some of them. when I think of it..... half of them are not around. :)

I live near-ish to Portland, Oregon. When should I put out my hummingbird feeder? The only species I've seen here is the Rufus.

Thanks!

Thanks all, I had a feeling it wasn't something I did wrong.

About putting out feeders, my pet store recommended Valentine's Day (easy to remember) but that was before the hummers started staying around for the winter.
Daphne in Tacoma

Keep feeders out as long as there are hummingbirds using them, and put them up whenever you see hummers around. Don't worry about them not migrating, that's a myth.

Okay, I just read on BirdWeb.org (about Washington state birds) that the Rufous hummingbirds appear in WA around the beginning of March. So, I'll put out my feeder! :)

My rule of thumb, here in Rufous territory, is to put out the hummer feeder when the red flowering currant blooms, usually around mid March in my area. Supposedly the early rufous appear as early as Feb, when the Indian plum blooms, but I've never yet seen one before mid March with the flowering currant.

We dont' get Anna's here, so far. Just the rufous, and only in spring and very early summer. I'm always surprised when I go to Seattle in the winter and there's hummingbirds!!!! The rufous are migratory, but the Anna's are not, they stay put year round, and are slowly expanding their territory here in western WA. They seem to like the cities where there's lots of garden flowers year round, and people to put out feeders.

But - if you see hummers, then it's time to put out the feeders!

Have seen a few recently on Camano Island. In Edmonds I feed them for months without lifting a finger by having a planting of Grevillea victoriae shrubs in bloom the whole time. In summer they hang around them, as though wanting to be sure of getting at them as soon as the first flowers open (usually August).

We've always had the Rufus in the summer but now we have at least one Anna in the winter. They use to only be in a small pocket here but in the last few years their range has extended to the point where we now have them at our feeders on the other side of the city.

A......

I've had at least 4 Anna's each winter for 3 years. I first spotted one feeding on nasturtiums that hadn't yet frozen in early December. I put up feeders and they stayed all winter. Now I get them every year. I do believe some Anna's migrate away from here, but obviously some stay.

As for rufous, I'm hoping to see some very soon. When they first return to the area, they seem to mostly stay down near the salt water...probably a bit warmer there. On the Network54 Hummingbird Forum I found the link below to a rufous migration map...showing areas that report the location and date of 1rst sitings of rufous. If you visit the site, click the link at the top of the page to "Live Map". There have been 3 sitings reported as far north as British Columbia.

Here is a link that might be useful: Journey North Rufus Migration Map