[Birdtalk] Hummingbirds - Rufous

[M. H. Wallace]

This evening, as the thunderstorm abated and the rainbows came out, I 
have had a few Rufous Hummingbirds at my feeders.  I can't get good 
enough photos to determine if their tails are notched, so I can't say 
they are not Allen's, although Sibley shows their range as not extending 
into northern Utah/Salt Lake County, whereas Rufous' range does 
certainly extend to our region.  With the brilliant orange colors, not 
just on the tails but over considerable portions of the tail, body and 
chin, there is no mistake that these are Rufous, or slightly possibly 
Allen's, Hummingbirds.  (If you want to post your thoughts on the 
possibility of Allen's, I'd welcome that...I'll leave that to those of 
you who know more than I.  I may be avid, but I'm no expert...)  Of 
course, the Rufous' and the Black-chinned Hummers were competing for 
space, chasing each other off.

I was on the Henry's Fork of the Snake River, near Mack's Inn, Idaho on 
Saturday, July 28.  My family was paddling down river in canoes, when a 
furious hail storm hit.  A very nice couple beckoned us to the shelter 
of their porch.  Alas, they had hummingbird feeders up.  While we were 
waiting out the storm, under their porch, I saw several Rufous 
Hummingbirds at there feeders too.  This couple told me that they have 
so many Hummers that they fill their two quart-sized feeders daily.

So, there are Rufous Hummingbirds in Salt Lake County and southwest of 
West Yellowstone this Summer.

Matthew Wallace
East Millcreek, Salt Lake County
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