Rufous Hummingbird pair

Migration champions of the hummingbird world, these little jewels nest in Alaska in spring and early summer. Early in the summer they leave to follow later-blooming flowers either south along the Rocky Mountains into Mexico, or east along the Canadian border then south to Florida for the winter. They return to Alaska each April by following the Pacific coastline north as the first blooms of spring emerge.

 

Here's a nearly all-orange ("rufous" colored) male, showing off his metallic orange gorget (covering his throat) to a female, who keeps her tiny nest hidden with the help of her camouflaged green back. In this shot you can also see her rufous sides, which distinguish her from other female hummingbirds.

 

Our Daily Challenge: Animals

ODT: Signs of the Season

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