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Where do they come from, and where do they go?
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In the case of western hummingbirds wintering in the East, we really don't know. That's part of what makes this research so fascinating.
In the case of rufous hummingbirds, the most common western species in the East, we assume they are coming from the species' normal breeding range, which stretches from northern California and the northern Rockies into southcentral Alaska. But whether the individuals wandering East come from a specific region within that vast area, or are drawn from the entire range of the species, is still unknown.
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An adult female rufous hummingbird, captured for banding and ready for release. |
Once the bird is banded, it is aged, sexed, a series of measurements are taken with digital calipers, and the hummingbird is weighed. (Most weigh 2.5-4 grams; a penny, by contrast, weighs 2.6g.) Then the bird is quickly released, none the worse for the experience. The band remains on its leg for life, so that if it is encountered again, its movement, life span and other critical information can be learned. Despite its small size, the number code on the band can sometimes be read with binoculars while the bird is perched at a feeder.
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