Winged Jewels

Hummingbird's feathers reflect the light with jewel-colored flashes, stunning not only potential mates, but enchanting bird-o-philes as well. We find them fascinating.

Ohio has one major player in the Trochilidae family, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Late spring brings many of these colorful dynamos to sip sugar-water at man-made feeders and nectar from my flower gardens. And while I have never had the good fortune of hosting a fall Rufous Hummingbird, several have been seen in the GMAS area this year.

Broad-billed Hummingbird is a staple in the southern Arizona desert canyons, and a beauty to behold.

While birding in Arizona provided ample opportunity to study Magnificent, Broad-billed and Anna's Hummingbirds, a trip to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum rounded out the billet with a few more. They have an enclosed area for rehabilitating hummingbirds, while educating the public. Usually aviaries and butterfly houses are a turn-off for me, but this one was so well done- I would consider it a must see.

Black-chinned female at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. The educational signage at this museum and gardens was excellent as well. I enjoyed reading of the relationships of local plants the the fauna which interacts with them.

Ocotillo is the deadest, prickliest-looking plant you can imagine in October, so it was interesting to learn of its value to hummers. Never under estimate the value of worthless-looking plants!

One parting shot, and a beauty he was. Care to make a guess at the species?