We have a mature male Rufous Hummingbird that has been coming to our feeder with some frequency-daily for the past few weeks or so; every few days before that, since mid-December. His visits are at random and at different times during the day. We have taken the feeder in overnight during sub-freezing temperatures and put it back out at sunrise. It doesn't freeze during the day and he sometimes visits early in the morning when the nectar would otherwise have been frozen.

Of interest is the fact that last season (December 2003), we had an immature, first-year male Rufous Hummingbird visit the same feeder. We saw the spotted throat quite clearly. It's possible (likely) that he is the same bird that we are seeing now. In addition, a mature male Rufous Hummingbird also is visiting the feeder at a neighbor's house this season. The neighbor lives about 1,000 yards from our home. It's also likely that it's the same hummingbird that visits our feeder today.

Finally, the neighbor had an immature, first-year male Rufous Hummingbird visit her feeder last season. I'm guessing that that also was the same bird as we had last year, and as mentioned, the same one we may be sharing this year. We have not been able to see if he is banded or not.

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