Reply #17: I just love the little buggers

[arikara]

We have 2 species around in the summer. We go through nearly 50 lbs of sugar in a couple of months then they disappear as fast as they arrive.

The Rufous - these guys are a little smaller and a little more territorial. There's usually only one or 2 of them around and the dominant one will stand guard over the feeders at the front of the house. That lasts until the other bunch hatches and learns to fly then he gets driven to distraction by all the activity.



The Ruby Throated which take over as soon as the babies hatch and start flying. We have literally dozens of them zooming around. Every year I've had to catch at least one that has found its way into the porch or shed and release it. They even look bigger than they actually are, when you pick one up you can't feel the weight of it. But they do have a lot of intelligence in their little eyes!