“The daily hummingbird assaults existence with improbability.” Ursula K. Le Guin
Male Anna’s hummingbird. — Wikimedia photo
A Constant Delight at my Nectar Feeder
If you want to see hummingbirds in North America, then Southeastern Arizona is the best place to be. While there are over 300 species of hummingbirds that can be found in South America, only about 17 come north across the Mexican border. Of that number, at least 13 of these species can be found around Tucson, where I currently live.
Female Anna’s hummingbird — Wikimedia photo
In my home state of Texas, the only hummingbird I would likely see is the ruby-throated. Here in Tucson, I get six species regularly visiting my third-floor balcony nectar feeder every year: broad-billed, black-chinned, Costa’s, Anna’s, broad-tailed and rufous. Although it didn’t come to my feeder, I even spotted a Lucifer hummingbird in the tree next to my balcony two years ago. That was a life bird for me, and a one-time event so far in my life.
Of the hummingbirds that visit my apartment, I may only see one or two rufous during an entire year. The other five, however, are more common, especially Anna’s. This feisty little bird doesn’t migrate so I get to see it almost daily throughout the year.
The females are dainty things, with glittering green and white feathers with perhaps a few sparkling magenta gems around their necks. The
I saw my first Costa;s hummingbird from my third-floor Tucson balcony. — Wikimedia photo
males are agile dive bombers who guard my nectar feeder against other hummers, and they have brilliant crimson-red crowns and necks that shimmer in the sunlight. I never tire of watching them.
Perhaps because Anna’s favorite food is nectar from feeders put out by humans, they have had no problem surviving loss of habitat, as so many other birds have. In the early 20th century, Anna’s could only be found on the Baja California Peninsula but they have slowly been spreading northward and inward.
The hummers were named after Anna Massena, Duchess of Rivoli. Why? This wondering-wanderer immediately asks. I didn’t find the answer. Do you know?
Bean Pat: https://naturehasnoboss.com/2019/06/04/as-the-snow-melts/ It’s time to visit Yellowstone.
*Available on Amazon, Travels with Maggie features a list of birds saw each leg of the journey.
Pat Bean is a retired journalist who lives in Tucson. She is a wondering-wanderer, avid reader, Lonely Planet Community Pathfinder, Story Circle Network board member, author of Travels with Maggie available on Amazon, enthusiastic birder and is always searching for life’s silver lining. She can be reached at patbean@msn.com
Pat Bean's blog 
We have Anna’s and rufous hummingbirds here on Vancouver Island. Ruby-throats aren’t supposed to live here, but I spotted one once. The rufous hummingbirds are not a bit fearful of us — they’ll whiz right up to within a few feet of me and hover there as if they’re wondering what I am (and whether I’m competition for their food source). Fortunately they seem to have concluded that I’m not a threat — I wouldn’t want to end up on the wrong side of those little needle-beaks!