Vancouver Island hummingbird...

 
Photo by Dave Kemp

My friend from British Columbia, Dave Kemp, sent me the photo above, of what I believe is a female Rufous Hummingbird (or Allen's Hummingbird), which he recently photographed on Vancouver Island.

This bird is common on the U.S. west coast and in lower British Columbia, and is the most widespread western 'hummer'.   Small numbers appear each winter in Texas and Louisiana.  It even reaches south-east Alaska in summer.   They are normally found in gardens, meadows, woodlands and wetlands.

They breed from southern Alaska to southern Oregon and western Montana.   They winter in Mexico and occasionally in southern California.    

The male's wings  make a slight trilling sound in flight.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder