Tag Archives: Allen’s Hummingbird

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Allen's Hummingbirds nest here on the Mendonoma Coast. Rozanne Rapozo puts out material to aid in their nest building. Here is an Allen's collecting materials for her nest.

I asked Rozanne about the material. She wrote, “I use Songbird Essentials Hummer Helper Nesting Material. Other birds (Chickadees, Nuthatches) help themselves to it also.  It feels sort of like I imagine picked cotton feels.  Light and fluffy with some substance to it.  I use the recommended hanger.”

Allen’s Hummingbirds begin nesting in Mid-February and can continue through late June, and beyond. Anna’s Hummingbirds nest even earlier, from December through early June. If you have to prune tree branches, be very careful to check first for a tiny hummingbird nest, which is about the size of half a walnut shell.

Thanks to Rozanne for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

June gloom! Lots of cool fog with a little clearing in the afternoon.

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Ron Bolander was talking with a friend, his camera in hand, when this small hummingbird landed in a bush bathed in sunlight. Quickly Ron took this picture of the extremely handsome male Allen's Hummingbird.

Such beauty! Their calls, however, are buzzy and they make a sound like a bumblebee with their feathers. You can listen to their calls here, at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Allens_Hummingbird/sounds

Here's a fun fact from the Cornell site:

"Like other birds, Allen's Hummingbirds use their feet to help control their body temperature. When it's cold outside they tuck their feet up against their bellies while flying, but when temperatures soar, they let their feet dangle to cool down."

I think we might need binoculars to see their tiny feet in flight!

Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share  his photo with you here.

Very foggy today at the coast though the fog is lifting in the afternoon.

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To celebrate the first day of May, here is a photo alive with color. The sun shone on this little hummingbird and Ron Bolander was ready with his camera - a beautiful male Allen's Hummingbird in full display.

Allen's Hummingbirds migrate up the California Coast and about halfway up the Oregon Coast to mate. The female will then choose her nesting site and raise her chicks. Some might choose the Mendonoma Coast!

Here's a fun fact from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: "Allen's Hummingbirds use their feet to help control their body temperature. When it's cold outside they tuck their feet up against their bellies while flying, but when temperatures soar, they let their feet dangle to cool down."

Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

Windy here again today, but a trifle less. Warm too, temps in the low 70's.

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Michael Reinhart trained his camera on a beautiful male Anna's Hummingbird. As the sunlight shone on the little bird, the iridescent colors were revealed.

Mike also photographed a male Allen's Hummingbird, the feisty cousin of the Anna's.

Allen's Hummingbirds numbers are in decline, whereas the Anna's seem to be thriving.

Thanks to Mike for giving us these close-up views of these vibrant hummers.

A beautiful, sunny day on the Mendonoma coast today. Windy on the bluffs with lots of white caps on the ocean. Mary Heibel met me at the Point Arena Lighthouse gates and showed me a wildflower I hadn't seen before, Wallflowers. More on them in another post!

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Paul Brewer trained his camera on a Allen's Hummingbird feeding on his Pride of Madeira plant. Allen's Hummingbirds are migrating through our area.

Paul also photographed our year-round hummingbird, an Anna's Hummingbird. I believe there is a drop of nectar on this hummer's beak.

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share these photos with you  here. It's not easy to photograph hummingbirds as their wings beat so fast! To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.capturingnatureswonders.com/