This morning we spotted the absolutely stunning Rufous hummingbird at the feeder.   They are a stocky hummingbird, and probably one of the most aggressive to birds of it's size, dominating all our broad-tails.  The males have an orange/copper iridescence on their throats.  The females are less dramatic in coloring, however do sport subtle hints of copper under their wings. 

It is believed they have the longest migration pattern of any bird in the world.  While difficult to document, the depart Mexico in the spring via the west coast, and head up to Brittish Columbia and Alaska for mating, and then head south inland, right through our property  (ok, maybe not all of them but every year starting about now we have one or two of these gorgeous at the feeder most times) as they head back home to their southern residences.  They are hard to photograph because they are really such head cases....obsessed with chasing the other100+ broad-tails or so away from the feeder.  It must be exhausting for them, and stressful. 

Here is the picture I got this morning as he was perched on a tree nearby. While not clearly focused, it shows the extraordinary brillance of this minature creature.