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Post by ;snookerdude on Aug 15, 2014 1:13:43 GMT -5
for all of the spring and through mid july all i had were male ruby throated hummers; except for about a week in early june i had a female. now i have all females or else the males are molting. seems like a strange time for birds to be molting. one of the females [?] is tagged on the right leg with a white band. i'm having one male and 4 females.
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Post by Steve Backes on Aug 15, 2014 6:53:08 GMT -5
The "females" may be young birds, males and females. Adult males and young birds typically migrate first because they've been concentrating on prepping for migration while the females have been busy raising their last brood. After the last fledglings are on their own, the females begin building the weight needed to migrate.
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Post by Joe M on Aug 20, 2014 15:15:39 GMT -5
Most hummers do start their "body molt" in late summer, but not their primaries which they need for their migration.
Am seeing lots of molting birds here in MA, at the current time.
Joe M.
Sturbridge, MA / Lakeland, FL
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