Birds of Spring
A Trio of Hummers:
In spring in Sacramento you can see three different hummingbirds using your feeders.
Anna’s Hummingbirds are found here year-round, so keep those feeders filled and clean through all the seasons.
Male Anna’s Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbirds pass through on their incredible yearly journey from Latin American winter homes to their breeding grounds in Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska. The fact that they are just here to ‘re-fuel’ on this massive journey seems to make them extra aggressive and they will typically monopolize the feeders while they are around (usually late March to late April). You may see them again on their way back in late summer.
Male Rufous Hummingbird
		Black-chinned Hummingbirds winter in Central America and come here just for the breeding season. The purple iridescence on the throat feathers of the male (called the ‘gorget’) can only be seen when the light strikes at just the right angle. They are best distinguished from the Anna’s Hummingbird by the curved bill, slim shape and the (usually) more distinct white ‘collar’.
Male Black-chinned Hummingbird
More typical view of a Black-chinned Hummingbird (without the purple iridescence showing)
A Duet of Orioles:
Many people are surprised to learn that we have orioles in Sacramento. In fact, two species, Bullock’s and Hooded Orioles, spend spring and summer here and you might be able to attract them to your yard. Your best bet is to use a combination hummingbird/oriole feeder (they all like sugar water), available at the local wild bird feeding stores. They can be shyer than some other birds so don’t hang their feeder too close to the house or in a high-traffic area. Orioles may approach a feeder warily, but they usually give themselves away by giving their distinctive rattle calls. The rattle of a Hooded Oriole is a bit less sharp and more ‘wooden’ sounding than the Bullock’s, but the two calls are similar. WAV file
Bullock’s Oriole is a close relative of the eastern Baltimore Oriole (if you have an older field guide, you may see both species lumped together as the Northern Oriole). They arrive late in March and are usually gone by the end of July.
		Male Bullock’s Oriole
Hooded Orioles are generally more rare around here, but their habit of nesting in palm trees often puts them in urban/suburban neighborhoods. . This spectacular bird also arrives in late March but will often stay into early fall.
Male Hooded Oriole