Hummingbirds are popular in the spring and summer, but a winter hummingbird is getting plenty of popularity in Indiana. According to IndyStar.com, the bird was first sighted in North Vernon last month, and the female was eventually identified as a calliope hummingbird. This is the first record in the state of any calliope hummingbird, and it is all the more remarkable because this western hummingbird - which normally winters in Mexico - is visiting during such a chilly season.The bird's identity has been confirmed and she has now been banded. More than 200 birders have visited the home of Dave and Norma Jackson to see the rarity, where she is feeding at regular intervals throughout the day.
Winter hummingbirds are more common than many birders realize, but not typically as far north as Indiana. Have you seen any hummers at your feeders in cooler weather? Share your sightings in the comments!
Female Calliope Hummingbird
Photo © TexasDarkHorse
Comments
I probably should have driven the extra 20 miles from my usual birding spot to see this hummer in North Vernon, but the lure of the Sandhill & Whooping Cranes was just too much to resist
Frosty is still here, and is as perky as ever. We are still enjoying her and her visitors. She has now had 302 visitors.