Rufous Hummingbird Makes Rare Appearance on Martha’s Vineyard
Naturalists believe there are no records of the birds, which typically have a migratory path on the West Coast, ever being spotted on the Vineyard.
Male Rufous hummingbirds are known for their copper-like appearance.
Getty ImagesMartha's Vineyard recently recorded a rare sighting of a rufous hummingbird.
According to a Martha's Vineyard Times report, this species of hummingbird has only occasionally been spotted on Cape Cod during the winter. Naturalists, however, believe there are no records of the birds, which typically have a migratory path on the West Coast, ever being spotted on the Vineyard.
Harry Beach of Chilmark was the lucky resident to receive the fluttering visitor at his home.
Observers note that warmer winters and nectar availability could influence the bird's Vineyard presence, even as global populations of rufous hummingbirds have declined about 72% since 1968, according to the Martha's Vineyard Times.
While rufous hummingbirds have been observed east of the Mississippi, there are no prior records of the bird ever being on the Vineyard.
Mark Faherty, science coordinator at Mass Audubon's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, said the sighting is likely an anomaly rather than a broader pattern for the region. There are currently no active tracking efforts for this species in Massachusetts.
Beach said he's helping the hummingbird receive the nutrition it needs by providing a heated feeder full of nectar.
He told the Martha's Vineyard Times that anyone who wants to observe the rufous hummingbird can come to his 220 North Road home in the morning from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. or at noon. He asks that visitors to his home park across the street on Brickyard Road.
