The fall hummingbird migration is a wonderful time for those who enjoy watching and feeding the little birds as hundreds of thousands of them pass through the state, but all good things come to an end. By late October most of the hummingbirds have flown South for the winter.
But one Mississippi man is enjoying a rare event as what appears to be a female Rufous hummingbird has taken up residence at his home.
“I was excited,” said Wayne Patterson of Columbus . “I couldn’t believe I had a vagrant.
“My ruby-throats, after they’re all gone, I take them (feeders) down and leave one up. I’ve been leaving one out I’m guessing 20 years. I’ve been doing it, but this is the first time I’ve had a rare hummingbird.”
Mississippi winter hummingbird not positively identified
Patterson said the bird hasn’t positively been identified because they look so similar to Allen’s hummingbirds. However, Rufous are said to be the hummingbirds most likely to winter in the Southeast.