Photography by Desert Oasis Insider

Desert Oasis Insider · Bird field guide

Rufous Hummingbird

Selasphorus rufus

Coppery tones can be a clue; females and young birds can be hard to separate from Allen’s.

Desert & gardensMountains & woodlands

View 2 photographs Get to know this bird

Bird group: Hummingbirds
Where to look: Flowering stops during migration
Explore the region: Coachella Valley bird guide

What to notice

Coppery tones can be a clue; females and young birds can be hard to separate from Allen’s.
Males: Brilliant coppery-orange body and tail, with an iridescent red-orange gorget (throat patch) that flares dramatically in the light.
Females and juveniles: Greenish-bronze backs with reddish sides and flanks, and often a small patch of orange on the throat.

Where to look

Flowering stops during migration

When to look

A migratory hummingbird. Check the full field notes and compare more than one identification clue.

Next time you are outside

Coppery tones can be a clue; females and young birds can be hard to separate from Allen’s.

Record a sighting

Habitat guidance is not a guaranteed sighting. Photographs may have been taken outside the valley.

Original photography

Through the lens.

Select any photograph for a closer look. Move through the gallery with the arrows or a swipe.

This is a regional bird guide; photographs may also come from places beyond the valley. Locations are noted when available.

Identification & natural history

Know what to notice.

The Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) is a dazzling and feisty migratory hummingbird known for its bold coloration and remarkable endurance. Though not a year-round resident of the Coachella Valley, it’s a regular and important spring and fall migrant, particularly noticeable during its northbound journey.

🌺 Identification:

Males: Brilliant coppery-orange body and tail, with an iridescent red-orange gorget (throat patch) that flares dramatically in the light.
Females and juveniles: Greenish-bronze backs with reddish sides and flanks, and often a small patch of orange on the throat.
Size: Around 3–3.75 inches long, with a straight, slender bill and fast, darting flight.

🧭 Migration & Range:

One of the longest migratory routes relative to body size of any bird—migrating from Mexico to as far north as southern Alaska.
Passes through Southern California, including the Coachella Valley and adjacent foothills, from late February to May (northbound), and again from late June to September (southbound).

🌿 Habitat in the Region:

Prefers flower-rich gardens, desert scrub, and chaparral edges where nectar is abundant.
Drawn to hummingbird feeders and tubular native flowers such as Penstemon, Chuparosa (Justicia californica), and Monkeyflower.

🐝 Behavior and Ecology:

Extremely territorial, especially males, which will chase away other hummingbirds and even larger birds.
Plays a key role as a pollinator, especially in desert ecosystems where few birds visit certain native flowers.

🔍 Notable Adaptations:

Can enter torpor—a temporary hibernation-like state—to survive cold nights or lack of food.
Exceptional memory and navigational skills, allowing it to revisit the same food sources along its migration route.

🌎 Ecological Role:

Helps maintain the reproductive cycles of many desert plant species.
Their migration is closely timed with blooming cycles, making them important indicators of ecological health and climate shifts.