Is it normal to see Rufous Hummingbirds in central Arizona during the summer?
Yes. These birds leave their breeding grounds in the northwest United States and Canada around mid-July and head south. You can see this for yourself by exploring the data for Arizona at eBird, a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society. You’ll notice a peak in numbers during July to September in Arizona. Curious about other areas or other hummingbird species? You can look up that information using eBird too. In addition to exploring the data, I hope you’ll enter your own sightings into eBird. It’s free, fun, helps you keep track of your own birds, and enables you to contribute information that other birders, scientists, and educators can use.
