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To: sweetliberty
Are they like some other species where the males go ahead to find their winter habitat?

I'm not really sure. You have about the same male/female ratio that we do. Male Ruby Throats are tolerant of females around the feeders, but instantly attack if another male approaches it.

I know hummers send out scouts ahead of the mass migration, but I don't know if those scouts are exclusively male or not.

Unlike most other birds, Hummers aren't monogamous.

Makin’ whoopee – bird style!

Some birds, such as House Wrens and hummingbirds, have multiple mates. This practice is rare, occurring in only about 2 percent of bird species. And when it does happen, it generally is difficult for the male to provide proper care for all of his broods. The males are most successful at this in habitats that are rich in resources.

After hummingbirds mate, the male will court and mate with another female. Females raise the babies alone. Closely related species of hummingbirds will mate with each other with crosses occurring between Anna’s and Costa’s hummingbirds.

1,358 posted on 09/11/2005 7:33:38 AM PDT by MamaTexan ( I am not a *legal entity*, nor am I a ~person~ as created by law.)
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To: MamaTexan

I was watching a male Cardinal last night. There were two females on the ground next to him. He gave some food to one. He then went to give some food to the other. She seemed to get very indignant and flew away. He sat there looking confused like, "what'd I do?" I actually think Cardinals are mongamous, though, aren't they? Not sure what that was about. Perhaps one of them was one of the juveniles. It was getting dark, so I couldn't see them real clearly.


1,359 posted on 09/11/2005 7:41:10 AM PDT by sweetliberty (Stupidity should make you sterile.)
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To: MamaTexan; Dysart
Ah...here's what I was looking for....

Males migrate earlier than females, in both directions; some adult males start south as early as July. Our female breeding birds leave here (St. Louis) in September, with the young of the year following; the last juveniles depart abruptly at first frost (mid-October). By mid-November the fall migration is essentially completed throughout North America.

Looks like what I have left are females and juveniles. I suppose this means they will be moving away soon. I hope they will all come back next year.

1,363 posted on 09/11/2005 2:35:25 PM PDT by sweetliberty (Stupidity should make you sterile.)
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