Ashford, WA June 22, 2009 I enjoyed watching these feisty little birds as they visited the feeders at the garden by the office at Mounthaven Resort each morning. The males have a brilliant red gorget that is used to show their breeding status (age) and to get the attention of the females. They can often be heard before they are seen due to their loud buzzing of their wingbeats.
at the correct angle, they look purple due to the refraction of the light. I had to wait until late in the afternoon when the sun was at a low angle to get this shot.
Mt. Rainier National Park June 24, 2009 These are common birds in Washington. This one looks a bit scruffy, it is not as handsome as the illustration in my Sibley Guide to Birds!
