Rufous Hummingbird
Selasphorus rufus
Tiny iridescent orange-and-green hummingbird with gorget glowing like flame. Aggressive migrant passing through Bay Area spring and fall. Defends nectar territories; pollinates currants, gooseberries, and manzanita.
Plants that support Rufous Hummingbird
18 plants
Big Deervetch
Hosackia crassifolia var. crassifolia
perennial herb
Early spring arrival; important pre-migration and breeding season nectar source
California blackberry
Rubus ursinus
shrub
Spring migration through CA, early nectar source
Coast Larkspur
Delphinium decorum subsp. decorum
annual
Spring-summer migration stopover and breeding season nectar source
Cobwebby Thistle
Cirsium occidentale var. venustum
annual
Critical spring arrival and fall migration staging fuel source
Creeping Oregon Grape
Berberis aquifolium var. repens
shrub
Spring migration stopover nectar, critical energy source during northbound migration
Creeping Sage
Salvia sonomensis
shrub
Early spring migration fuel source (Apr-May) during northbound passage
Deerweed
Acmispon glaber
shrub
Critical spring staging resource during northbound migration (Feb-Apr); high-energy nectar source
Douglas Iris
Iris douglasiana
perennial herb
Spring migration stopover nectar source Mar-Apr in coastal California
Flowering Currant
Ribes sanguineum
shrub
Early spring migration fuel source (Feb-Apr) during northbound migration
Hummingbird Sage
Salvia spathacea
perennial herb
Spring migration staging resource; passage migrant fuel source
Oak Gooseberry
Ribes quercetorum
shrub
Summer breeding season in Sierra Nevada foothills where R. quercetorum occurs
Salmonberry
Rubus spectabilis
perennial herb
Spring migration refueling stops
Sticky Monkey Flower
Diplacus aurantiacus
shrub
Early spring breeding and late summer-fall migration fuel source
Van Houtte's Columbine
Aquilegia eximia
perennial herb
Spring northbound migration fuel source; visits California populations
Western Azalea
Rhododendron occidentale
shrub
Critical spring migration fuel source, April-May northbound migration
Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
perennial herb
Spring migration staging resource Mar-May
Yerba Santa
Eriodictyon californicum
shrub
Migration staging fuel; blooms align with spring northbound passage May-June