The breeding season for the Rufous Hummingbird begins in April
and ends in July. The peak of the season usually occurs in May.
The male will mate with several females during the breeding
season. The male arrives at the desired breeding territory 2 to
3 weeks before the females. He attracts the female by climbing
high into the air (20 to 45 m (75 to 150 ft)) then diving toward
the female, pulling out of the dive and arcing back up into the
sky after bottoming out within 2 or 3 inches of the female.
During this mating display his wings are flapping at a rate of
200 wing beats per second, which creates the unique metallical
"buzzing" sound heard during these displays. The female signals
acceptance of the male as a mate by displaying the white tips of
her tail. Copulation lasts only 3 to 5 seconds (Johnsgard 1983;
Toops 1992; Chloe 1999). The female builds her nest in
blackberry vines, huckleberry bushes and other well protected
overgrowths. Nests are built of mosses, leaves, and lichens
woven together with spide