A first-time visitor has fluttered onto the Vineyard, exciting biologists and birders alike.

Late last month, what is believed to be a female rufous hummingbird flocked to Harry Beach’s home in Chilmark. The appearance of the small bird with its green and reddish brown plumage is the first recorded sighting of the species of hummingbird on the Island, according to Island wildlife biologist Luanne Johnson.  

The hummingbird was intially spotted on Nov. 23, and as of this week was enjoying Mr. Beach’s hummingbird feeder each morning and then again at noon. The bird was first attracted to a pot of Mexican bush sage plant at his house before Mr. Beach, who has been feeding hummingbirds for almost 20 years, put out his hummingbird feeder.  

The bird may have gotten lost before its migration to Mexico.

Lanny McDowellL

The bird may have gotten lost before its migration to Mexico.

Lanny McDowellL

“We put the heated hummingbird feeder out right before the cold snap last week, and he made it through the night at 13 degrees or whatever it was, and he’s been feeding regularly here for about three weeks,” he said.  

Rufous hummingbirds mainly call the northwestern United States home. But these birds are no strangers to the east coast, despite never landing on the Island, according to Ms. Johnson.

“The first New England record of the rufous or a hummingbird of this genus was in Orono, Maine in 1967. As of 2017, we seem to get dozens of them annually in the eastern Gulf Coast. These birds showing up east of the Mississippi River has been pretty regular since the 1980s,” she said.  

These hummingbirds are one of nine species in the Selasphorus genus. During the winter, they usually flock to Mexico, living in woods and shrubby areas.

This bird likely got lost on its way to migrate to warmer weather, said Ms. Johnson, who is the director and founder of BiodiversityWorks. 

“What likely happened is that on the south migration, these young birds get diverted in a storm and cross the Mississippi, and are over here,” she said. “They’re young and full of energy and are zipping around and exploring and get drawn to colorful flowers.” 

Birders have been enjoying the rare sight.

Lanny McDowell

Birders have been enjoying the rare sight.

Lanny McDowell

Birders were initially unsure whether the hummingbird was a rufous or an Allen’s hummingbird, both of which have never been spotted on the Island before. It is very difficult to tell them apart due to how fast they move, according to Ms. Johnson. The shapes of the birds’ central tail feathers is key, and after consulting with west coast bird experts, she is confident that this bird is a rufous hummingbird.  

While the unlikely visitor is an exciting event, Ms. Johnson hopes that the bird feeds enough to eventually fly to its intended destination. 

“The question remains whether this bird is going to take off. If it doesn’t, the odds of [the bird] making through the winter are slim,” she said. “For its sake, I hope it sees a window and gets out of here.” 

Mr. Beach is welcoming birders and curious onlookers alike to come visit the bird at his home on 220 North Road. He urges people to park up the road, at the end of Brickyard Road. The best times are between 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., and then around noon, when the bird usually feeds.

“We’ve invited anybody that wants to come to just show up in the morning from seven to nine and sit on the porch, and we’ll feed them coffee and tea,” he said. “The bird’s pretty habituated to people and the feeders, and it’s pretty much a sure thing that they’re going to see it. If anybody wants to come and see, they can.”