The Rufous hummingbird is a typical-sized hummingbird, being a very small bird. It weighs 2–5 g, measures 7–9 cm (2.8–3.5 in) long and spans 11 cm (4.3 in) across the wings. Females and the rare green-backed males are extremely difficult to differentiate from Allen's hummingbird. These birds are known for their extraordinary flight skills, flying 2,000 mi during their migratory transits. Rufous Hummingbirds breed in open areas, backyards, parks, and the edges of forests. During migration they pass through mountain meadows as high as 12,600 feet where nectar-rich, tubular flowers bloom. Winter habitat in Mexico includes shrubby clearings and oak-pine forests at middle to high elevation. The Rufus Hummingbird is a western hummingbird, though it strays into eastern North America. In the United States, winter migrations bring many of them to the warmer climates in the southeast, like Florida and other areas on the Gulf Coast.