Hummingbird rarely seen in Mass. hospitalized

[February 04, 2010]  EASTHAM, Mass. (AP) -- A hummingbird rarely seen in Massachusetts and trying to survive a brutal Cape Cod winter has wound up in the hospital.

The Cape Cod Times reported that the Allen's hummingbird was brought to the Wild Care of Cape Cod animal rehabilitation center in Eastham after being found in the snow with ice crystals on its wings on Sunday.

The thumb-sized bird had survived two major snow storms, subfreezing temperatures and high winds by feeding on sugar water from a Harwich woman's backyard feeder.

Lela Larned, Wild Care's executive director, said the bird was "at the end of the line."

She says it appears to be getting better, but whether it survives remains uncertain.

The bird is native to California and Mexico and rarely seen east of the Rockies.

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Information from: Cape Cod Times, http://www.capecodonline.com/

[Associated Press]

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