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Hummingbird Information

Ruby-Throated HummingbirdI hope the hummingbird information provided here will inspireyou to attract these beautiful creatures into your yard.


I consider hummingbirds to be the most beautiful and fascinating of all the wild birds that visit my yard. Whenever one appears at my hummingbirdfeeders or in my bird garden, I am somehow drawn to them.

I usually stop whatever I am doing to watch them, even if just for a few moments. I wonder in amazement at their flight, hovering as they sip nectar, going forward then backwards, then in the blink of an eye,they're gone.

General Hummingbird Information:

Hummingbirds are one of the bird world's most uniquecreatures. They are the smallest of all birds measuring from 2" to 8" in length and weighing from 2 to 6 grams. Their wingspan is just 3" to 4". There are around 330 species of hummingbirds in the world and they are only found in the western hemisphere.

The only species of hummingbird that breeds in eastern North America is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris).

Adult Ruby-throated hummingbirds are metallic green above and grayish white below.Their bill is long, straight and very slender. The adult male,shown in the photo, has a glossy ruby red throat patch and a dark,forked tail. The female has a dark rounded tail with white tips and no throat patch, though she may sometimes show light spotting on her throat. Because of it's extremely short legs, it can't walk or even hop. The best it can do is scoot along a perch. If it needs to, it can stretch its leg above its wing to scratch its head.




Learn more about the Hummingbird Migration

Hummingbird Migration Map

Hummingbird Spring Migration Map

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What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

When do I take in my feeders?  starstarstarstarstar
I live by Bryce Canyon in Utah. It is starting to get cold. I still have feeders out and some hummingbird activity. Should I take the feeders in so ...

too late for hummingbirds  starstarstarstarstar
our daughter gave us a lovely hummingbird feeder awhile back. at that time we were traveling in a motorhome year round and did not have a good place to ...

Hummingbirds vs. Swallows  starstarstarstarstar
Would Swallows scare hummingbirds off? We've had Hummingbirds at our feeder for weeks and ever since last Friday or Saturday we haven't seen any. Last ...

Sleeping Humming Birds  starstarstarstarstar
One evening, after the 20 plus hummers had left the feeders, I went out to fill them. One is on a pully system, since it is too high for me to reach. As ...

safe keeping babies nest from prey  starstarstarstarstar
Is keeping a feeder 15' from nest harming or attracting prey? I heard it helped momma so she wouldn't have to travel far or exposse babies to prey. I ...

make my son happy  starstarstarstarstar
I tried this recipe to attract hummingbirds..I boiled water, sugar, and petals from roses and gardenias..
Once it is cool, I place it on my hummingbird ...

Tyrant Hummingbird  starstarstarstarstar
What do you do about a hummingbird that takes over the feeder and will not share with the other hummingbirds? We finally had to take the feeder down because ...

Is it a big bug?  starstarstarstarstar
Last year,I threw my back out, and had to spend some time in therapy. Part of that was to lie on my back with a pillow under my knees- I chose to do it ...

Where Have My Hummingbirds Gone?  starstarstarstarstar
I love hummingbirds and have been working to attract them to my Northern California garden by planting flowers they like and maintaining several feeders....

Where do I put my bird house?  starstarstarstarstar
Ummm I bought a small birdhouse but where should put it?
(I'm living in an apartment and many squirrels went in to our balcony)

Comment
If you put ...

When Should The Hummingbird Leave for The South?  starstarstarstarstar
Hello Susan, I don't know if you can answer my question or not but I have a female hummingbird that has not migrated. It is the middle of
October and ...

humming bird  starstarstarstarstar
I would like to know if there is a certain time of year when you stop feeding humming birds?

Comment
You can feed hummers until they migrate south....

How To Get Rid of Pests at My Hummingbird Feeder?  starstarstarstarstar
Question: how do i keep bee's from my feeder's? Will the hummingbirds, stay away from the feeders when there are bees there?????


Hi Janice

Are ...

Ant Problem with Hummingbird Feeder  starstarstarstarstar
I have a ant problem.

Lots of ants come and eat the fruit and go to the hummingbird feeder and drink the nectar. Lots of them fall in so I have to ...

Hummingbirds in Utah  Not rated yet
I live in St. George, Utah ( the very southern and north). It is very hot through the summer and I have dozens of the grey hummingbirds and sometimes ...

Where Are The Hummingbirds  Not rated yet
They haven't been coming to the nectar birdfeeders for a month. They were waiting for us to put them up in May but it tapered off by beginning of July....

hummingbird in the asia pacific region  Not rated yet
I caught a glimpse of one specie in our yard in 2000. Then I saw one again this 2011. It was an amazing site because I didn't know that there are hummingbird ...

Where do hummingbirds winter?  Not rated yet
My wife and I love our hummingbirds. We wonder where they go in the fall and winter? Where do the north Idaho hummingbirds winter?


Comment

Some ...

Destination of migrationsfrom Reno, Nv.  Not rated yet
I live in Reno, Nv. im curious where does the humming bird go during the winter months?


Comment

Hummingbirds spend their winters in southern ...

Brown bird that flutters like a humming bird  Not rated yet
I have seen this bird that flutters like a hummingbird but is bigger, It is light brown, anyone knows what it is?

Comment
Believe it or not,...

The Wonders of Hummingbirds  Not rated yet
I have a hummingbird feeder attached to my window on my porch, and I am sitting like 3 feet away, it's wonderful to see them so close, when they feed, and ...

Hummingbird Video  Not rated yet



Comment
Thank you Fred! The Hummingbird is the smallest of birds. How large do you think the actual body of the hummingbird would be without ...

Organic Palm Sugar  Not rated yet
Can you feed organic palm sugar to hummingbirds?


Answer

The sugar must provide the same resemblance to nectar, as does white cane sugar.
You ...

Wintering Hummingbirds  Not rated yet
We live near Seattle, WA. Each year we have hummingbirds that stay all winter. Now we have had our first snowfall and very low temperatures. The nectar ...

Newbie Birdwatchers  Not rated yet
I've recently been watching the hummingbirds that stop by my Bouganvilla here in Southern California.

I've been looking for ideas to do with my son ...

hummingbirds  Not rated yet
I have some left over palm sugar and was wondering if it's okay to feed it to the hummingbirds as a substitute for white sugar....I've heard honey is not ...

Hummingbird Nectar Recipe  Not rated yet
Question: Can I use raw sugar instead of refined sugar in my hummingbird feeders? Or what about organic honey? Thank you for considering
my question!...

Other hummingbird species common to North America in the summer are:


  • Allen's Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin): Range: Southern California to Southwest Oregon
  • Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna): Range: West coast from Arizona to British Columbia
  • Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri): Range: West Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, parts of Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California
  • Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus): Range: West Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, parts of Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California
  • Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope): Range: Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and western Montana
  • Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus): Range: Pacific Northwest,
    northern Rockies up to Alaska (photo)


Rufous Hummingbird


Until recently, little has been known about hummers, but now more and more hummingbird information is becoming available. Much is being learned from an increasing number of hummers being banded ("Banding" means trapping a bird and wrapping a tiny numbered strip of aluminum around one leg). Hummingbird information on migration has been provided through banding. Understanding hummer's migration patterns will help you to know when you should put out your hummingbird feeders.

Choosing the best hummingbird feeder will make your love of watching these little jewels easier and more enjoyable. There are basically two styles to choose from, the bottle or vacuum style and the dish style. You can click the link above to find out which style is best for you or learn how to make one yourself.

There are many commercially produced hummingbird foods. But why not make your own? It's easy, inexpensive and better for your hummers. Hummingbirds eat more than just nectar; insects and spiders are a big part of their diet. Using the right hummingbird feeder recipe will attract more hummers to your feeders.
Hummingbird

If you are having trouble attracting hummers to your bird feeders, consider creating a natural hummingbird habitat using the flowers, trees and shrubs that hummers love. With a little hummingbird information you can increase your chances of seeing these wonderful creatures.

Finding a hummingbird nest in your yard tells you that a female hummer has approved of the hummingbird habitat that you've created. If you're lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of the fascinating flight pattern the male Ruby-throated hummingbird uses to attract a female.

I hope the hummingbird information you found here has inspired you to at least put out a feeder or two. You will never tire of watching these little beauties as they go from your feeders to your flowers. If you are fortunate, they may even reward you with the privilege of watching them as they build a nest and create a new family right in your own yard. Happy Humming!

Back to the top of this hummingbird information page.

Here are morehummingbird pictures for you to enjoy.

Click here for more interesting facts about the hummingbird.

Growing some of their favorite flowers, will bring the Hummers to your garden. Learn how to attract hummingbirds with beautiful flowers.

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