Male Anna’s hummingbird
Did you know that of North America’s 20 hummingbird species, most are unique to the West? If you’re familiar mostly with the ruby-throat, which is seen only in the East, you’ll want to learn more about these fascinating little fliers:
ANNA’S
A familiar year-round sight from California up to Washington state, Anna’s hummingbirds visit backyard gardens, parks, streams and open woodlands. Males sport a beautiful iridescent pink crown and throat.
BLACK-CHINNED
Throughout much of summer and migration season, this species’ range covers several states. Look for the male’s signature black chin and gorgeous iridescent purple throat. These hummingbirds are known to hover at feeders and dart out to grab small insects.
CALLIOPE
Found in mountain meadows in the Northwest, calliope hummingbirds—the smallest birds in North America—travel long distances during migration. A red-and-white-streaked throat (sometimes the red verges on magenta) is common in males.
RUFOUS
Rufous hummingbirds have the largest range and are the most likely to veer east. You’ll know it’s a rufous if you see its back completely covered with coppery orange feathers.
BUFF-BELLIED
It’s not uncommon to see a few of these as far east as Louisiana in winter, but most buff-bellieds stick to the southern tip of Texas. Look for their bright cinnamon tail.
BACKYARD TIP FOR ATTRACTING HUMMINGBIRDS
To attract hummingbirds, regardless of your location, plant nectar-rich flowers and fill feeders with sugar water—a mixture of 4 parts water to 1 part sugar.
Judy Wilson says
I live in southeast PA and every year I have many ruby throat hummingbirds at my 4 feeders. I’m sad to say I have only seen 1 or 2 hummingbirds and maybe only once a week. Is there a reason for the few number? Was it because of the hard winter?
lakshmi says
well. I have ruby throated hummers visiting me almost every evening in my garden. i live in San Jose, CA
Mary Jo Conte says
I live for the summer to see the Humming Birds
i see one or two every day, they are green
and yellow and grey really beautiful.
Garry kerr says
Hummingbirds are known to hover at feeders and dart out to grab small insects. feather color are really nice look, it seems like a wonder climate.
Evie says
I have numerous hummers here in middle Arkansas all summer and even now in Sept. although the number have lessened. I have a question: why does my sugar water turn cloudy at times? I have followed the same directions for years, but at times like the las two refills the water has turned cloudy in a matter of a couple of days.
Tootie says
I have seen a ruby throat female building a nest on top of last years nest. She has it all finished and had been sitting in it for a couple of days. Now I haven’t seen her in the nest at all for the last 5 days. There are 2 or 3 hummers at the feeder which is only about 10 – 12 feet from the next. Did she abandon the nest? I can’t see if there are any eggs in it.
Lili says
No matter what I do, ants keep invading my feeders. I tried
everything I could think of, or read about. SOS!
Kathy says
I bought a ant trap. Its a red cup that hangs above the feeder. I read somewhere to add Vaseline to the inside of the cup and ants and bees will not come near. I used my finger and smeared the Vaseline all around the inside of the cup even up on the top edge. It worked great! Never seen an ant or bee near my feeders.
kathy213 says
I purchased a ant cup for all my feeders. It is red and hangs above your feeder. There is a hook at the bottom to hook onto your feeder. Also, I read somewhere to add Vaseline to this cup and it keeps the ants and bees away. I smeared the Vaseline all over inside the cup and up on the top edge. I have had NO bees or ants all season!
Greatest buy I made and they are very inexpensive. The name is TRAP IT ANT TRAP. Here it is on Amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/Wildlife-Accessories-WAANTRED-Trap–Carded/dp/B000GGAKGC/ref=sr_1_40?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1475253297&sr=1-40&keywords=hummingbird+feeder+parts
I hope this helps!
Kathy
Barbara Paine says
You are forgetting about Allen’s Hummingbirds (look like Rufous but with a green back), Costas Hummingbirds (gorgeous purple “helmet”) and Broad Tailed Hummingbirds, all common to Southern California