Hummingbirds

Ruby-throated hummingbirds are making their way back to Illinois for the summer.  There are about 325 known species of hummingbirds, all of which are found only in the Americas.  Most species live in tropical areas of South America and Latin America while 18 live in North America, and only the Ruby-throated hummingbird commonly occurs in Illinois. 

Hummers are the smallest birds in the world, ranging in weight from 0.1 to 0.3 ounces.  Also setting them apart from other birds are their flight abilities.  Their wings make a unique figure-eight rotation, allowing these birds to feed on nectar while hovering in mid-air.  This allows the birds to fly forwards, backwards and sideways.  They can even fly upside down for a short way.  Birds that appear in summer here migrate south for the winter traveling up to 2000 miles including a 500 mile non-stop leg over the Gulf of Mexico!

Another feature is their beautiful iridescent colors.  Most species are metallic green on their backs, but chin and belly colors range from blue/green to violet, red and bright orange.  Ruby-throated hummingbirds display green backs, white bellies, and a black chin strap.  Only males display a red throat, which also may appear black or dark gray from certain angles. 

Hummingbirds have long beaks and long tongues.  They typically feed on nectar found in the base of long tube-like flowers but they can also lap up small invertebrate prey.  Their tongue has many tiny grooves promoting capillary action that moves liquids up to the mouth with no sucking required.  Nectar is very watery with a low sugar content.  This allows liquids to move through the tongue grooves without clogging on sugar crystals.  Keeping this in mind when preparing feeder solutions for your own backyard feeder, a good solution is to mix four parts water to one part sugar; boil 30 seconds to make sure sugar dissolves; let cool before putting into feeder.  No food coloring should be used.

Another way to attract Humingbirds to your own backyard is to plant the flowers that they use for nectar.  Red flowers that grow in full sun are the best, whether in pots on your balcony or in a full garden bed.  A variety of flowers that bloom from spring through fall will provide food for their whole stay.  A few red flowering species include coral bells, scarlet salvia, fire pink, Cardinal flower, trumpet vine, columbine and common zinnia.  Blue and/or purple may also attract visitors including ‘Blue-Bird’ rose-of-Sharon, blue salvia and bee balm.