Hummingbirds

Jun 10, 2010

by Steve Blight

Without a doubt, the return of hummingbirds to our area is one of the most eagerly anticipated events of spring. These brilliantly coloured, pint-sized bundles of energy are the smallest bird in eastern North America, but they punch well above their weight class. Male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds aggressively defend flowers and feeders, leading to spectacular chases and dogfights, and even occasional jabs with the beak.

There are over 300 species of hummingbirds in the world, all of which are found in the Americas – from Alaska to Argentina. Twenty-three species are known to breed in North America, with most found in the deep south west United States. In Eastern North America there is only one hummingbird – the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. This is “our” hummer.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are the smallest bird in eastern North America, weighing in at a paltry 0.13 ounces (or about 3.5 grams) on average – a bit less than the weight of a single Canadian nickel! They are bright emerald or golden-green on the back and crown, with gray-white underparts. Males have a brilliant iridescent red throat that looks dark when it’s not in good light. On average, they arrive in our area by about May 9. Southward migration gets underway when the males begin to leave in early August, with most birds gone to Mexico and places further south for another year by mid September.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds occur in highest numbers in open deciduous woodlands with flower-covered openings, although they can also be found near old fields, forest edges, meadows, orchards, stream borders, and backyards in rural areas. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds feed on the nectar of tubular flowers such as trumpet creeper, cardinal flower, honeysuckle, jewelweed, bee-balm and wild bergamot. They also feed on tree sap, often taking sap from holes drilled by Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. Hummingbirds eat insects as well, including mosquitoes, midges, and small bees; they also eat spiders. Happily, the current evidence suggests that populations of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are stable.

A curious but somehow enduring myth about hummingbirds is that they migrate on the backs of Canada Geese. This is totally false – hummingbirds migrate entirely under their own steam. In fact, some have been observed crossing the entire Gulf of Mexico in one non-stop flight – and without any geese anywhere in sight!

Here are a few more interesting facts about our hummer:

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird beats its wings about 53 times a second.

The extremely short legs of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird prevent it from walking or hopping.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds normally place their nest on a branch of a deciduous or coniferous tree but have been known to nest on loops of chain, wire, and extension cords.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds occupy the largest breeding range of any North American hummingbird.

Male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds don’t have much time for their families. Pairs are together just long enough for courtship and mating – only a matter of days to weeks. Males have nothing to do with nest building or raising the young.

The oldest known Ruby-throated Hummingbird was nine years, one month.

You can attract hummers to your backyard by setting up hummingbird feeders or by planting tubular flowers. Make sugar water mixtures with about one-quarter cup of sugar per cup of boiling water and let it cool. Food coloring is unnecessary and may even be harmful to the birds; ordinary white sugar is the best choice. Change the sugar water before it grows cloudy or discoloured and remember that during hot weather, sugar water ferments rapidly to produce toxic alcohol. And be careful about where you put your hummingbird feeders, as some cats have learned to lie in wait to catch visiting hummingbirds – not something that any hummer-lover would be happy about!

Please feel free to report any observations to Lorraine Julien at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or Steve Blight at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.