Backyard Style - Outdoor, Backyard Pond and Birding

Friday, May 23, 2008

Hummingbirds - How to Attract them and Great Hummingbird Feeders- CLICK HERE!

Hummingbirds are the most beautiful birds in the world as far as I am concerned and the Ruby-throated hummingbird is the one that most of us are familiar with in most parts of the United States.

Before I start talking about how to attract them .. there are a few facts to keep in mind that will bring to light the "whys" behind my suggestions.

Hummingbirds have a long tongue that laps up liquids like a dog or cat would, just at a much faster rate. That is how the hummingbird gets the nectar out of your feeder!

The most commonly seen U.S. hummingbirds and their general areas of distribution are:

Allen's Hummingbirds in Coastal California
Anna's Hummingbirds in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico and West Texas

Black-Chinned Hummingbirds in Western U.S. generally west of Texas to Wyoming

Blue-Throated Hummingbirds in Southwestern Arizona

Broad-Billed Hummingbirds in S.W. Texas, S.W. New Mexico and S.E. Arizona

Broad-Tailed hummingbirds in Parts of the Rocky Mountain regions, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Idaho, Arizona, Colorado and mountains of Central California

Buff-Bellied hummingbirds in Rio Grande valley of South Texas

Calliope hummingbirds in Montana, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, E. California

Costa's in S. California, southwest Arizona, southern New Mexico, western Texas
Ruby-Throated hummingbirds in Easter United States from Central Texas to N. Dakota

Rufous hummingbirds in northwest United States to coastal regions of S. Alaska

Violet-Crowned hummingbirds in Southern California and West Texas

White-Eared hummingbirds in south Arizona and West Texas

To attract hummingbirds, make sure that you plant lots of native hummingbird flowers and flowering shrubs and trees. The brighter the flowers, the better.

Place at least one hummingbird feeder that will help will draw and keep hummingbirds in your backyard. Hummingbirds have a great "GPS" system (not necessarily Magellan .. but you know what we mean). Once they feed in your yard, they will keep coming back.

To attract more hummingbirds initially, try tying a pink, red or orange ribbon in a few places to draw the hummingbirds to your backyard. Remember to change your nectar frequently (once or twice per week) to keep it fresh.

Labels: Hummingbird Feeding