Hummingbirds

Anyone who has seen a hummingbird swoop in and defend his territory will agree they are dynamos in flight.   The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is found In North Carolina from April through October. 

I have a hummingbird feeder in my backyard.  Hummingbirds sip nectar so their feeders are filled with sugar water. There are easy-dissolving sugar powders you can purchase, or a 1:4 mixture of sugar and water can be boiled.  There is some inconvenience involved in cleaning the feeders and keeping it filled all summer, but the antics and beauty of the little bird make it worthwhile.

The male hummingbird is around 3 inches long with an iridescent red throat. His wings are green with white and black accents. His breast is white. The females and immature males are similar, but have a whitish throat.  Hummingbirds are territorial about their feeders and emit loud chirps when fighting. They buzz loudly when approaching the feeder. They exhibit astounding flexibility and speed in flight.  They hover, move up and down, and fly backward- much like a living mini-helicopter.

If you have a successful hummingbird feeder you will be rewarded by a view of the bird perching nearby.  They don’t sit still for long, but they will preen and look around. They also enjoy garden flowers.  They visit my butterfly bushes and cleomes.  Anything red or pink will be investigated.  They often return to the same feeder location year after year.

While I was writing this, a hummingbird peaked in the window.  That’s to be expected – I live in a red house!