Hummingbirds are among North America’s most captivating birds, known for their dazzling colors and incredible aerial agility. These tiny creatures, typically measuring between 3 to 5 inches. They are the smallest birds in the world, yet they possess a remarkable ability to hover and dart with precision. Their vibrant plumage often shimmers in sunlight.
Identifying North American Hummingbirds
North America is home to several hummingbird species. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only breeding hummingbird found across eastern North America, recognized by the male’s iridescent ruby-red throat patch and green back. These birds are common in gardens and woodlands.
The Rufous Hummingbird, often seen in western North America, is largely rufous (reddish-brown) in color, with males displaying an iridescent copper-red throat. Females are greener with speckled throats. Anna’s Hummingbird, a year-round resident in parts of the Pacific Coast, is notable for the male’s iridescent rose-pink crown and gorget, which can appear nearly black in some light. The Black-chinned Hummingbird, found across western North America, features a male with a dull black throat bordered by a shimmering purple band, while the female has a plain throat.
Remarkable Adaptations and Biology
Hummingbirds have adaptations for their flight and feeding. Their high metabolism supports rapid wing beats, which can reach up to 80 times per second, generating the characteristic humming sound. This rapid wing movement allows them to hover in place, fly backward, and change direction instantly, making them agile in the air.
Their hearts beat at approximately 250 times per minute. To fuel this high metabolism, hummingbirds consume large amounts of nectar. Their long, slender bills and forked tongues are adapted for reaching deep into flowers to extract nectar. When conditions are challenging, hummingbirds can enter a state of torpor, a temporary hibernation, to conserve energy by lowering their body temperature and metabolism.
Feeding Habits and Attracting Them
Hummingbirds primarily feed on nectar, a sugary liquid found in flowers, which provides them with immediate energy. They use their long, grooved tongues to lap up nectar rapidly, sometimes consuming it at a rate of 13 licks per second. Beyond nectar, their diet is supplemented by small insects and spiders, which provide essential protein, especially during breeding seasons. These protein sources are important for the growth and development of their young.
To attract hummingbirds, planting native, nectar-rich flowers is effective. Tubular flowers, especially red or orange ones, attract hummingbirds. Maintaining hummingbird feeders with a sugar-water solution is another method; a common ratio is one-quarter cup of sugar per cup of water. Change the solution regularly, every few days, to prevent fermentation and keep feeders clean to ensure the birds’ health. Placing feeders in visible, open areas away from direct sunlight can also enhance their appeal.
Their Annual Journey and Breeding
Many North American hummingbird species undertake annual migrations, traveling thousands of miles between their breeding grounds and warmer wintering areas. For instance, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird migrates from its breeding range in eastern North America to winter in Central America, with some individuals flying non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico for 18-20 hours. This journey, approximately 500 miles, is undertaken solo. Rufous Hummingbirds, found in the west, have one of the longest migratory journeys of any bird relative to their body size, traveling up to 4,000 miles from Alaska or Canada to Mexico.
During the breeding season, typically from spring through summer, female hummingbirds construct tiny, cup-shaped nests, often using plant down, moss, and spider silk to bind the materials together and attach the nest to a branch. Spider silk provides elasticity, allowing the nest to expand as the young grow. Females typically lay two small, white eggs, about the size of a coffee bean. The female alone incubates the eggs and raises the chicks, feeding them a diet of nectar and insects until they are ready to fledge.