Today is March 20. What makes this day special? Is it special, because it is the day before spring officially begins? No, it is special, because if you are lucky, today is the day that you will catch your first glimpse of a ruby-throated hummingbird.

There are 65 distinct species of hummingbirds in the world. Only 17 of these can be found in the United States. Only one, the ruby-throated hummingbird, can be found in North Carolina. There have been occasional reports of sightings of other hummers in the state, but this is a rarity. These sightings probably occur when a single hummer of a different species is diverted for some reason from its normal migration patterns.

Since ruby-throated hummers are the only species you are likely to see, the information I will share in this column will relate only to this species. Be aware that the color patterns of male and female will vary, and the female is always larger than the male. Also, the young are colored somewhat different from the adults. So if you see what appears to be different species, it is probably just different members of the same family.

Hummingbirds are frequent visitors to our yards during the summer months. But each year during September, they pack up their bags and head south for the winter. A few of them will settle in southern Florida for the winter months, but the vast majority will travel on to southern Mexico and Central America.

As with most other animals and birds, the hummingbird's habits are fairly predictable. As day length increases and temperatures warm up in the spring, plants begin to bloom. Since nectar from the flowers of these plants is the main food source for hummers, they will start migrating north as flowers become available for them.

As they travel, they usually arrive in different parts of Florida during late February and early March. Some of them come through southern Texas, some through Cuba, and others apparently fly directly across the Gulf of Mexico. Their arrival in our area coincides with the availability of flowers. Look around. On March 20 the pear trees, tulip trees, yellow bells, and many other early-flowering trees and plants are in full bloom.

The ruby-throated hummingbird weighs only about three grams when it is fully grown. In just one day, an adult will drink up to eight times its body weight in water.

Unlike other birds, hummingbirds can flit about in every direction imaginable. They can fly forward, backward, up, down, and can even fly upside down.

When you look at them as they hover around a feeder, their wings look like a blur. Electronic devices have been used to count the beats of their wings and found that during normal feeding activities, they beat anywhere from 20 to 90 beats per second. When excited during courtship, they can beat their wings up to 200 times per second.

The nest they build will be about the size of an English walnut and will be attached to a branch. The female lays two to three eggs which are about the size of a pea. It takes about 14 days for the eggs to hatch, and the young will remain in the nest about three weeks. When they leave the nest, they are almost as large as their parents.

If you want to attract hummers to your yard, you should plant a variety of brightly colored, nectar-producing flowers. If you can lure them to your yard and keep them there as they nest and raise their young, they will most likely return year after year.

Hummingbirds prefer tubular-shaped flowers like trumpet creeper and honeysuckle. They also feed heavily on mimosa trees and red spirea. Perennial flowers like phlox, coral bells, fuchsia, and red or multi-colored columbine are favorites. They prefer flowers in sunny locations but will feed on the flowers of hanging baskets and patio or porch planters.

Hummingbirds are easily attracted to feeders. By placing feeders in front of windows or on a patio you can lure them close enough that they can easily be viewed. Once they find the location of the feeder, they will feed very frequently, so there will be almost constant activity around the feeder during daylight hours.

If you do use a feeder, you can use the commercial solutions found in garden centers and pet stores, or you can make your own from sugar and water. If making your own, use one cup sugar to one quart of water.

Hummers are attracted to red flowers, so many people feel they must add red color to the solution. This is not necessary, because the feeders you purchase probably have red features on them, and once the hummers locate the feeder, they will use them frequently.

It is very important that the feeder be kept clean. If neglected, the sweet solutions may be spoiled by molds and bacteria that can harm or kill the hummers. The feeder should be filled daily and thoroughly cleaned every four to five days.

Even casual bird watchers enjoy the fascination of watching hummingbirds. Get ready, here they come.

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 3/25/03