Hummingbirds in North America
Page 4 - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Hummingbirds
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Top Spring Hummingbird Question:
WHEN SHOULD WE PUT UP OUR HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS IN THE SPRING?
We are not able to supply you with a personalized date for placing your feeders up in the spring. The best answer may come from an Audubon Society close to your location. We do keep a chart of spring arrival dates from our visitors and you are welcome to view it and add your sightings. Hummingbirds - Spring Arrival Dates
Do you have some
questions about hummingbirds?
Is a hummingbird's bill a hollow tube?
No, there are two mandibles. The upper mandible overlaps the sides of the lower. They can open their bill but there are limits to how wide they can open.
Is a hummingbird's tongue a hollow tube?
No. The nectar on the tongue is squeezed off into the mouth.
Do hummingbirds really have feet and legs?
Yes. This, of course, is how they perch on branches. There is a debate about whether hummingbirds can actually walk on their feet or only perch.
What are some common nesting materials that hummingbirds use?
plant down
vegetable fibers
spider silk
lichens
thin grasses
blossom petals
feathers
bark
Do male and female hummingbirds share in raising the young hummingbirds?
No. The female is on her own. The males are busy defending territories and looking for mates. The females build the nest and take on all responsibilities for the nestlings.
One hummingbird is flying a big "U" pattern directly in front of another hummingbird. Is this a warning?
This could be a mating dance OR a territorial threat. You would have to follow the actions of the two hummingbirds AFTER this display behavior or be certain of their respective sexes. They often fly off, one chasing the other. This could be two males in a power play or it could be that a male is following a female to "rendezvous" in a more secluded spot. A juvenile male hummingbird might not have the obvious colored gorget yet so it is often difficult to judge whether you are seeing two males or one male and one female.
How long does it take between laying the first and second eggs?
One to two days. Eggs are usually laid in the morning. Some hummingbirds have two broods in a season and a third is not completely unheard of.
The adult hummingbird is not longer at the nest. Will the young birds die? Can they take care of themselves already?
Unless true disaster has struck, the adult female hummingbird is still taking care of her nestlings. After they have matured enough, she is not going to stay at the nest as she did before. She needs to get food for herself and her young ones. Her visits to the nest will be very quick. Unless you are watching continuously, you may not see her at all.
What else can I do to attract hummingbirds besides putting up a feeder and planting nectar-rich flowers?
Provide bathing needs such as a misting device to provide the birds with a gentle spray. They will reward you with energetic playful grace.
What are some hummingbird predators?
Birds including hawks, crows and roadrunners. Watch for Roadrunners at your feeders. Snakes, lizards, toads, frogs, praying mantis, large dragonflies and even some spiders can pose a danger.
Can I send you a photograph of my hummingbird so that you can identify it?
Unless it is a full adult male hummingbird with gorget color showing, I probably can not help you identify it from a photograph. I'm sorry!
What is the length and weight of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird?
According to the book titled
Hummingbirds A Wildlife Handbook by Kim Long...
Length = 3-3.75" or 76-95 mm.
Weight = .09-.14 oz. or 2.5-4 gm.
What is the wingspan and weight of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird?
Wingspan = 5 inches
Weight = 1/10 oz.
How far can they migrate?
At least 1,800 miles from NE U.S., across the Gulf of Mexico (600 miles without rest), all the way to Central America.
If they have to eat so often, how can they travel so far?
Before migrating, hummingbirds add fat equal to 1/2 of their normal body weight.
Do hummingbirds hitch rides on the backs of, under the wings of or in the backdraft of larger birds such as geese?
No. This is a very persistent myth.
Where have my hummingbirds gone?
Every year I receive messages from people with a long history of feeding a large number of hummingbirds who have noticed a dramatic decrease in the number of birds. I couldn't possibly give them a definitive answer but I have at least one idea about why this could have happened.
Aside from the troubling concern that a true decrease in population of some species of hummingbirds could be happening, I believe the answer can lie in a less sinister scenario. Hummingbirds may return to some of these locations because they are near a stable wildflower area which has produced a dependable food source for years or decades. If weather conditions (such as drought or several years of drought) have altered this reliable source of nectar and insects, the hummingbirds may have shifted their breeding or migration zones accordingly. Destruction of natural habitat due to other causes would affect the appeal of the area to hummingbirds. Although a well maintained feeding station might be enough to attract lots of hummingbirds year after year, it might not continue to overcome a loss of wildflower acreage.
Do hummingbird feeders have to be red?
No. Red is an excellent choice to get noticed by passing hummingbirds but hummingbirds will explore and discover feeders of any color. Once they know a feeder offers sugar water, they will use it no matter what color it is.
Why aren't the hummingbirds using my feeders? I have fresh sugar water in them and they are not dirty.
I can't answer this question but I can tell you that you are not alone in observing this behavior. Some years my hummingbirds seem to ignore my flowers and use the hummingbird feeders exclusively. Other years it is exactly the opposite. This pattern is interesting to watch.
Can I catch a hummingbird and take it to live at my mother's house? She has never seen one.
Absolutely not! Do not attempt to "catch" a hummingbird and do not transport it to a location where other hummingbirds do not exist. Do not try to make a pet of a hummingbird. Do not place one in a cage. It takes a highly-trained licensed expert in wild bird rehabilitation to even attempt to keep a hummingbird alive by human hands.
Please share some of your interesting observations of hummingbirds by sending us a story to add to the Visitor Stories page of the website. Thank you!
Information on Hummingbirds (index of pages):
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