It looks like the hummingbirds have join the ranks of the other summer birds that have headed south. It has been a couple of days since I had a lone hummingbird tanking up on sugar water before making the long trip.
Last to Leave
Picture of the Day for May 8, 2023
More birds have returned adding additional voices outdoors, including the grosbeaks and the loud song from the tiny wrens. And this evening, the humming of tiny wings was heard as the hummingbird danced near the feeder. With their short legs, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird doesn’t walk but shuffles along a perch.
Shuffling Hummingbird
Picture of the Day for May 4, 2022
I guess it is officially spring now as the first mosquito got me this afternoon and the first bite from that tiny insect feels more like a hummingbird. But so far the hummingbirds, orioles, wrens and grosbeaks haven’t wandered quite this far north yet although hopefully I will see more of the returning birds soon.
Hovering Hummingbird
Picture of the Day for September 13, 2021
The young hummingbirds are stocking up on sugar water before they start their migration trip south to Central America.
Filling Up
Picture of the Day for August 26, 2020
Although the month of August isn’t over yet, some of the birds have already left for the season which signals the approach of autumn and then winter. The oriole, grosbeak and wrens sounds have vanished from nature’s orchestra but the chips and fast buzzing of wings are still present for the moment. Although the ruby-throated hummingbird males seem to have headed south already too and they can fly over 1,200 miles without stopping. The juveniles and females leave a little later but soon they will disappear too until next spring.
Waiting for Departure
Picture of the Day for August 5, 2019
There seems to be a sibling (and cousin) fight going on at my hummingbird feeder. I have witnessed mid-air body slams occurring between the little ruby-throated hummingbirds. It seems like they have no patience and they can’t take turns drinking at the feeder but I suppose they figure I might forget to fill it and they won’t get any. But next month they will be heading south and gone again until next spring.
Hummingbird Feeder Fight
Watch the hummingbirds fight for the spots on the feeder.
Picture of the Day for July 20, 2013
The cooler dawn ushered in a very vocal choir of birds this morning although the hummingbird just added some ‘chee-dit’ and buzzing to the mix. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird, which beats its wings about 53 times a second, is eastern North America’s sole breeding hummingbird.
Scientists place hummingbirds and swifts in the same taxonomic order, the Apodiformes. The name means “without feet,” which is certainly how these birds look most of the time. The extremely short legs of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird prevent it from walking or hopping. The best it can do is shuffle along a perch. Nevertheless, it scratches its head and neck by raising its foot up and over its wing.
In 1980, the hummingbird, known as “the bird of hope”, became the official symbol of the International Diabetes Federation, partly because of its association with sugar, and party because of its association with control and precision.
And this guy certainly had the control and precision to chase away any other hummingbird that approached the feeder he was guarding.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
