Growing up back east I don’t recall ever seeing a hummingbird. I’m amazed that to see these flying treasures now, all I have to do is go out to our garden or up on our deck. This female Anna’s hummingbird was perched on a tree in our yard.
As part of making our garden into a wildlife habitat through the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), we provide food, water and cover for local and migrating animals. George’s garden includes many flowers for nectar, and he is always replenishing the sugar-water feeders for the hummingbirds. He also avoids using pesticides, because that could harm or kill the birds. Here’s an article by NWF about feeding hummingbirds. The sugar-water is a supplement to their diet of insects and nectar. This article goes into more detail, and has good advice about the important issue of keeping your feeders clean.
This is a male Anna’s – the brilliant color of his head and neck shines with iridescence when it catches the light.
This is another male Anna’s. You see how different the color of his feathers appears, this hummer shines with a more magenta hue.
Hummingbirds are among the limited species of birds that can hover.
When awake, they are almost constantly in motion. I had to quickly shoot the photos of them perching on the tree, because they don’t land for long. Here’s a shot of two of them, one about to land on a branch, and another zooming by above.
I caught a shot of this young hummer with his beak open.
Do you know what kinds of hummingbirds visit or live in your area? I’m lucky to have George, who has studied this extensively, to tell me who’s who. He said that at this time of year we’re getting only the Anna’s hummingbirds, and that they stay with us year-round. Does your garden have nectar flowers or other plants to attract and feed hummingbirds? Do you have hummingbird feeders to supplement their diet?
Beautiful photos. We only have Ruby Throated hummingbirds in New England. They love my bee balm.