Hummingbirds Are So Much Fun To Watch

Like I said before, of all the birds we could watch, the hummingbirds are our favorite. They really are so much fun to watch

Basically there are about 16 different species of these birds that venture into the United States and the Ruby Throated is the only one that is generally found east of the Mississippi. Even though there have been some exceptions found to this rule it really is the exception not the norm.

Hummingbirds are found only in the western hemisphere...

Here is a picture of a Ruby Throated Hummingbird.

Other than the Ruby Throated, most species summer primarily in the west and southwest part of the country and as we will show you, some of these birds actually do venture as far north as Canada during the summer months.

Another thing you should know is that although all 16 of these species can be found in the United States, some of them may be very rare indeed and a real treat if you do happen to see one.

Depending on the area of the country you live in these birds can be sparse or very prevalent. In all the states we have lived in though Missouri was by far the best that we experienced.

We had so many hummers in our backyard that we needed at least three to four feeders going at once.

Occasionally he would not be happy with what he saw and he would fly down and break them all up :-)

Fun Fact: Actually the male can be a very territorial bird.

This particular bird was huge by hummingbird standards. He was probably twice the normal size. You see, although rare, some of these birds have been known to live over 10 years and I am sure he was pushing all of that.

If pictures are your thing we also have hummingbird pictures. We have pictures of the 16 different species that nest in the United States along with a rough area of where they can be found and some helpful information about each type.

You might even want to consider sharing some of your own hummingbird photos with us.

Fun fact: These birds can rotate their wings in a circle.

That is how they can fly backwards, forward, up, down, sideways and even hover. Actually they are the only bird that can fly backwards and yes it is so much fun to watch the ariel shows they put on. We never get tired watching them.

Here are some other interesting hummingbird facts

Because of their high metabolism these birds can drink more than their own body weight of nectar each day, however that still isn't enough for them. The nectar gives them the fuel they need for their high metabolism however it does not give them the protein they need so they also prey on insects, spiders and mosquitoes to supplement their diet.

Actually these birds have a great memory when it comes to their food. They can remember the locations of their food sources from year to year.

Hummingbirds have no sense of smell so they are very visual creatures. Everything they do is visual, from courting and mating to protecting their territory and food source.

They use a wide array of ariel displays and depending on the species and what they are trying to accomplish at the moment, well that will determine just what type of display you might see. They really are all about the sight.

Generally speaking the male takes little or no part in the nest building, feeding and caring for their young. The females take on most or all of this responsibility.

Fun Fact: The gorget is a beautiful part of the bird

Actually the gorget is the bright colored area on their throat and chin. On some species the iridescent feathers can produce some very brilliant colors when the sun hits them just so and it is the males who show the best colors.

Below are links to the 16 species that can be found in the United States.

We also discuss feeders, the types that are out there and the styles we feel are the best ones to use. In addition to that we give you advice on the cleaning and care of your hummer feeders. After all it makes no sense to bring hummingbirds into your feeders if you aren't going take proper care of them.

Attracting these birds is not only easy, but it can give you lasting enjoyment if you decide to go natural. Besides just having a feeder in their yard, some folks prefer a more natural way to bring these birds in.

We have suggestions showing you some of the flowers, bushes and trees that will attract them. After all if you can have some great landscaping and at the same time attract these lovely creatures to your backyard, then we see that as a win win.

It really is all about enjoying your own backyard and attracting hummingbirds to your backyard is just another way of doing that.

Are you a master photographer. Then hey, share your wonderful pictures with us and all the world. I would love to see what pictures you are taking out there.

I know our readers will appreciate seeing your photos as well, so don't be bashful.

Just share your pictures for all of us to see. It is easy to do and then you can show off to all your friends and family. After all not everyone gets a chance to be published.

We sure do hope you find this whole area of our site on hummingbirds helpful and informative and please feel free to visit the rest of our site for any of you other backyard fun needs.

SBI!

Hummingbirds Are Our Most Favorite Birds of All