Hummingbirds Flock to Florida for Nesting Season
The idea of waiting for something often makes it more exciting. This is especially true when you happen to catch that first glimpse of a hummingbird in your yard or garden in the spring. Whether a juvenile or adult hummingbird, watching these tiny jewels of the sky is always a special treat.
As temperatures rise, hummingbirds begin their migration to the United States, arriving along the Gulf Coast in early March, and gradually spreading across dozens of states. After spending the colder months in Central America or Mexico, these beautiful birds are a welcomed sight that will continue to brighten your world through the end of summer.
We have brought you details on these incredible animals and ways to attract them to your yard or garden as more of them flock to Florida.
FLORIDA HUMMINGBIRDS
According to the American Bird Conservancy, hummingbird origins remain a topic of scientific debate, but it’s generally accepted that their ancestors originated in Europe and Asia, and then migrated to the Americas.
Evidence from fossils and evolutionary trees suggests they split from swifts and treeswifts about 42 million years ago in Eurasia, suggesting that hummingbirds were once present in the Old World. The ancestral species of modern hummingbirds arrived in South America around 22 million years ago, where they diversified into the vast array of species we see today.
Of the more than 340 known species, the University of Florida (UF) states that 16 are found in the United States, and only three in Florida. “The most prevalent species of hummingbird in Florida is the ruby-throated hummingbird. We have three species in Florida, and I’ve never seen the other species but the black-chinned and rufous hummingbirds can occasionally be spotted in the winter here,” UF/IFAS Residential Horticulture Extension Agent and Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator Tia Silvasy explained.
Only three inches long and weighing as little as a penny, the ruby-throated hummingbird earned its name from the male’s brilliantly colored throat feathers, which contain air bubbles that give off an iridescent red tone in full light.
The ruby-throated hummingbird’s breeding range extends from central Kansas to the East Coast, and from Saskatchewan to central Florida. Although some may remain in South Florida year-round, most spend the winter in Mexico and South America.
“Hummingbirds migrate from Mexico and South America and return to Florida in March, so from March through October is the best time to see them in Florida,” Silvasy said.
FLYING FEATS
In terms of migratory feats, hummingbirds go the farthest of any bird in proportion to body length, according to the National Audubon Society. Some hummingbird species can fly at speeds greater than 33 miles per hour. For a 2.5-inch hummingbird, the few thousand miles traveled between breeding grounds and winter habitats is a tremendous journey.
The rufous hummingbird has the longest migration of any hummingbird species, with an annual trek of more than 3,000 miles from Alaska and Canada to southern Mexico. “Ruby-throated hummingbirds, on the other hand, follow shorter routes within North America, traveling from eastern regions to southern Mexico, Panama and sometimes the Caribbean.”
“Ruby-throated hummingbirds make a non-stop 500-mile journey across the Gulf of Mexico in less than a day, relying on fat reserves for energy,” Silvasy said.
Contrary to popular belief, hummingbirds do not actually hum. This sound is produced by the rapid flapping of their wings, which can beat at speeds of up to 200 times per second. The humming sound is a distinctive feature that has earned them their name.
One of the most fascinating things about hummingbirds is their helicopter-like stunts. Unlike most birds that flap their wings up and down, hummingbirds can move their wings in a figure-eight pattern, allowing them to fly backward, sideways and even upside down. Soaring is the only maneuver these feathered friends can not perform.
Like the chimney swift, another master flier and member of the same avian order, Apodiformes (meaning “footless”), hummingbirds have tiny feet. According to the American Bird Conservancy, having small feet reduces aerodynamic drag in flight, however, there’s a downside: These birds cannot walk. They can only perch or scoot sideways.
NESTING
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the only species that nest east of the Mississippi River. While some hummers stay year-round—especially in South Florida—others are snowbirds, passing through in the spring and fall.
Hummingbirds are masters at camouflaging their nests, making them almost impossible to spot, even when you are looking. They build small walnut-size nests composed mostly of plant down, adorned with lichens and moss, and bound with spider webs or fine plant fibers. According to the UF Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, nests are typically built over water sources for better protection against predators, and to provide a cooler environment.
Female hummingbirds lay two very small eggs, measuring less than a half-inch long (the size of a jelly bean). After 20 days of incubation and about three to four weeks of growing, the young hummingbirds are ready to leave the nest.
According to the American Bird Conservancy, banding research has shown that many hummingbirds, particularly juveniles, tend to return to the same general area each year, but not necessarily the same yard.
FEEDING
To acquire enough strength to support all of this high- speed activity, hummingbirds need to consume large amounts of high-energy food. While nectar is their primary food source, they also consume spiders, insects and tree sap, especially during the breeding season when protein is essential for their young.
Their long needlelike bills and specially adapted tongues allow them to reach nectar in deep tubular flowers. The last half-inch of the long tongue is divided into equal halves, each grooved on the outside edge to form two tube-like structures. Nectar is drawn into the tongue much the same way liquid travels up a straw.
One hummingbird may need nectar from hundreds of blossoms each day to maintain its body weight, Silvasy explained. Ruby-throated hummingbirds can visit more than 1,000 flowers in a single day.
For their size, hummingbirds have among the largest appetites in the bird world, feeding every 10 to 15 minutes from dawn until dusk. During this period, they eat more than half their weight in food and consume eight times their weight in water.
Hummingbirds also have outstanding spatial memory and can remember feeder locations years later. They are also able to keep track of bloom peaks and remember which flowers they’ve visited. This is because a large portion of a hummingbird’s brain is occupied by the hippocampus, an area dedicated to learning and spatial memory.
“Hummingbirds also play a crucial role in pollination by transferring pollen between flowers as they feed on nectar. Their long bills and specialized tongues allow them to access nectar from deep within flowers, facilitating cross-pollination and promoting plant reproduction,” Silvasy explained. “Pollen adheres to their heads and is transferred to other flowers during subsequent visits, aiding in pollination and the preservation of Florida’s natural ecosystem.”
ATTRACTING HUMMINGBIRDS
Hummingbirds choose their favorite locations based on geography, as well as a combination of natural nectar sources and well-placed feeders.
Hummingbirds are attracted to plants with brightly colored or tubular blossoms, but they don’t feed on all flowering plants. They tend to feed in the early mornings and evenings, before settling in for the night.
To attract these summer visitors to your yard or garden, Silvasy recommends planting some of their favorite varieties of native plants.
“Planting native species ensures a sustainable and beneficial environment for hummingbirds,” Silvasy explained. “They prefer orange, pink and red tubular flowers and their top nectar plants include firebush (Hamelia patens), coral honeysuckle vine (Lonicera sempervirens) and red salvia (Salvia coccinea).”
Feeders stocked with sugar water will also attract hummingbirds, but they require frequent cleaning and filling to keep the birds coming back for more. If neglected, artificial feeders can pose a health threat to the birds. Silvasy recommends placing feeders near plants they already visit and spacing them out to minimize territorial disputes.
Packages of instant nectar for your feeders can be purchased at many lawn and garden stores. The UF Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation states that you can prepare your own nectar solution at home using one part white, granulated, cane sugar to four parts water. Boil the sugar solution to help dissolve the sugar, and then, allow it to cool before filling the feeder. This concentration is about the same as that in wildflower nectar.
Sugar solutions must be kept fresh. Florida’s hot weather can cause rapid bacterial growth in these feeders, which is extremely harmful to hummingbirds. To avoid this, UF scientists recommend changing the solution every 3 to 5 days. Feeders should be cleaned with hot water and white vinegar. Do not use soap or chlorine bleach (Clorox™).
The American Bird Conservancy advises that using sweeter solutions, sugar substitutes or honey in feeders can be lethal to hummingbirds. To attract hummingbirds and ensure their safety and enjoyment, feeders should be placed in areas that offer both sun and shade and away from any windows, but be sure to avoid direct sunlight as heat stimulates bacterial growth.
We can all do our part to help protect these dazzling creatures by creating hummingbird-friendly environments in our yards and reducing pesticide use.
To learn more about the hummingbirds of Florida and information on their favorite species of native plants, visit gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu.
The National Audubon Society is another organization actively engaged in hummingbird research and education, specifically through its Hummingbirds at Home Program. This free online program allows you to report hummingbird sightings and feeding behaviors via the website or mobile app so you can learn more about these remarkable birds. Visit audubon.org/content/hummingbirds-home for details.