Why Hummingbirds Return to the Same Yard
We all love hummingbirds and hope to see them buzzing around our gardens and feeders. So, what can we do to encourage them to visit our yards and help them survive their incredible migration?
Ruby Throated Hummingbirds arrive tired and bedraggled from migrating across the Gulf of Mexico into Texas and Louisiana in late February and March. They continue to migrate north as far as Canada and arrive in late April and early May. In Maryland, our first hummingbirds arrive in April. Once they find a good area that provides food, habitat, and water they will often return yearly.
Migration, Nesting and Raising Young
Males are the first to migrate in hopes of obtaining the best territory for breeding. Females follow shortly after. Once the females arrive mating takes place and the male leaves to find other mates while the female builds the nest, sets on the eggs, rears the young feeding them a diet of gnats, aphids, small spiders, and nectar. She regurgitates a mixture of insects and nectar into each little bird's mouth. They feed insects so that the young get enough protein to develop strong muscles and feathers.
Young hummingbirds fledge between 18 and 24 days depending on how quickly they develop and availability of food sources. They are born naked and blind and leave the nest about 3.5 weeks later when Mom demonstrates hunting and feeding then are on their own.
Often the female is working on a second nest when she is about to get rid of her first brood. Ruby throated hummingbirds often will raise two broods per year. Each brood typically consists of two eggs.
Best Plants to Attract Hummingbirds
Tubular flowers that grow in clusters in colors of red, pink, or orange attract them the best. Perennials that bloom into the fall include Lonicera or Honeysuckle, especially the native sempervirens with its orange red flower or the cultivar Major Wheeler with its red flowers, Monarda didyma or scarlet beebalm like Jacob Cline, and Lobelia cardinalis commonly called Cardinal Flower which blooms into late summer, early fall. Agastache spp., which is commonly called hummingbird mint, blooms in purple, pink, orange, yellow, blue, and white into fall. The tubular flowers on both the cardinal flowers and Agastache are visited even after their prime as the nectaries continue to produce until the flowers fall off.
Salvias are another plant you should plant for the hummingbirds as many varieties do not start blooming until late summer and fall. Salvia elegans or pineapple sage usually starts blooming until September developing red tubular flowers that hummingbirds love. Salvia leucantha or Mexican Sage blooms in late summer and fall in purple or purple with white folds. Salvia greggii or Autumn Sage is a drought tolerant small shrub like plant that blooms with bright red flowers lightly in April and May, slows down in summer, then produces its best flower display in late summer into fall.
Salvia Black and Blue produce deep blue tubular flowers on and off all summer. Hummingbirds are frequent visitors to those flowers as well as visiting the many annual salvias.
Penstemon is another great plant for hummingbirds. The flowers of beardtongue are tubular or trumpet shaped and come in white, pink, red, and purple. These offer their best nectar in summer. The plant is very drought tolerant.
By incorporating and maintaining these plants you are assisting the hummingbirds who will return yearly to rear their young.
Feeders: When and How to Use Them
When you cultivate the flowers that they prefer you will see less activity at your hummingbird feeders. They prefer natural nectar to man-made nectar. I have not put a feeder out other than during a drought when plants are not producing sufficient flowers. Once the drought ceases, I remove my feeder. It is important to maintain the feeders as heat will cause the mix to spoil and make the hummingbirds sick. When temperatures are over 100 degrees put out in the early morning and again in the evening also try and hang them in the shade. Change the feed daily.
Providing Water
Provide a water source for your hummingbirds. I have 3 bird baths and place a stone in them so the water is not real deep and the hummingbird can land and bathe. On dry hot days I will be watering and the hummingbirds will fly into a light spray of water to bathe.
Fast Facts on Hummingbird Migration
Hummingbirds travel about 20-24 miles daily hunting for food, feeding young and defending their territory. They require 50% of their body weight in nectar daily as well as bugs for protein. Their wings beat fifty-five times per second and can reach as high as 200 beats per second during courtship.
Ruby throated hummingbirds travel across the Gulf of Mexico flying 500 miles non-stop to get to their winter destination. They do this in 18-22 hours and pack on twice their body weight before taking flight.
Understanding their need for nectar for migration has gardeners planting more fall perennials and filling their annual pots with Salvias and Cuphea.
I know I enjoy the ones that frequent my yard.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do hummingbirds arrive in Maryland?
In Maryland, the first hummingbirds typically arrive in April, after migrating across the Gulf of Mexico into Texas and Louisiana in late February and March and continuing north.
What plants attract hummingbirds best?
Tubular flowers that grow in clusters in red, pink or orange attract them best, including honeysuckle, scarlet beebalm, cardinal flower, hummingbird mint (Agastache), several salvia varieties and penstemon.
Should I use a hummingbird feeder or rely on flowers?
Hummingbirds prefer natural nectar to man-made nectar, so cultivating the right flowers means you'll typically see less feeder activity. Feeders are still useful during drought, when plants aren't producing enough flowers, and should be changed daily and kept out of direct heat.
How far do hummingbirds fly during migration?
Ruby-throated hummingbirds fly 500 miles non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico, completing the trip in 18 to 22 hours after packing on twice their body weight beforehand.
How much do hummingbirds need to eat each day?
Hummingbirds require 50% of their body weight in nectar daily, along with insects for protein, while traveling about 20 to 24 miles a day hunting for food and defending territory.
