winter hummingbirds

[Gary Phillips]

Hi everyone,
For a number of folks in the Southeast, the recent cold weather has brought new winter visitors to their backyard feeder, and a number of hummingbirds that might have otherwise wandered during the winter months have been sticking close to clean and well-maintained feeders. There's currently an adult male Ruby-throated and a feisty female Rufous taking advantage of the feeders here where I live. Both of these tiny treasures are returnees from previous winters (this is the Ruby-throated's 3rd winter, the Rufous' second) and appear to be faring just fine in spite of a couple of weeks of sub-freezing nights. One reason they're handling the situation is unlimited access to a feeder regardles of the temps. An inexpensive clip-on shop light with a 45watt bulb is mounted next to one feeder. Leaving the lamp on at night keeps the solution from freezing and ensures the birds are able to feed at any time they need to. The light also ensures I don't have to get out of bed before sunrise on a 24 degree morning to make food available for my tiny winter friends!

[Gary Phillips]

Hi everyone,
For a number of folks in the Southeast, the recent cold weather has brought new winter visitors to their backyard feeder, and a number of hummingbirds that might have otherwise wandered during the winter months have been sticking close to clean and well-maintained feeders. There's currently an adult male Ruby-throated and a feisty female Rufous taking advantage of the feeders here where I live. Both of these tiny treasures are returnees from previous winters (this is the Ruby-throated's 3rd winter, the Rufous' second) and appear to be faring just fine in spite of a couple of weeks of sub-freezing nights. One reason they're handling the situation is unlimited access to a feeder regardles of the temps. An inexpensive clip-on shop light with a 45watt bulb is mounted next to one feeder. Leaving the lamp on at night keeps the solution from freezing and ensures the birds are able to feed at any time they need to. The light also ensures I don't have to get out of bed before sunrise on a 24 degree morning to make food available for my tiny winter friends!

here's a photo of a hummer feeder/clip-on light rig:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4242698349_1116f9716d_o.jpg

[Jean Pell]

Hi Gary,

Welcome to the RTC!

You have a nice setup for your Winter Hummers!

I knew that a few Western species will visit the Southeast this time of year but this is the first I have heard of a Ruby-Throated not migrating. How common is this?

I would love to see pictures of both Hummingbirds.

[Gary Phillips]

Hi Gary,

Welcome to the RTC!

You have a nice setup for your Winter Hummers!

I knew that a few Western species will visit the Southeast this time of year but this is the first I have heard of a Ruby-Throated not migrating. How common is this?

I would love to see pictures of both Hummingbirds.

Hi Jean,

Thank you very much! Actually, in the coastal plain (esp. near the immediate coast) Ruby-throateds are the most commonly found winter hummers, 2nd is Rufous, then occasionally Black-chinned and a rare Calliope. As one travels westward, the distribution changes to Rufous, then RTHU, BCHU, CAHU (SC has one record each for Buff-bellied and Broad-billed.) Calliope are rarely found east of the piedmont/sandhills section of SC. You can see some hummer pics here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/carolinensis/sets/72157606720767825/

including some shots of the two that are currently in residence at my feeders.

Also, the Ruby-throateds that spend winter in the Southeast are migrants, they merely chose not to migrate as far south as some of their counterparts. Based on our banding studies thus far, none of the winter RTHUs stay at the sites they're banded at past Mar/Apr. The RTHUs found during spring/summer at winter banding sites are birds that left before fall/winter and returned the following spring.

They're wonderful, amazing creatures, these things we call hummingbirds.

Gary

[Jean Pell]

Gary,

Thanks for the information. I learned something new about our Ruby-Throated Hummers.

A few years back a friend, who lives nearby, had a Black-Chinned show-up in November and stayed until January. Then an Allen showed-up in January. A couple (Bob & Martha) from AL captured the Allen and it had been banded 2 weeks earlier in Chattanooga! We live in NW GA. So maybe one day I will get to see a Western Hummer as I do maintain a feeder year-round.

I really enjoyed the pictures! Yup....amazing birds the Hummers. They never fail to delight me!!!

[Gary Phillips]

thanks, Jean. of the wintering hummer species, Black-chinned seem to be more prone to move than others. Bob and Martha Sargent are 2 of the most amazing folks i've ever met. they've forgotten more about hummingbirds (and other species!) than most of us will ever know. ;)