Category Archives: Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds

Hummingbird Courtship

I saw this picture and just had to pass it on…

Here is a wine-throated hummingbird showing off his feathers.

You won’t  find this bird in the US. It is a non-migratory hummingbird native to El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico.

Hummingbirds

Hawk Moth – Not actually a….

Great video of a couple of hawk moths. These are not actually hummingbirds they are part of the Sphingidae family of moths. Also called sphinx moths.

These moths actually fly like hummingbirds having the same type of flight abilities. Although not as fast as hummingbirds for an insect they are relatively fast reaching a top speed of 12Mph!

Thanks to  @HortErotica for this video of two of them on a plant.

Hummingbirds

Nectar Dots

We just brought these little hand held hummingbird feeders into our retail store in Johns Creek, GA.

The directions say  to take the nectar dot and go stand next to your hummingbird feeder. The hummingbird will eventually find the nectar dot in your hands – then you are good to go.

Here’s a video I saw in twitter on it being used. Thanks to @lolbook for sharing the video!

 

Hummingbirds

Pineapple Sage

Looking for a hummingbird plant? Plant pineapple sage. This perennial grows fast, and blooms in the fall. I have surrounded one of my feeders with 3 of them.

The plant can get tall, this one is about 3 1/2 feet tall!

The hummingbirds go from the flowers to the feeder all day long. In this picture notice that the pineapple sage is just starting to bloom.

BTW this is a true sage you can cook with it or use it for your tea. One last point.. this plant gets its name from its aroma. If you rub a leaf in your fingers it smells just like pineapple.

Pineapple Sage

 

 

Hummingbirds

Trumpet Vines

Plant a Trumpet Vine to Attract Hummingbirds

We are getting to the end of hummingbird season on the east coast. We only have another 1 1/2 months of very active birds in the area.

If you are considering plants for the hummingbirds take a hard look at a trumpet vine. This vine grows fast (and I mean fast). The trumpet vine with its tubular flowers is a favorite for the hummingbirds.

In the southeast it blooms all summer long and begins flowering right  after the crossvine which flowers at the end of March. It needs full sun.

Word of caution, the trumpet vine needs maintenance just to hold it back (i.e. serious pruning). I’m not sure how big this plant would get if you just  let it go but in my yard I have to cut it back every fall.

Here’s a picture of one I got from our twitter account. Plant tubular flowers like the trumpet vine and you will get the hummingbirds.

 

Hummingbirds

Hummingbird Fighting All the Time?

Why Are Our Ruby-throated Hummingbirds Fighting All The Time?

Ruby Throated Hummingbird 08-26-2016 1
This time of year is the height of hummingbird season in North East Georgia. Our main visitor to these parts (that is east of the Mississippi River) is the ruby-throated hummingbird.

These jewels of summer spend most of their time in the tree branches guarding their food supply. I get asked all the time “why are they fighting when I have two, three, or even more feeders available?”

The probably answer is even though their territories have been compacted by the sheer number of hummingbirds there is enough natural food in the area to keep the birds spread out. In other words it’s easy to chase off one or two competitors but if you had fifty birds they would have to be more cordial and share the nectar.

These hummingbirds will be with us until the 2nd week of October. Keep your feeders out until November and you will catch some stragglers.