Ruby-Throated Hummmingbird
The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird inhabits the Eastern half of the United States during the warm-weather months mainly when flowers are in bloom unlike other varieties of hummingbirds that inhabit the West.
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird are magnificent looking. They are small and vary in color depending on their gender. They also love their nectar.
Being the tiniest bird at only 3 1/2 inches in lenght and weight is 6-8 grams, they generate such a huge interest once they visit your home, yard or garden. Once they are there, you will never want them to leave. They are bundles of energy and can fly forward and backward with ease, which is the only bird that can do so, while hovering in front of a flower to sip the nectar. The wings beat up to 75 times per second and can fly as fast as 60 miles per hour. This bird will feed anywhere from 5 to 10 times per hour for up to a minute and can eat up to 30% of its body weight in nectar a day. Hummingbirds will also eat tiny insects, aphids and spiders which they find on your flower and plants.
A male is metallic green above and white below with a vibrant red throat patch called a gorget, while a females throat is white.
Hummingbirds do have calls which is mostly a chattering squeak almost mouse-like sound Also, hummingbirds cannot smell so they have to rely on the bright colors to find their food. While red flowers seem to do the best job at attracting hummingbirds, orange and yellow work just as well. What is more important then the color? The shape of the flower especially tube-shaped flowers which seem to product more nectar and allow them to be at an advantage with its long bill.
Most feeders do a great job of feeding hummingbirds, but make sure that you clean the feeder pretty often as mold can develop in the feeders. Hang the feeder near flowers at a height and position where you can enjoy them the most because they will come very close to your house, deck, patio or window. Red coloring is not needed, just use a feeder with plenty of red on it to attract any hummingbirds.
Nectar Recipe
Here's a way to make your own nectar to attract these beautiful birds to your garden.
The ingredients you will need are:
- 1 part sugar
- 4 parts water
Here's what you got to do:
Mix the sugar and water in a pot, bring to a boil and then boil for 2 minutes.
- Cool down the mixture, once it is cool fill your nectar-feeder and store the remaining in the refrigerator.
- Replace the nectar in your feeder at least every 3 days, which will keep it fresh and safe for the hummingbirds.