Thirsty hummingbirds this year!

4 years ago

My black-chinned hummingbirds have been especially thirsty this year. I only see the male at the feeder, so I don't know where the female has gone. I used to see her too. Usually, I only see them early morning or early evening when it is cooler, but this year, they're at that feeder all the time. They are so much smaller than the ruby-throated hummingbirds, and they chirp as they're drinking. One of them will hover in front of the window if he sees me inside and chirp to say hello. It's strange I never see but one at a time at teh feeder. In SC, the RT hummers would congregate on the feeders en mass. In fact, there were so many, i had to hang 6 feeders across the front porch so they wouldn't fight.

How are your hummers doing this year? I'm always so sad when they leave in the winter and wait impatiently for them to return in the spring. Seems like it should be the opposite, doesn't it?

Featured Answer

dirtygardener
Original Author

4 years ago

Sharon, they like tubular flowers, so anything with those. They come mostly for my feeder, but they love the coral bean, hibiscus and papaya blossoms. I don't really plant anything especially for them because we have a lot of coral honeysuckle, wild honeysuckle, morning glories and coral bean growing back in the woods. I just put up a feeder so they can have something when there isn't much blooming.

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Comments (9)

sharon2079
4 years ago
I don't have any hummers.... but I hope to get them in the fall..... What plants do they seem to like best for you.... I prefer flowers annuals and preannuals NOT huge trees or LARGE vines.....

Would you mind posting pictures of your garden to give ideas of how to plan a humner garden....

Thanks

Sharon
dangermouse01 (coastal central FL 9B)
4 years ago
I have Ruby Throats that over winter around me. They show up in August (expecting to start seeing them any day now), and leave in early April.
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popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
4 years ago
Sharon, what is your growing zone? That would help with making plant suggestions. In my yard, zone 5b, they like these perennials: Redbirds in a Tree, agastache. Annuals: black and blue salvia is their favorite.
Glenn Jones(9b)
4 years ago
I saw my First hummer of the season Thursday. It was by chance and unfortunately I couldn't stay to watch. But it was nice anyway.
sharon2079
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
popamama... I am in Zone 10 in Florida. I have a couple of black and blue salvia.... I have a red, pink and white summer jewel salvia.... I have a purple salvia that is from SA and it doesn't reseed, but I don't remember the name of it. I had lime light salvia that grew and grew and just when it was time to bloom a windstorm laid it over..... they it grew again, before being hit by another windstorm ... the last time it promptly died. I also have lots of tropical butterfly weed.... I also have the following, but I don't know if hummers like it red penta, orange lantana, and pink cleosia. Once it cools down, I have zinnia, hollyhock, four-oclock, and geranium seeds..... So far, no hummingbirds.... I have a feeder, but was told not to put it out until October.... I really hope to get some hummers this year.

Can anybody tell me how aggressive blue morning glory would be.... I grew up in Missouri and it was considered a weed and very aggressive.... I wouldn't mind letting it grow up a sunflower (which was also considered a weed.... and I use to cut them out of my father's bean field) .... but I don't want to be fighting it trying to keep it contained... that is kind of the reason that I don't want honeysuckle... I have a friend who has one and she is CONSTANTLY doing battle with it,,,,,,

I have hibiscus, but it must have much nectar, because NOTHING visits the ones I have (3) of them). I also have two dwarf butterfly bushes that smell amazing..

I also have gladiolus of various colors and peackcock glads too.....

(of course most of my garden is roses which I doubt a hummer will visit, but I was surprised to have TONS of butterflies visiting my plants.)
dirtygardener
Original Author
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Ask and ye shall receive -- I said I wish I had some ruby throated hummingbirds, and today I had two, a male and female, come to my feeder. I haven't seen the others all day, though, so I hope the RTHs didn't run them off. They live in the elm tree right in front of the apartment and come back every spring. Now I wonder where the RTHs live and how they found their way here. They are very small for RTHs, so maybe they're just babies from somewhere else.

Just read this, so now I have to look at the beaks to tell them apart.

" Black-Chinned and Ruby-Throated hummingbirds are very similar in appearance, but have separate ranges. The Ruby-throated has a straight beak, while the Black-chinned is curved. "
Tom
4 years ago
Sharon, it sounds like you have plenty of flowers that hummingbirds like. Two other plants that they love are firespikes and the large porterweeds. In your zone any color of firespike would do fine. I'm in zone in 9b and the red do best for me.

I don't recommend the hamelia patens, (fire bush) because they tend to take over the garden.

I have Ruby-throateds pretty much year round now. I'm jealous of dirtygardener, because I very seldom see black-chinned. In your zone the hummers are much more numerous in the the winter months. I think the only kind you might see would be the Ruby-throateds.
dirtygardener
Original Author
4 years ago
I think the ruby throats have run off the black chins. I haven't seen them in a few days. I'm going to put up a second feeder away from the other one so they can have separate places to feed. I don't want my black chins to go hungry. They were here first. I guess all birds are territorial, right?