I figure almost everyone on this forum has probably had hummers in their yard and know what they look like. I, on the other hand, have never seen a hummer, so I really don't know what they are like in real life. I've seen the cute photos and videos.
Can someone tell me the main color and size of a Ruby-throat hummer?
I was finishing up some repotting of plants and kept hearing this humming sound near me. I could see something by my purple pentas. It never landed on the plant just hovered at each of the flowers. I know there are moths, which I do get. Since it was at dusk, I couldn't really tell what it was. And I don't know WHAT would be the main difference between the hummer moth and the actual bird. I'm thinking size might be the determining character. Can someone clue me in?
This message was edited Nov 12, 2006 7:06 PM
Need hummingbird info ....
Becky they are florescent green on the back, white down throat and belly except male has red chin/throat, they have a long black beak and are about 3" tall
'Howdy' Becky ..
I'm sure you've already taken a lil pilfer-plunder thru the various threads, in this same forum .. 'ey?
If not, there's quite a few threads that contain some fantastic photos and there are many with links to other web sites that offer a wealth of resources about the hummingbirds and the hummingbird moths.
These ruby-throated guys & gals won't mind showing themselves 'up' a bit, for you also. (hee) > http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/446176/
I happened across this site a few weeks ago .. that has some mitey interesting lil tidbits. Also includes a few interesting shortee videos - * but a download of a different media player (the DivX Player) may be required, in order to view. (if you don't already have it on your pooter)
http://people.freenet.de/jfeldhusen/Hummingbird-Hawk-Moth.htm .. and .. http://people.freenet.de/jfeldhusen/Hummingbirds.htm
*NOTE: some of the hyper-links on the site/s .. seem to no longer function.
- Magpye
This message was edited Nov 12, 2006 9:56 PM
Thanks for the info ladies! Magpye - Thanks for the website links. I have seen most of them already! I've done so much research and seen photos, videos, etc. but it's hard to know exactly what you are looking for until you've actually seen one. I was wondering about the length. Thanks Donna for telling me they are 3" long. Well .... it must of been a moth that I saw. Only about 2" and no tail like the hummers. Sure sounded and hovered like one though. But it was brown. Definitely a moth. I keep hoping. .....
I got up close and personal to the moth, and the biggest difference I saw was the lack of beak.
Karen - Yes, I noticed that too and also the antennas on the top of the moth's head. :-)
Thanks, it's hard to tell when it is darker outside. I keep hoping.
~Becky~
Hey Becky, I was hoping at first you had your first hummer...but it if was getting dark it was most likely a Hummingbird Moth. The only time I see them is at dusk or early dawn.
gardenpom - You'll have to let us know how long your little visitor stays. I'm really curious as to whether he is a permanent resident or a migrating hummer.
I recently read an article that said to hang banana skins by your nectar feeder because hummers think fruit flies are quite a treat. Interesting because I usually just think of hummers as liking nectar.
Becky, I agree with Gardenpom that it must have been a hummer moth. I have one (at least one, but could be others) that hangs out every evening about the time that the sun has gone it's merry way for the day. He hangs out for several hours filling up. Might be longer, but the skeeters have ordinarily run me off by then. I believe there are several varieties of the hummer moths. Mine is brown, much like yours. I thought I had a photo or two, but can't put my eyeballs on them right now. I've been lax about putting my photos into the folders they belonng in. Gotta get busy doing that.
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WOW Magpye! I hadn't seen any of those photos before today. Thank you so much for bringing this thread back up so folks that haven't seen it could share the photos you (and others on that thread) took.
My Goodness you've had some awesome shots of those beautiful hummers. I have had a couple of the tiny jewels that have hung out in my yard all summer long. It's been about 2-3 weeks since I've seen any of them. I was never able (as many times as I tried) to get shots like those you've taken.
You ought to make some wallpaper borders out of them and sell them. They'd be awesome surrounding a room. Incredibly beautiful shots! Every one of them! You also must be spiking your nectar to get so many of them in one shot. Good Lord Woman! Fabulous! You must have the watering hole of Arkansas on your porch and they've all (the hummers) shared emails with their kinfolk to come visit you!
I just checked out your hummer pics Magpye....those are amazing! What kind of camera do you have? You should enter some in the photo contest.
Ya'll are right! I had the moth for sure, not a hummer! Bummer!
Magpye - I couldn't believe the "economy size" feeders you use to feed all your little jeweled visitors! How fast do the hummers go through one of those feeders? A couple days? Your pics are wonderful! I'm sooooooooo jealous!!!! Wish you could have sent them my way on their migration route! You need to have a SERIOUS talk with them when they return. Should I draw them a map so they know where to come next Fall? lol You could post it up on your exterior wall as they are feeding and maybe, just maybe they'd be brainwashed by the time they leave your place to head south next year. Boy! I wish it was that easy for me to get one or two. I've done it all, don't know what else to do to attract them.
Maybe I need a hummer chirp recording to play constantly in my backyard! lol Maybe the voice of a lovely female looking for a handsome male hummer! "Why don't you come on over and visit me some time Big Boy!" lol
ROFL Becky. What an visual you created in my mind! HAHAHAHAHA
Maybe all of the DG members could post a map of the US, next to their feeders, with little push pins showing where all of our feeders are located. Think that'd work?
Janet
We could put a sign on the map, where Becky is located, saying 'Best Nectar in Town'.
Good idea Fly!
I had 4 feeders in my yard this year. Did the hummers use them? Nope. I'd find them hovering around the lantana and the cannas, and anything else that was blooming. One of my aloe plants puts out a beautiful tulip teardrop type blossom. The hummers here went crazy over that. I've brought my feeders inside since they never used them anyway, and it's been several weeks since I've even seen the regular few that hung out here. There are plenty of blooms still in the yard if any stop by on their way wherever they go.
Connie converted a few really cool feeders to lights for her pool area. I'm tempted to go ahead and convert mine since they don't use them.
Janet
Photo shown is daytime.
That photo looked much better as a thumbnail. I'll post a better photo below the night time photo.
This message was edited Nov 13, 2006 9:00 PM
Nighttime
Better daytime photo of same light
Just an update on my hummer...I saw him this afternoon around my Firebush again. Did not have my camera. so this is an old photo. It was around 45 degrees at the time.
gardenpom - Are you just getting this one hummer or are there more than one?
That's really awesome that he is still around even with the lower temps we've been getting!
Someone told me if you see one that means you have several, but honestly, I have never seen more than one at a time. There may be a couple, but I don't think more than that. I am glad this little one seems to be a permanent fixture in my area.
Took this shot this morning, I was sitting out back taking pictures of birds and noticed the hummer up on the line. He did come down and move all over the Firebush, but was just too fast for a decent shot.
I am trying to keep these little Anna's warm until our weather smartens up and gets above freezing...when its -10 Celsius, I would think many hummers might not survive these cold temps...I use a flood lamp to keep the nectar from freezing during the day and this little guy thinks he's at Club Med now :)
Sandy
Sandy, do these usually stay there during the winter? I can't imagine why they have stayed there.
Yes the Anna's spend their winters here and are here in the summer also ...our temps dont usually get this cold so they usually can handle freezing and above but this is extreme, especially so early in the season...
It is hard to believe such a delicate looking bird can survive that weather! Good for you that you are helping them keep warm.
Yes they sure are a hearty little bird....Its great to see the temps rising and above freezing at the moment so they will be doing better although there hasnt been as many around today....I am sure some didnt make it...I had to scoop up a dead one yesterday which doesnt make me too happy but that is nature i guess...I am glad i can help the ones through the cold though....
Sandy - That's breaking my heart about the dead hummer. How sad!
I have heard that sometimes the little birds will go into a deep sleep (I forget what it is called) due to freezing temps to conserve energy and may even appear dead. But if you hold them in your hands to warm them, they often will come to. Be sure they are really dead. I've heard of folks who have come across this situation with a bird they thought had frozen to death, but in fact was not dead.
That's awesome that you had the lights going to try to keep them warm. I am sure they really appreciate your kindness! You're a true hummer lover! :-)
Yes i think its called torpor and i was thinking that too but because i found it laying on the ground and not moving, I presumed it was dead....i held her for awhile and could tell she had succumbed to the cold.....i am glad i just found one like that...Yes i love hummers, i couldnt let them starve since i was feeding them to begin with...
The little hummers are fortunate to have found your home! They came to the right place for chow and a cozy place to huddle down in the cold weather. I wish I had the honor to host hummers! Been trying to attract the elusive birds where I live. No such luck so far. I would treat them real good, too! :-) They just have to find my yard and all my hummer nectar plants!
Okay, I'm learning how to hyperlink. I found this site on hummingbirds looked interesting. This guys tells you how to get them to sit on your finger, how far apart to put the feeders, etc. I'm going to try this again.
www.waynesthisandthat.com
This message was edited Nov 30, 2006 8:10 PM
Gee, I learned how to do this. Okay, there are other topics on this site so you'll have to scroll down to hummingbirds.
Becky: This site says there is a hummingbird exhibit in Coconut Creek, FL. are you near there?
One about 150 miles from me...might have to take a short drive and check this out.
Another site, I think this one is better and shows pictures of the moth that you think is a hummer.
www.hummingbirdworld.com
Becky, I am sure you will have hummers in no time with all the plants you have for them.....I am lucky enough to get to watch them through the winter...what a treat it is....most people think i am nuts!....nice hummingbird site Betterbloom....
Becky, I had NEVER seen a hummer this far north; I didn't even think the little guys made it up here. Since I was told otherwise, I dutifully hung feeders near the windows that I look out of most often. They showed up, but I could NOT believe my eyes the first year. I was sure I was seeing things (I DID see a hummer moth, how bizarre!). As the years went buy, the hummers were more frequent visitors and now stay longer- they even perched for me this summer!!! It took about 3 years of feeding. Once they get comfortable with your garden, they'll be around more. I also planted yummy plants, so they don't have to rely on my feeders. Did you know they MIGRATE??? Across the Gulf of Mexico!!! They stop in FLA before and after. I heard this in a bird a/p course I took at the local Community College. I think the birds who may be too old to fly back may hang around Florida, I guess they like the Early Bird specials ;-). Yes, they do go into a torpor; perhaps the "dead" birds weren't really dead.
-Melissa
Sandy: After reading the last site I mentioned, I think it contains a whole lot more info..it's really got me even more excited. Jax: It mentions that they remember where the food was from the previous year so it looks like they'll keep coming back, lucky you. I'm going to try spraying my feeder with Pam tomorrow and see if it helps like they say. Too bad their store is closed or I would order one of their feeders.
My little guy was around again today. You can barely see him in this shot, his coloring blends right in with the Firebush.
I was sitting out back taking bird shots, including the hummer, and happened to get a shot of something spectacular. My first ever Bald Eagle!
didn't believe the bald eagle till I saw it, didn't know you had them there..good pic at that! Both good pics, hummers are so hard to do when their wings are moving. Mine usually come out blurry.
pom, you are an amazing photographer!!!
Isn't it wonderful that Bald Eagles are making a comeback!!! How could anyone kill such a beautiful bird? They are in coastal MA now as well. They are mating, so there is a local population forming. So exciting!!! This area hasn't had an eagle in over 100 years!!!