Photo: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, David Shipper
By Lisa Mackem
In Virginia, migration season is peaking for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, which are here throughout the summer during their breeding season. This is the only hummingbird that breeds in eastern North America but birders sometimes see the Rufous Hummingbird passing through this area in the fall or winter. The Rufous Hummingbird used to be a rare stray in the southeast United States, but sightings east of the Mississippi have become more frequent. The Rufous Hummingbird nests the farthest north of all hummingbirds – up to south-central Alaska.
In late winter and early spring, hummingbirds breed in the United States and Canada, where summer food supplies are abundant. Hummingbirds occupy almost all of North America during the summer, but most of them migrate to Mexico or Central America for the winter. These are impressive journeys for tiny birds. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds weigh little more than a penny, but can fly 500 miles across the Gulf of Mexico in less than one day. The three-inch long Rufous Hummingbird makes one of the longest migratory trips in the bird world – 3,900 miles, or 78.4 million body lengths. In the United States, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds can travel up to 20 miles per day. Contrary to popular myth, they do not migrate on the backs of geese or other birds, but they do sometimes travel in mixed flocks over water.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds will defend territories of flowers and feeders and will fight or chase off other birds that try to feed there but females will occasionally share a feeder. Male Rufous Hummingbirds will also defend a patch of flowers and vigorously chase away all intruders, including larger birds. Before placing a feeder outside, make sure there are no outside cats that can prey on birds, and that feeders are not too close to windows. Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All About Birds” recommends making a sugar water mixture with one-quarter cup of sugar per cup of water. Food coloring is not recommended. Preferred native flowers include Trumpet Creeper, Trumpet Honeysuckle, Cardinal Flower, Bee-balm and Wild Bergamot. Hummingbirds also eat and feed their young tiny insects including mosquitoes, gnats, fruit flies, small bees, caterpillars and aphids.