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Bird Lovers Corner - Hummingbirds |
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If you have a hummingbird feeder hanging in your yard you will likely be rewarded by having those tiny, jewel-like birds coming in to feed on sugar and water. In their natural habitat they feed on nectar and small insects, but if they have a ready source of sugar and water [a 1 to 4 ratio works well] they will come back to it constantly. Unfortunately the feeders also attract ants, wasps and other insects, but it is a small price to pay, so that you can enjoy one of natures attractive birds. Feeders left out late in the season sometimes keeps these birds well into the winter months, as they have been counted on some Christmas Bird Counts. Normally the birds arrive in May and leave in August - much more appropriate to a nectar feeding bird.
The central Okanagan Valley has 2 common species, the Rufus and Calliope Hummingbird. Farther south in the valley you can observe the Black-Chinned and Anna's Hummingbird, who infrequently come a little farther north. They are likely extending their range northwards due to climate warming.
The Calliope is the smallest of our "Hummers" at 8 cm in length and it weighs a mere 2.7 grams [30g = 1 oz]. It has a green back and the male sports a flashy red-streaked purple-red throat that is iridescent in sunlight. They have short tails and a thin bill that can reach far into flowers to get their favorite food - nectar, particularly red flowers. This makes gardens a great attraction for them and they help the gardener by feeding on insects, aphids and spiders. The word 'calliope' is a musical instrument with keys arranged as an organ plays with a series of whistles. The Calliope "Hummer" emits a very high, thin whistle - hence its name.
The Rufus Hummingbird is slightly larger and more compact than the Calliope and is our other most common "Hummer" The male with an orange-rusty, iridescent throat and general rufus in appearance, prefer open coniferous forests and riparian woods, as well as many other habitats, especially flowering mountain meadows.
The wing beat of these birds is incredibly fast, producing a humming or buzzing sound. It can be mistaken for a bee. They can fly and remain in a stationary position and even backup before zooming off in another direction. When mating, the males exhibit their charms by diving towards the ground after hovering overhead, with a buzzing sound. You can distinguish between the two birds by their dive. The Calliope makes a 'U' shaped dive, while the Rufus a more diagonal dive, before climbing back up and doing it a second time for those unimpressed females they are trying to attract
These birds nest on a horizontal tree branch. They construct a nest of lichen, cottonwood down and spider webbing, with a cup the size of a human thumbnail. The nest is so well camouflaged that they are rarely found. If you are lucky to have a nest in your yard, you can observe it closely to watch the adult birds feed the young. They put their long bill deep into the throats of the young, and it actually appears if they are forcing the bill right through the young nestlings. These birds will often use the same nest over again each year. It is that time of the year to enjoy our natural diversity, and "Hummers" are an entertaining family of birds.
Pat Westheuser - Director
Central Okanagan Naturalist Club |
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