Natural Highlights: Winter Hummingbirds
It is common practice to take down our hummingbird feeders in late fall when most of the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds depart for their wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America. But there is a growing body of evidence that a few Ruby-throats and many other hummingbird species usually seen out west sometimes spend all or part of the winter season in Tennessee and other states east of the Mississippi River. If you maintain a feeder through the winter (Nov. 1 to Mar. 15), you might see a typically western species such as a Rufous or Anna’s Hummingbird or, perhaps, a hardy Ruby-throat. Cynthia Routledge, a federally permitted bird-bander and the director of Southeastern Avian Research (SEAR) based in Clarksville, TN, has made it her mission to collect information on these winter visitors by travelling wherever they have been spotted if homeowners will allow her to gently capture, identify, measure, band and release the birds.
So far, thanks to citizen scientists patiently monitoring feeders, hummingbird banders have documented a total of 14 winter hummingbird species in the eastern U.S: Ruby-throated, Black-chinned, Rufous, Allen’s, Anna’s, Calliope, Buff-bellied, Broad-tailed, White-eared, Green Violet-ear, Magnificent, Broad-billed, Green-breasted Mango, and Costa’s. Here in the Mid South, we have an opportunity to contribute to the interesting research on wintertime hummingbird behavior by simply leaving a feeder out, snapping a photo if a hummingbird shows up, and contacting Cyndi Routledge at routledges@bellsouth.net. As always with hummingbird feeders, cleanliness is paramount. A simple 1 part table sugar to 4 parts water will suffice; please do not use honey, which can easily sicken hummingbirds. Also, please do use red dye or food coloring as it isn’t necessary and might be harmful to the birds.
What better way to celebrate the holidays than by hanging a welcoming feeder in case there are hummingbirds around? One of these tough, tiny winged winter wonders just might find its way to your house – which would be almost as exciting at seeing Santa’s sleigh.
For more information, see these links:
https://southeasternavianresearch.org/hummingbirds/
https://feederwatch.org/learn/articles/hummingbirds-in-winter/
Consider leaving your hummingbird feeder up this winter to attract possible visitors like Ruby-throated or Rufous Hummingbirds. Clean feeders are essential!
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