Return of the Hummers

First posted on 07-15-2011

After several weeks off to raise their young, hummingbirds are beginning to reappear at Ozarks feeders. In early summer, they converted their diets to one that’s protein-rich, consuming tiny insects and spiders. Now they’re ready for sweets again.

Most all of the birds lack a red throat, so it looks as if only females are frequenting nectar, but that’s not the case.

Many of the hummingbirds showing up at feeders this time of year are juveniles—both male and female. Young males are very difficult to distinguish from adult females until next season when they return with full plumage. Right now, juvenile males often have a few dark bands or dots where red feathers will someday show up, but even those are tough to spot even when the birds sit still long enough to take a long drink.

Adult females are usually about 15 to 25 percent larger than adult males, so they’re often at least that much bigger than the young hummers. But that’s not always the case as there are large hummingbirds and small hummingbirds of either sex.

Many males will just begin to grow a small patch or two of red feathers in August or September.

Hummingbirds will be hungry and thirsty, seeking out nectar wherever they can find it. Look for them at trumpet vines, honeysuckle and most any plant that blooms red or orange. The birds are storing up as much energy as possible for their departure south in late September or early October. And even the juveniles have already learned how to stake out and defend a feeder.

Thoroughly clean any hummingbird feeders you’ve hung up, especially if they’ve been unattended for a while. Refill the feeders with a fresh batch of sugar water: one part sugar to four parts water. That’s the ideal mix and it represents the sugar to water ratio produced by the the flowers hummingbirds like.

And leave out the food coloring. There’s no evidence it actually harms the birds, but it really isn’t necessary. Most hummingbird feeders already have some red on them, so the dye won’t help attract these birds. A shady spot under a tree or overhang will help keep the food fresh longer than a feeder placed in direct sunlight, but it’s always a good idea to change the food often—every few days.

It will not take long for hummers to find a feeder and when they do, they will remember its location, returning to the same spot next year as well.

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