Tag Archives: hummingbirds

Field Notes, Out There with the Expert

When should I take down my Hummingbird feeder in North Carolina


Here’s a a photo that I took this afternoon in my backyard of a Ruby Throated Hummingbird zooming in for a quick snack.



Now that autumn as arrived, I’m often asked the question of “when should I take down my Hummingbird feeders?”
Usually this is posed out of the concern that leaving your feeder out “too long” would tempt the birds into not migrating south for the winter.

The truth is that there’s no need for worry that the birds would delay their migration and get caught by winter.
The reason why is because it’s not the lack of food that tells a hummingbird when to go south. It’s the bird’s internal biological calendar, or circannual rhythms.
In fact, most Hummingbirds species start migrating while food is still plentiful.
This strategy ensures that they will always have a good source available along every step of the way on their journey south.

So, my advice is to leave your feeders up as long as hummingbirds are visiting them. Once you’ve noticed that they are gone, leave it up an additional week, just in case a straggler comes through.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the mighty mirrorless monster of a camera, the @canonusa
#R5

Field Notes, Out There with the Expert

How to tell the difference between juveniles and female Ruby throated Hummingbirds

I haven’t had much luck this year in photographing an adult male Ruby throated Hummingbird sporting those crimson namesake feathers. That being said, I’ve seen a large number juveniles this summer and have been lucky to be there in the right place and the right time to catch a few with my lens.



During the early days of autumn, with so many green and white tiny birds zipping around, it kinda looks like we’ve got a ton of female Ruby throated Hummingbirds flying around in central N.C.
Yet, if you look carefully at their face and throats, you’ll realize that although Juvenile male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds look similar to their mothers, there are some details that you’ll notice which can help you tell them apart.



Juvenile males like this sharp looking bird have the same gray feathers on their cheeks that their mothers have, but the gray color is subtle and less extensive in this area. It also shows more green coloring that will gradually darken to a deeper hue as they molt out into their mature plumage.


While females have very faint gray streaks on their white throat, juvenile male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have much bolder streaks and distinct spots that will gradually show the red iridescence characteristic of their fathers.
Young males may even show a couple of red spots on the feathers near the base of their throats. As the juvenile Ruby- throats mature, those spots will eventually become a full, boldly colorful gorget worthy of their famous name 🙂

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the fabulous full frame DSLR, the @canonusa
#5Ds

Field Notes, Out There with the Expert, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Why do hummingbirds stretch?

Have you ever watched a Ruby-throated Hummingbird stretch before?
Yes, they are elegant little gems but check out all of the photographs see what they look like in all of their awkward glory, lol!
From floof, to zoot, to sleek in just seconds, haha!

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird boasts an average 55 wing beats per second. That’s pretty fast right?!
However, during mating season, males will fly back and forth in front of the female with a wing beat rate of up to 200 per second during courtship displays.
These tiny birds even hold a Guinness record for its speed, which is probably why taking the time to stretch their incredible muscles is so important 😉

Photo by @sally_siko .