Where Are Hummingbirds Found?
Hummingbirds live in the Americas, migrating between Alaska in the summer months and the warmer climates of Mexico and South America during the winter. Some hummingbird species choose not to migrate and they remain year round in Southern California and Arizona.
Hummingbirds don’t exist in the wild in any other part of the world than the Americas. Most species are migratory birds that change their locations during the winter months.
The range of habitat for the hummingbird is from the southern parts of Alaska to the tip of South America in Tierra del Fuego depending on the time of year. During the winter months in the northern hemisphere, the hummingbirds migrate from northern climates to Mexico or Central America.
The hummingbirds that live in the southern hemisphere migrate from southern South America north to Central America or northern South America. Some species of hummingbirds live all year round in the inlands of southern California to southern Arizona.
The majority of species of hummingbirds live in tropical or sub-tropical regions. There are several species that breed in North America and a few that are now migrating to the southern regions of the U.S. during the winter instead of to Mexico. Many species find a home in the Caribbean Islands on a year round basis. Some species do however, breed in climates that are more temperate.
Where Hummingbirds Live
The hummingbird usually makes its nest in the crutch of branches in a tree but the smaller species even make them on leaves of trees or tall plants. Their nests are located in regions of high populations of flowers and fruit blossoms. They obtain their main food source from drinking the nectar of flowers.
They require a constant influx of nectar to supply the energy for their extremely high metabolism. They consume over 100 percent of their body weight in nectar each day. To supplement their diet with sources of protein, vitamins and minerals, they ingest small insects and spiders.
Hummingbirds are important in pollinating the flowers and fruit bearing plants, much as bees are. The pollen particles cling to their feathers as they feed on the nectar of the blossoms and then pollinate the next flower that they feed upon.
The hummingbird is the only species of bird that is able to fly forwards, backwards, up, down, from side to side and for short periods even upside down. This evolved ability aids the hummingbirds in their ability to feed on the nectar of blossoms.
Size and Actions of Hummingbirds
It is a wondrous thing when you look out the window of your home or walk through the garden and hear the familiar buzz or hum of hummingbirds flying from one flower to the next or feeding from the hummingbird feeders that you have placed in the garden to attract the beautiful little birds.
Depending on the particular species that inhabit your area, their size can range from as small as a common bee to as large as a starling. One of the most fascinating things about watching them is that they can hover around the feeder or flowers and feed.
Attracting Hummingbirds
You can take steps to ensure that hummingbirds are found in your garden. Hanging a feeder is not enough to encourage hummingbirds to take up residence in your garden. Your garden must also have the other necessities for a habitat including shelter, water and both natural and artificial food.
To create an attractive area for hummingbirds you will need to plant a number of nectar producing flowers. Leave some portions of the garden in an uncultivated state so that it will promote small insects and spiders to provide the protein sources that are necessary for the hummingbird’s health.