Celebrate National Hummingbird Day: The Miracle of the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

The first Saturday in September is designated as National Hummingbird Day, a time to celebrate these fearless flyers that bring beauty and wonder to our backyards and gardens, with tips to support them during migration. 

Happy Saturday and National Hummingbird Day!

If you’re a hummingbird lover, watching them at your backyard feeder or zipping from flower to flower in the garden provides lots of entertainment and joy!

Those of us who live east of the Mississippi River eagerly wait the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds’ arrival in early spring and are sad to see them leave in the fall. As summer winds down, these little aerial acrobats are busy feeding and preparing for their incredible migration journey.

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There are 320 species of hummingbirds, but only one, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, can be found east of the Mississippi River in the U.S. In terms of area however, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds occupy the largest breeding range of any of the North American hummingbird species.

Male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have a brilliant iridescent red throat; females are greenish, with a white throat, while juvenile males resemble adult females. Adult males have pointed, all-dark tail feathers and a forked tail. Females, and juvenile males, have rounded tail feathers with white tips on the outer three pairs. Additionally, the female’s tail is slightly longer and more rounded when perched.

Weighing less than a nickel and measuring only 3 to 3.5 inches long, these tiny birds pack an incredible amount of strength and energy into their small bodies. Their wings beat up to 53 times per second, allowing them to hover in midair, fly backwards, and dart from flower to flower with astonishing speed. Their heart races at an incredible 1,200 beats per minute during flight, while they consume nearly twice their body weight in nectar and insects each day to fuel their high metabolism.

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One of the most remarkable and miraculous things about the Ruby-throated Hummingbird is its annual migration.

While a small number of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds will winter in Florida and along the Gulf coast, most embark on a journey of up to 1500 miles in the fall to reach their winter homes in Central America and southern Mexico. After fueling up in the southern U.S., they launch across the Gulf of Mexico, heading toward their wintering grounds.

Some Ruby-throated Hummingbirds even make a non-stop flight over the Gulf of Mexico, a journey of 18 – 20 hours over open water — an amazing feat for a bird so small! They spend late summer fueling up on nectar and small insects, doubling their body weight before the big trip. Making this incredible non-stop trek twice a year is a true testament to their remarkable strength and determination.

In general, hummingbirds consume up to 50% of their body weight in nectar each day. During their twice-a-year migration, they increase their nectar intake considerably since they have no idea where their next meal will come from. If you live in the eastern U.S., September is a prime time to spot hummingbirds as they actively visit feeders and flowers before heading south.

They’re also a prolific pollinator of flowers! Ruby-throated Hummingbirds deposit 10 times as much pollen as bumblebees.

Celebrating National Hummingbird Day is also about giving these fearless flyers a helping hand.

Here are a few ways to make your garden a hummingbird haven . . .

Hang feeders:

Hummingbird nectar is easy to make, mixing in a ratio of 1 : 4, sugar to water.

Plain white table sugar mixed with water mimics the chemical composition of natural nectar.

* Do not use organic, natural, or raw sugars as they contain levels of iron that could be harmful.

Also, do not use honey, which can cause fermentation, promoting bacteria and fungal growth.

Avoid red dye in your sugar water which may be harmful to hummingbirds.

Boiled tap water is the preferred water to use. Using boiled water removes any potentially harmful bacteria, chlorine, fluorides, etc. that hummers don’t need. I mix up a quart at a time (1 cup of sugar and 4 cups of water). After the sugar is dissolved and has cooled, I store it in the fridge to have on hand for quick refilling.

We’ve had lots of different style feeders over the years, but our hummers seem to prefer this feeder. What I really like about it is that all the pieces come apart for easy cleaning and the bee guards keep wasps and yellow jackets from hijacking it. It also has built-in ant moat on top.

Perky-Pet Glass Hummingbird Feeders with Perches, Ant Moat and Bee Guards

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Nectar spoils quickly in hot weather so clean your feeder every time you refill. Avoid soap to clean your feeders as hummingbirds can taste the soap/detergent residue. To clean and kill bacteria and mold in your hummingbird feeder, use a bleach/water mixture, mixing 1 part bleach to 10 parts water, filling your feeder and allowing the bleach water to stand 15 minutes. Rinse well and allow to air dry before refilling.

I discovered Hummingbird Feeder Fresh Nectar Defender a couple of years ago, which slows down spoilage!

Feeder Fresh is an all-natural product that protects the freshness of hummingbird nectar and is safe for hummers. It uses a micronutrient, copper, naturally consumed by hummingbirds in their diet of nectar and insects. Depending on how many feeders you’re filling, a bottle can last an entire season as you only need 1 tablespoon per quart of nectar; I add it to my batch of nectar after it has cooled. It says it will keep your nectar fresh in hot weather up to 2 weeks.

 Note: Even with the addition of Feeder Fresh, I don’t go longer than a week before cleaning and refilling my feeders, but it does allow me to feel the nectar is safe in hot weather and I can skip the every 2 – 3 day cleaning / refilling.

Ant moats are a chemical-free way to keep your feeders free of ants, as only water is required in the moat. You do have to be diligent about refilling them with water due to evaporation in the heat of summer.

Plant garden flowers or provide containers or hanging baskets:

Ruby-throats love tubular, brightly colored blooms such as trumpet vine, salvia, coral honeysuckle and cardinal flower.

Provide resting spots:

Small trees and shrubs give hummingbirds safe perches to rest between feedings.

Keep feeders up through migration:

It’s a myth that leaving hummingbird feeders up too late in the fall will prevent the birds from migrating. Hummingbirds have an internal clock regulated by the changing day length, which lets them know when it’s time to go.

As a general rule, leave your feeder up for two weeks after you have seen your last hummingbird as there might be one or two stragglers migrating in need of a rest stop to refuel.

Find an affordable DIY and weather guard for your hummingbird feeder:

DIY Easy Hummingbird Feeder Umbrella + Dollar Tree Hack

Find the easy steps to make an affordable hummingbird umbrella / weather guard which include two methods, taking less than 5 minutes!

If you’d rather buy one than make one:

Hummingbird Shade Umbrella with Ant Guard

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Do you get the same thrill I do when I see these fearless flyers go zipping by, dashing from flower to feeder? They seem to spend more time defending their territory and food sources, than actually feeding. :)

If you have hummingbird visitors, I hope you’ll take a moment to enjoy these fearless flyers before their fall migration.

Whether sipping coffee on the porch while a hummingbird hovers nearby or seeing one zip by while tending flowers in your garden, they’re a reminder of the miracle and resilience of nature.

 Thank you for your visit, sharing with:

 Metamorphosis Monday