Photo © 2005 Jim Jung and licensors. All rights reserved.

Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds

The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is the only hummingbird species ordinarily found east of the Rockies and hence is the only species you're likely to see in our area. Their wintereing grounds are in South and Central America. Originally birds of the forest edge and especially the savanna these nectar feeders have recently prospered because of our civilization and the appearance (and popularity) of hummingbird feeders.

Ruby-Throats, in spite of their tiny size, are remarkably pugnacious little fowl. Highly territorial they guard their flower patches jealously from other hummingbird rivals. Their ability to hover in mid air and even fly backwards makes them particularly fearless when confronting large avian predators like hawks and owls since they've been reported harassing these birds whenever they trespass too close to space the hummingbirds consider their own.

Sightings of both the Rufous and Anna's Hummingbird have been made in Jackson County, Illinois, as well as an unconfirmed sighting of a Black-Chinned specimen. All of these sightings were made in late fall and appear to be vagrants blown off course while migrating. However, since all of these sightings were made at just one feeder it could be that these vagrants are far more common than is generally believed so keep your eyes open (and videocams at the ready) this fall.

Hummingbirds of all sorts are readily attracted to feeding stations. In fact, hummingbirds may be more alert to feeding stations then they are to natural floral sources thereby joining the host of wild species that are growing increasingly dependent on humans. If you maintain a feeding station, or are thinking of setting one up, remember that scrupulous cleanliness of the feeder is your number one responsibility since serious hummingbird illnesses can result from dirty or fouled feeders. A minimum weekly scrubbing of the feeder in hot, soapy water is all it takes.

These tiny glittering avian gems keep their metabolic furnaces stoked with sugar water, nectar, and gnats, and are - for their size - one of the most impressive migratory birds in the world. Many of our birds winter in southern Texas and Central America where flowers are always blooming, but a significant fraction head down to the Gulf Coast where they fatten up as well as they're able and then head due south crossing the Caribbean in a single long flight to South America.

Offsite Links:

• The Hummingbird Society
• Operation Ruby-Throat
• Hummingbirds
• Hummingbirds in Native American Mythology

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