Hummingbirds are found all over the Americas including the Caribbean. Recognized for their hovering ability and their unique ability to fly backwards, hummingbirds hover by continuously flapping their wings at speeds as fast as 80 times a second.

The smallest bird in the world is the Bee Hummingbird at only two inches in length and 1.8 grams. The largest hummingbird is the Giant Hummingbird at at over 8 inches in length and 25 grams in weight. Hummingbirds have the highest metabolism of any birds and to sustain this they have to eat more than their own weight in food every day. In order to do this they have to visit many hundreds of blooms each day to harvest the nectar. They possess extended bills and tongues which allows them to reach deep into the blooms. They are able to slow down their metabolisms when resting, unlike nearly all other high metabolism animals. This increases their lifespan, which can be as long as 16 years.

How to Make A Hummingbird Friendly Garden

To attract hummingbirds to your garden you could plant brilliantly coloured shrubs and flowers. Hummingbirds have very little sense of smell but they can be attracted by intense colours. Placing a hummingbird feeder in your backyard or on your deck will draw these lovely birds. Annuals to plant include jacobinia, salvia, beard tongue, jewelweed, impatiens and petunia. Some perennial plants include bee balm, costa, yucca, canna, lupine, cardinal flower and foxglove. For bushes and trees pick weigela, mimosa, red buckeye, buddleia, lantana and acanthus.

Do not use any pesticides in your garden as this will eradicate bugs and insects that hummingbirds eat. They also leave deposits on flowers which the hummingbirds may swallow. Also provide plenty of perching places as hummingbirds will spend in the region of 80% of their time perching on branches, twigs etc. Supply plants that will supply nesting materials to be a focus for female hummingbirds. They prefer soft nesting material from trees such as eucalyptus and willow and from lichens and ferns.

Placing vibrantly coloured, specially made hummingbird feeders in your garden will create a center of attention for the hummingbirds. An excellent plan is to attach red ribbons that blow all around the feeder. It is also beneficial to put out hummingbird feeders at different heights as hummingbird species all have distinctive preferences. Species that favor plants that are low growing will go to a feeder placed lower whilst species that feed on taller plants and shrubs will rather go to a feeder located higher. Hummingbirds are also very territorial and one hummingbird may well defend a particular feeder and prevent other birds from using it. Put no less than 3 feeders at different heights around your garden.

Hummingbirds enjoy bathing in the mist on foliage so you could set a mister close to some broadleaved shrubbery to give them a place to bathe.

How to Make Hummingbird Nectar

A sweet nectar can be made by mixing together a measure of sugar and four cups of pre-boiled water. Cool then store in the refrigerator. Excess nectar can safely be kept for approximately seven days. Scrupulously clean hummingbird feeders weekly by rinsing with a solution of one cup of vinegar to four cups of water then rinsing out with clean water. Re-fill with the sugar solution and hang in a shady place. Don’t use food coloring or sweeteners. Also do not use honey as it can ferment and produce a a poisonous fungus. Swap the nectar solution in the feeder every three days or more often when the weather is hotter.

Conclusion

It is easy to make a garden that will attract these lovely birds. Provide them with the food they like and a comfortable location and hummingbirds will come to your garden regularly.

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