They go from Central America, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Florida to the lower United States east of the Great Plains, some reaching Canada. The little colorful birds can fly 1,200 miles nonstop. Some stay on land, while others fly over the Gulf of Mexico to their nesting area.
Birds migrate through the South in spring. Making your yard a warm-weather home for these guests is ideal now.
Plants and feeders attract hummingbirds easily. The nectar of flowers, insects, and small spiders sustains Ruby-throated hummingbirds.
Hummingbirds eat all day, eating half their body weight in bugs and nectar, according to the Adirondack Council. They feed every 10-15 minutes, visiting 1,000-2,000 flowers and eating beetles, ants, aphids, gnats, mosquitoes, and wasps.
Hummingbirds love brightly colored plants, especially ones with long, tubular flowers that carry more nectar.
The following perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs and vines are some options for attracting the hyper little visitors: Bergamot, Cardinal Flower, Bee Balm, salvias, Purple Splendour Salvia, Lantana, Hosta, Autumn Sage,
Penstemon, Giant and Little Cigar plants, Vomitwort, Beard-Tongue, Hyssop, Hummingbird Mint, Sierra Columbine, Bird of Paradise, Scarlet Sage, Mexican Sunflower, Shrimp Plant, Fire Spike,
Impatiens, Fuchsia, Jacobinana, Petunia, Four-O-Clocks, Aloe Vera, Crimson or Weeping Bottlebrush, Red Buckeye, Flowering Quince, Butterfly Bush, Coral Honeysuckle, Cardinal Climber, Cypress Vine, Morning Glory, Firecracker Vine.