National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Commonly asked questions Attracting hummingbirds Interesting Facts about hummingbirds to your home Chamizal National Memorial There are over 330 known species How long does a What to plant of hummingbirds found only in the hummingbird live? Americas. Planting flowers that attract HUMMINGBIRDS Not much is known about their hummingbirds can be done in a At 2¼ inches (5.7 cm) long , the lifespan, but many experts believe window box, containers on your of Bee Hummingbird of Cuba is the the average is about 3 to 5 years. The porch, on a trellis, or in a flower Chamizal National Memorial world’s smallest bird. current record holder is a female garden. Hummingbirds will ex- Broad-tailed Hummingbird. She plore all flowers, but are particularly A resting hummingbird takes about was banded as an adult in Colorado attracted to trumpet shaped flowers 250 breaths per minute. in 1976 and recaptured in the same such as columbines, honeysuckle, location in 1987, which would penstemons, paintbrushes, bleed- Hummingbirds can fly forward, have made her at least 12 years old. ing hearts and trumpet vines. backward, and even upside down.

How fast does a The Rufous has the longest hummingbird’s heart beat? Making your own food migration route of all humming- birds—up to 3,000 miles (4828 Their hearts can beat as fast as Although commercial food mix- km)—traveling from summer in 1,260 beats per minute, which es are available, it is easy to make Alaska to winter in Mexico. is the rate measured in a Blue- your own hummingbird sugar so- throated Hummingbird, or as slow lution at home. The basic recipe is To avoid starvation, the average 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. Dye as 50-180 beats per minute on a Rufous Hummingbird hummingbird eats half its weight in cold night when they experience is bad for birds so don’t use food Selasphorus rufus nectar and insects each day. torpor, a hibernation-like state. coloring. Boil the mixture for 1 to 2 minutes and let cool. After filling If the average man had the How fast does a feeders, store the extra in refrig- metabolism of a hummingbird, he erator. In temperatures above 60° would have to eat 285 pounds (129 hummingbird’s wings beat? F (16° C), don’t leave sugar mixture Spotlighting the common kg) of meat every day to maintain The Giant Hummingbird beats its in feeder for longer than 48 hours his weight. wings 10-15 times per second. The because it can spoil. Do not substi- hummingbird species of fastest recorded rate is about 80 beats tute honey or artificial sweeteners Hummingbirds can be aggressive per second on an Amethyst Wood- for sugar when making feeder so- Chamizal National Memorial and have been known to attack star Hummingbird. North American lution because they don’t offer the much larger birds including jays, hummingbirds average around 53 nutrition that hummingbirds need. crows, and even hawks. beats per second in normal flight. Hummingbird drawings courtesy of Dr. George C. West Black-chinned Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Broad-tailed Hummingbird Anna’s Hummingbird Archilochus alexandri Selasphorus rufus Selasphorus platycerus Calypte anna

The Black-chinned is the most The Rufous is the only hummingbird Broad-tails are commonly seen in A native to southern California, common hummingbird of Texas. regularly found as far north as Alaska. the Western mountain ranges of the Anna’s are also occasionally seen in While both the male and female are It has a green head and back. The male Rockies and Sierras. The male is El Paso. It is one of only three species green in color, the male can have Rufus has a copper-colored throat metallic green with a rosy-red band that is a permanent resident of the either a black chin or a completely patch; a rusty-brown head, body, and on his throat, a green crown, and United States. Unlike most other black head, purple band, and white tail; a white chest and belly; and dark a broad tail. The larger female has hummingbirds, Anna’s can sing. The throat. The female has a white chin wings. The trill the male makes with its green central tail feathers with outer adult male has a dark tail and a rosy-red and a somewhat washed-out throat wings identifies him from the female. tail feathers that are rust-colored at iridescent crown, chin and throat. The with green streaks. The Black-chinned Females are not colored as brightly the base, black in the middle, and female has a green crown and a gray is mainly a nectar eater but will also as males. They have a few iridescent white on the outer tips. They are chin and throat with variable amounts eat insects. They tend to make their flecks in the throat, large white spots sometimes mistaken for the female of thin dark streaking or rosy red spots. nests out of twigs and spider web silk. on the tail, and a green head and back. Rufous and Allen’s Hummingbirds.

Measurements Measurements Measurements Measurements • Length: about 4 in. (10.2 cm) • Length: less than 4 in. (10.2 cm) • Length: About 4.5 in. (11.4 cm) • Length: 4 in. (10.2 cm) • Wingspan: 5 in. (12.7 cm) • Wingspan: 5 in. (12.7 cm) • Wingspan: 5 in. (12.7 cm) • Wingspan: 5 in. (12.7 cm) • Weight: .11 oz. (3 g) • Weight: .11 oz. (3 g) • Weight: .11–.13 oz. (3–3.6 g) • Weight: .14 oz. (4 g) • Nest Information Nest Information Nest Information Nest Information • Brood size: 2–3 chicks • Brood size: 2–3 chicks • Brood size: 1–2 chicks • Brood size: 2–3 chicks • Incubation: 13–16 days • Incubation: 13–16 days • Incubation: 14–17 days • Incubation: 14–19 days • Fledging: 21 days • Fledging: 21 days • Fledging: 21–26 days • Fledging: 18–23 days

Migration through El Paso Migration through El Paso Migration through El Paso Migration through El Paso • April–September • April–September • July–August • November–March