A garden is more than a collection of , it is home to a va riety of wildlife. Attracting desirable species to your garden adds a wholesome balance and seasonal var iety to the landscape, and it is easy to accomplish by prov i d i n g a p p ro p riate habitats and s o u rces of food. Among the most beautiful and fascinating visitors to any garden are hu m m i n g b i r ds. There are 16 species of “hummers” that regularly visit gardens in the United States; understanding their natural habitats and their p re f e rences for sources of nectar can help you make you r g a rden a seasonal home for these intriguing crea t u re s . G a rd e n i n g w i t h H u m m i n g b i rd s

Attracting these beautiful birds to your ga r den is easy once you know how.

BY ARNETTE HEIDCAMP

22 the American Gardener bution is mostly tropical, with the grea t - est density of species in South America. The number of species diminishes as you m ove nort h w a rd, with only one nesting as far north as Alaska, and only one in the e n t i re eastern United States. Of the 16 species that commonly reside or nest ab o ve the Rio Grande, 14 are found in the West or Sou t h w est, where mountainous terrain connects southward into Mex i c o and the trop i c s . In addition to attracting nesting , many regions play tem- p o r a ry host to transients. For instance, both the rufous and calliope humming- bi r ds have an oval migratory route, mak- TI NY BIRD with spark l i n g adding alternative sources of nectar, such ing a northward spring migration up the plumage flies into the garden and as sap wells and feeders, our Pacific coast and southward fall migra- A catches your eye as it darts fro m ga r dens can become irres i s t i b l e . tion inland along the Sierras and Ro c k- blossom to blossom. Its iridescent, emer- Still, the best way to attract humming- ies. This elliptical route coincides with al d - g r een body hovers in front of a bi r ds to the garden, at least initially, is to peak flowering, first in the deserts and as its needlelike bill moves in and out for gr ow an abundance of nectar-prod u c i n g later in the mountains. nectar or insects. Suddenly an intense fl o wers, particularly those that they visit patch of scarlet neon flashes as the bird naturally in the wild (see chart on page 24 Eastern Forests. For ested eastern moun- turns its fabled ru by - c o l o red throat in for favorite native flower s ) . tains host ru by - t h roated hummingbird s your direction before disappearing in the Most well-adapted native plants f rom mid-spring to late summer. They blink of an eye. t h r i ve with minimal care and without nest in mixed woodlands, woodland edges, Hum m i n g b i r ds—quick, beautiful, cap- need of synthethic fert i l i zer and pesti- p a rks, and gardens across eastern No rt h ti v ating. One can hardly describe this fam- c i d e s — t oxic pesticides should never be America from the Great Plains north to ily of resplendent little crea t u r es without a used on hummingbird plants. southern Canada, and south to Te x a s . liberal sprinkling of superlatives. Arguably Another consideration in selecting They winter in Central America, or occa- the hummingbird is the most beautiful of plants for hummingbirds is their season sionally along the Gulf Coast. In addition bi r ds; certainly it is the smallest. Mea s u r i n g of bloom. In areas where hummingbirds to flower nectar, ruby - t h r oated humming- a mere two inches, including its bill, the ra r ely breed but are numerous during mi- bi r ds often feed on sap released by the di m i n u t i v e male bee hummingbird (Me l - gration, concentrate on spring- and fall- drilling of sapsuckers. Though this is the lisuga helenae) of Cuba is the tiniest warm- blooming . Gulf Coast and coastal only species indigenous to the eastern blooded crea t u r e on earth. Fanciers never California residents may place a little United States, its range is extensive, and it ti r e of watching hummingbirds engage in extra emphasis on winter-flowering var i - is a familiar visitor to gardens in this reg i o n aerial acrobatics. We all want humming- eties to accommodate wintering or re s i- fr om spring through late summer. b i rds to visit our gardens and will go to dent hummers and may want to consider Rufous hummingbird feeding gr eat lengths to get them to stay. n o n - i n va s i ve, non-native ornamentals. Western Mountains. Only a few speciesfrom aloe of flower Because of their small size and high For instance, well-adapted species of Alo e , hummingbirds brave the alpine heights. metabolic rate, hummingbirds must re- Eucalyptus, Grev i l l e a , and Callistemon pr o- Yet, higher elevations throughout the plenish energy freq u e n t l y . This is where we duce copious amounts of nectar for the Rockies offer prime nesting habitats to get lucky. While they may roam widely in winter sustenance of Anna’s and Allen’s br oad-tailed and calliope hummingbirds. se a r ch of insects and nectar to keep their hu m m i n g b i r ds along the California coast. Broad-tailed hummingbirds inhabit little bodies going, they have exc e l l e n t For areas where hummingbirds spend thickets and moist canyons during nest- memories and return repeatedly to area s a full growing season, a steady supply of ing but afterw a rd move to higher eleva- rich in flowers. Gar dens that include ap- nectar-producing flowers will keep them tions of the Rockies and Sierras to forage p ropriate flowers will attract humming- returning to your garden (see “Ha n g i n’ on the abundant wildflowers of alpine b i rds and keep them coming back. By with Hummers,” page 26). m e a d ows. Their spring migration is through low arid areas of the Southwest, Opposite top: A rufous hummingbird rests on a WHERE TO FIND HUMMINGBIRDS as is the fall migration to Mexican high- lily. Opposite below: A young ruby-throated Hum m i n g b i r ds can be found from Alas- lands. By the time broad-tails abandon hummingbird feeds on nectar from S a l v i a ka to Tierra del Fuego in Chile; the entire their territories in midsummer, migrato- co c c i n e a . This page above: A male Anna’s hu m m i n g b i r d family (Trochilidae) is con- ry rufous hummingbirds move in to re- hummingbird and Streptosolen jamesonii. fined to the New World. But their distri- place them. Our smallest hummingbird,

May / June 2 0 0 1 23 No r th America’s Hummingbirds and Habitats at a Glance

NO R TH AMERICAN HUMMINGBIRDS’ FAVORITE NATIVE FLOWERS BY REGION

Eastern Forests Beebalm (Monarda didyma), weed (A s c l e p i a s tu b e r o s a ) , cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), fi r e - p i n k (Silene virginica), touch-me-not (Impatiens capensis)

Western Mountains Ca s t i l l e j a spp., Cleome serrulata, Epilobium angustifoli- Broad-tailed hummingbird Black-chinned hummingbird um , honeysuckles (Lonicera sp p . ) , Lupinus sp p . , Pe n s t e m o n spp., scarlet gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata)

HUMMINGBIRD SPECIES RE G I O N S De s e r t Ruby-throated hummingbird eastern forests Chuparosa (Justicia californi- (Archilochus colubris) ca ) , desert willow Calliope hummingbird western mountains, West Coast (Chilopsis linearis), fa i r y (Stellula calliope) duster (Calliandra eriophylla), Broad-tailed hummingbird western mountains, desert ocotillo (Fouquieria splen- (Selasphorus platycercus) de n s ) , Pe n s t e m o n sp p . , Rufous hummingbird western mountains, West Coast, red yucca (Hesperaloe parvi- (Selasphorus rufous) de s e r t fl o r a ) , western coral bean Black-chinned hummingbird western mountains, desert, (Erythrina flabelliformis) (Archilochus alexandri) southwest borderlands Lobelia cardinalis Costa’s hummingbird desert, West Coast West Coast (Calypte costae) Aq u i l e g i a spp., Ca s t i l l e j a Anna’s hummingbird desert, West Coast sp p . , currant (Ribes mal- (Calypte anna) va c e u m ) , Diplacus sp p . , Allen’s hummingbird West Coast Eu c a l y p t u s spp., gooseberry (Selasphorus sasin) (Ribes speciosum), ma n z a n i t a s Broad-billed hummingbird desert, southwest borderlands (Arctostaphylos spp.), Mi m u - (Cynanthus latirostris) lu s spp., Ni c o t i a n a spp., Blue-throated hummingbird southwest borderlands Silene lanciniata, Stachys (Lampornis clemenciae) spp., Zauschneria sp p . Violet-crowned hummingbird southwest borderlands Chilopsis linearis (Amazilia violiceps) Southwest Borderlands Magnificent hummingbird southwest borderlands Agave americana, Anisacanthus sp p . , Bouvardia sp p . , (Eugenes fulgens) desert willow (Chilopsis linearis), fairy duster White-eared hummingbird southwest borderlands (Calliandra eriophylla), Heuchera sanguinea, (Hylocharis leucotis) arboreus, ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), Berylline hummingbird southwest borderlands Penstemon spp., red yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora), (Amazilia beryllina) Salvia spp., Stachys coccinea, western coral bean Lucifer hummingbird southwest borderlands (Erythrina flabelliformis) (Calothorax lucifer) Buff-bellied hummingbird semi-tropical areas Semi-Tropical Areas (Amazilia yucatanensis) Aloes (Aloe sp p . ) , anaqua (Ehretia anacua), me s q u i t e (Prosopis glandulosa), Texas ebony (P i t h e c e l l o b i u m flexicaule), wax mallow (Malvaviscus arboreus)

24 the American Gardener the calliope, inhabits canyons, deciduous m i n g b i rds winter over in these arid and or coniferous forests, and forest edges ad- semi-arid areas. jacent to meadows. The calliope follows C o s t a’s hummingbird arrives early in s u m m e r’s advance up the mountains to the desert, produces its first brood along ri- the flower-rich meadows above the tim- parian corridors from Feb ru a r y to Apr i l , berline; postbreeding movements may and then disappears in late May to prod u c e take it to elevations as high as 10,000 feet. its second brood along coastal areas of The Cascades of the Pacific Nort h we s t southern California. In Arizona, it pref e r s host breeding rufous and calliope hum- ca n y on and arroyo habitats rich in ocotil- mi n g b i r ds. The champion migrant of the lo (F ouquieria splendens), ch u p a r osa (Jus t i - hu m m i n g b i r d world, the ver y pugnacious cia californi c a ) , yuccas, and cacti. It winters rufous, makes a 2,000-plus mile trip from in warm places from Phoenix to Pa l m the wintering grounds of Mexico to a Springs, California. Overlapping Costa’s br eeding range as far north as southeast- during the non-breeding season is Anna’s ern Alaska. The rufous nests in coniferou s hu m m i n g b i r d, which is primarily non-mi- fo r ests and forest edge habitats. Spring mi- g r a t o ry but withdraws slightly from the gration occurs at lower elevations and is n o rthernmost parts of the nesting range made entirely up the coast, while goose- during colder months. Aquilegia formosa berries, currants, and manzanitas are in Many desert flowers blossom in re- bloom. Fall migration begins early, occurs sponse to the longer, warmer days of at much higher elevations, and follows a spring. The flowering of the graceful along the Pacific Coast is moderated mo r e easterly route. ocotillo coincides with the arrival of spring t h roughout the year by moisture - l a d e n Black-chinned hummingbirds, wide- migrating species including Anna’s, black- ocean air. Winters are mild and summers spread in the West, inhabit the foothills chinned, broad-tailed, bro a d - b i l l e d , are cool, with up to 15 inches of precipi- of both ranges, nesting in their preferred Co s t a ’s, and rufous hummingbirds. Gil i a s tation in the form of summer fog drip. woodland and canyon habitats, particu- and penstemons begin to open in mid- Many wildflowers bloom from Ja n u a ry larly in close proximity to water. spring, but by late spring, when daytime to Oc t o b e r, and some are in flowe r te m p e r a t u r es on the desert are high, it is throughout the year. De s e r t s . While days are still short and other woody perennials, cacti, and succulents Inland from this coastal belt exists a ar eas adrift with snow, many wildflower s that fill the floral gap. wide variety of closely spaced ecological bloom in the warmest part of the south- habitats, influenced by distance from the western deserts. A few species of hum- West Coast. The climate of a narrow strip ocean, latitude, altitude, rainfall, and ter- rain. Because of the seasonal rain pattern, many wildflowers are winter annuals, Tips for Hummingbird Feeders fl o wering in early spring. Chaparral exists along the lower slopes of the southern Cal- ifornia Ranges, and the Cascade-Si e r r a ■ Select a feeder with a small reservoir Ne vada Mountains. Grassland, oak- to ensure a fresh supply of nectar. woodland, and freshwater marsh com- ■ For artificial nectar, combine water munities are present in the nort h - s o u t h and sugar in a four- or five-to-one ratio; valley between these ranges. bring to a boil to dissolve sugar, then re- These coastal areas are habitats for move from heat to avoid changing the An n a ’s and Allen’s hummingbirds. Anna’s the sugar-to-water ratio. ar e found in broken chaparral and mixed ■ Clean feeders once a week by soaking woodland habitats. They winter fro m for an hour or two in hot water with a southern Arizona to southern Ore g o n small amount of bleach. Rinse thorough- but withdraw from the northern parts of ly and allow to air-dry before refilling. this range during colder months. Te r r i- ■ Place the feeder in full or part shade tories are frequently centered around two to retard spoilage of the nectar. species of currant—Ribes malvac e u m an d ■ Place the feeder near or shrubs R. speciosum—that bloom sequentially. with small branches that will allow birds dominating more than one feeder. A l l e n’s hummingbirds nest in the to perch for rest. ■ Make sure the feeder is at least six feet humid canyons along the summer fog ■ Separate feeders by at least six feet off the ground and in a spot for easy belt. Spring migration for Allen’s occurs to prevent one hummingbird from vi e w i n g . —Rita Pelczar, Associate Editor early along the coast; after breeding in late May or early June, they travel along the foothills of the Sierras to southern Cali-

May / June 2 0 0 1 25 S o u rces for Hangin’ with Hummers Fe e d e r s Acme Wild Bird Feeder Company, Whether hummingbirds nest in or just migrate through your region, many different flow- Cincinnati, OH. (513) 766-2131 ers will tempt them to your garden. But in order to guarantee frequent visits over several ww w . a c m e w i l d b i r d f e e d e r s . c o m . weeks or months, you’ll need to provide a steady supply of fresh blooms. In a large garden, hummingbirds can flit from buckeyes to beebalms to bush sages Backyard Wings and Water, Fr e d e r - and back, depending on the season. But you needn’t have extensive gardens to attract ick, MD. (301) 668-2999. a faithful following of hummingbirds—just lots of flowers. For a small garden, and par- ww w . w i n g s a n d w a t e r . c o m . ticularly for container plantings, select plants that produce abundant blooms for sev- eral months. Because these avian whirligigs have a fondness for so many great garden Bird Central, Scotts Valley, CA plants, and because their high-energy output requires constant feeding, it is easy to (877) 461-0903. fill patio containers, window boxes, and hanging baskets with nectar-rich delights ww w . b i r d c e n t r a l . c o m . that will have them calling on you regularly. Here are a few suggestions for long-season bloomers—mostly annuals or perenni- R e s o u rc e s als that can be grown as annuals—that are favorites with hummingbirds and that thrive in containers or hanging baskets. —Rita Pelczar, Associate Editor The Hummingbird Society, P.O. Box 394, Newark, DE 19715. Begonia hybrids Marmalade bush (Streptosolen jamesonii) (800) 529-3699. Bougainvillea hybrids Morning glory (I p o m o e a sp p . ) ww w . h u m m i n g b i r d . o r g . Bush violet (Browallia speciosa) Petunia hybrids Cigar (Cuphea ignea) Pincushion flower (Scabiosa atropurpurea) Hummingbird Gardens, edited by Cypress vine (Ipomoea quamoclit) Scarlet sage (Salvia splendens) Stephen W. Kress. Brooklyn Botanic Desert bluebells (Phacelia campanularia) Shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeana) Gardens, Brooklyn, New York, 2000. Fuchsia species and hybrids Shrub verbena (Lantana camara) Geranium (Pelargonium) hy b r i d s Star flower (Pentas lanceolata) The Hummingbird Garden, by Math- Impatiens hybrids Trailing lobelia (Lobelia erinus) ew Tekulsky. The Harvard Common Mealycup sage (Salvia farinacea) Wishbone flower (Torenia fournieri) Press, Boston, Massachusetts, 1999.

Hu m m i n g b i r d s . n e t . ww w . h u m m i n g hot. The plants on these sky islands dif- white throat and is found only in the bi r d s . n e t . A Web site for humming- fer considerably from south to north, as mountains of extreme southeastern Ari- bird enthusiasts that includes a map well as with elevation. zona and southwestern New Mexico, in- showing migration progress for ruby- Ab ove the hot desert lowlands are habiting dry forests and riparian throated hummingbirds. transitional zones up to the cool moun- sc r ubland. It is a summer resident of deep tain summits. The resulting floral diver- ca n y ons, forests, forest edges, and deserts sity attracts the most hummingbird near stream banks, where it nests among fornia, Baja, and north w estern Mex i c o . species of any region in the United Sta t e s . cottonwoods and syca m o r es. All but two of the 16 species that reg u l a r - Magnificent and white-eared hum- Southwest Borderlands. Many factors ly cross the border either nest in or mi- mingbirds are found at the higher eleva- combine to create an exciting biodiversi- grate through southeastern Arizona and tions. The magnificent hummingbird ty in the southwest borderlands. He re , s o u t h western New Mexico—the nort h- nests in maples along mountain streams temperate life meets and mixes with ernmost limit for many hummingbirds. and on the slopes just below the pon- t ropical life. The region is a bridge be- Broad-billed hummingbirds inhabit de r osa pine zone, becoming most plenti- t ween Me x i c o’s Sierra Ma d res to the the open coniferous woodland and roc k y ful in mid-June when the mescal shrubs south and the Rockies to the north and mountain canyon habitats at the lowe s t (Ag a v e americana) begin to bloom. The contains a large number of plant species e l e vations. This dazzling little hummer white-eared hummingbird nests casually from a wide variety of arid and semi-arid nests where streams support growth of in the mountains of southeastern Ari- habitats: grassland, woodland and shrub - sycamore and mesquite. zona in woodland habitats near streams. land, deciduous and coniferous fore s t s , Bl u e - t h roated and violet-crow n e d The berylline hummingbird is acci- and mountains. hu m m i n g b i r ds are found at middle eleva- dental in the mountains of southeastern The terrain of this region is character- tions. Our largest hummer, the blue- Ar i z ona. It migrates north in June, nesting i zed by scattered peaks called “sky is- t h roated hummingbird is a summer fr om July to August among syca m o re s . l a n d s” that rise from desert plateaus. resident in moist canyons near stre a m s . The lucifer hummingbird nests in the With summits over 9,000 feet, moun- The violet-crowned hummingbird is the interior highlands of the Chisos Mo u n- taintops are cool while deserts below are only No rth American hummer with a tains of southwestern Texas and occasion-

26 the American Gardener ally in southeastern Arizona, after which it mo ves upwa r d into canyons. The lucifer has the most down w a rd - c u r ved bill of all Nor th American hummers and is known to consume lots of insects, which it may glean from its favorite flowers: agave s , ocotillo, acacias, and cacti. The black-chinned hummingbird pre- fers moist nesting habitats in this reg i o n .

Semi-Tropical Areas. The buff-bellied h u m m i n g b i rd nests from Ma rch to Ju l y among dense thickets along streams and semi-arid coastal scrub habitats of the l ower Rio Grande Va l l e y. Although its population is greatest in May and Se p- t e m b e r, some may be found year ro u n d in the Brownsville area of Texas and oc- casionally in Louisiana. INVITING THEM HOME To encourage hummers to visit your gar- dens, include their favorite native plants (see chart, page 24) to create natural h u m m i n g b i rd oases. Then fill in with

Asclepias tuberosa and Mo n a r d a

Leave a Le g a c y Remember the AmericanHorticultural Society in YourWill or Trust

AHS provides reliable, up-to-date information on issues of immediate concern to gardeners and the greater community. The Soc i e t y ’s mission is to nurtu r e the active development of the United States as a nation of c u l t i vated varieties of annuals, herba- successful and environmentally responsible garde n e r s . ceous perennials, shrubs, trees, and vines You can help support us in our mission by making gifts to AHS during you r that are adapted to your area and that add lifetime or under the terms of your will through what is known as planned to the hummingbirds ’ nectar buffet. And giving. Let AHS rec o g n i z e you now for the gift you have planned by joining just to make sure no hummer goes away h u n g ry, hang feeders filled with a solu- the Hor ticultural Her i t a g e to d a y . tion of sugar water for them (see “Tips for To learn more about how you can support AHS, contact our Hummingbird Feeders,” page 25). Dev elopment Office at 7931 East Boulevar d Dri v e, Alexandria, Now make yourself comfortable as VA 22308-1300, (703) 768-5700 ext. 115. you watch the hummingbirds and their antics to your heart’s content. m We urge you to consult with your legal and financial advisors to assist you in arranging the best method of contributing. The American Horticultural Society is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Arnette Heidcamp is a free-lance writer living Revenue Service Code. Contributions to AHS are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. AHS is also a registered charitable organization under Section 57-49 of the Virginia Solicitation of Contributions in Sau g e r ties, New Yor k. Her current project is Law; a financial statement is available upon written request from the State Division of Consumer Affairs. a book about growing hummingbird flower s .

May / June 2 0 0 1 27