Tiny bird, BiG APPetite this small bird’s whale of an appetite can be satisfied with feeders, native plants By Jacelyn Downey FeAtHereD LightninG bills may vary slightly in size f fortunate enough and shape, each protects to have humming- Facts about these bustling birds: a long and sensitive forked i tongue, which a humming- birds whizzing to and • the hummingbird is the smallest bird and bird uses to lick its nectar through your property, you also the smallest of all animals with a source, whether a flower probably marvel at their vora- backbone. cious appetites and quick or a feeder, anywhere from • a hummingbird has no sense of smell maneuvers. three to 13 times a second. wyoming is home to sev- • because a hummingbird can rotate its the fork forms a trough that eral species. the three most wings in a circle, they are the only bird that draws the nectar up by capil- common are the rufus hum- can fly forward, backward, up, down, side- lary action. Hummingbirds mingbird (Selasphorus rufus), ways, and hover. depend on the sugar-rich nectar for up to 90 percent of Broad-tailed hummingbird • to conserve energy while they sleep or their diet; the rest consists (Selasphorus platycercus), when food is scarce, they can go into a of insects and pollen that and Calliope hummingbird hibernation-like state (torpor) where their provide essential protein. (Stellula calliope). See page metabolic rate is slowed to 1/15th of its Because of their extremely 17 for more information normal rate. about these birds. high metabolism, humming- • during migration, some hummingbirds How can you attract birds have to feed about make a non-stop 500-mile flight over the these amazing little fliers to every 10 to 15 minutes. Gulf of Mexico. your home? Start by hang- Feeder Facts • during courtship dives, a hummingbird can ing feeders. Planting native Maintaining a backyard reach speeds up to 60 miles per hour and nectar-producing plants (see hummingbird feeder can pro- can average speeds of 20 to 30 miles per page 16 for suggestions) vide the birds nectar critical hour. will do the most to not only to their survival, especially entice but keep them coming • hummingbirds are the second largest fam- during fall when they need back year after year. ily of birds with 343 species. to double their body mass Specialty Eaters • hummingbirds can beat their wings up to before migration. Contrary Hummingbirds specialize 80 times a second during normal flight and to a common fear, the extra in eating nectar, evident by up to 200 times per second during a court- food won’t stop a hummer elongated bills ideal for prob- ship dive. from migrating south when it’s time for it to go. ing tubular flowers. Although • a hummingbird has a heart rate that can reach up to 1,260 beats per minute. – From The Sibley Guide to Bird Life & Behavior winter 2011 15 A young Planting For hummingBirdS hummingbird there is even more you can do to help these won- receives a derful creatures thrive. Learn how to create a hum- meal snug in its unique nest. mingbird-healthy habitat right in your own backyard! Providing a feeder is a great way to attract hum- mingbirds but consider planting native trees, shrubs, and flowers. they will attract not only humming- birds but bees, moths, and butterflies. Keep in mind it is important to avoid using pesticides when planting for wildlife. Follow these steps to ensure your yard is a safe Some wyoming natives that attract hum- and nutritious stopover for hummingbirds: mingbirds are: • instead of one large feeder, hang several Hawthorn Crataegus spp. smaller ones in different locations. Any va- Yucca Yucca glauca riety will work. Keep the feeders far enough elderberry Sambucus nigra apart that the hummers cannot see one twinberry honeysuckle Lonicera involucrate another; generally, one at each window. this western snowberry Symphoricarpos will prevent one bird from dominating the occidentalis rest. Be sure to place them high enough to be Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi inaccessible to cats. rocky Mountain phlox Phlox multiflora • Fill the feeders with sugar water made by Blanketflower Gaillardia aristata Pursh combining four parts hot water to one part white sugar, boiled for one to two minutes Blue Columbine Aquilegia caerulea and then cooled. neVer use honey, which Crimson Columbine Aquilegia promotes the growth of harmful bacteria, Formosa or artificial sweeteners. Also, avoid red food Cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia coloring. laciniata • Hang feeders in the shade to discourage fer- Desert paintbrush Castilleja angustifolia mentation and spoilage of the sugar solution. wyoming paintbrush Castilleja • Be sure to change the sugar water regularly linariaefolia - before it gets cloudy, or about twice a week Yellow paintbrush Castilleja flava in warm weather. Dotted gayfeather Liatris punctata • Clean feeders with a solution of one part Fireweed Chamerion angustifolium white vinegar to four parts water about once Longleaf phlox Phlox longifolia a week. if the feeder has become dirty, try adding some grains of dry rice to the vinegar Spreading phlox Phlox diffusa solution and shake vigorously. the grains act Bush penstemon Penstemon fruticosus as a good abrasive. rinse feeder well with Platte river penstemon Penstemon cyananthus warm water three times before refilling with rydberg’s penstemon Penstemon rydbergii sugar solution. whipple’s penstemon Penstemon whippleanus • if you live in bear country, be sure to follow Mintleaf beebalm Monarda fistulosa local regulations when it comes to feeders – Skyrocket Ipomopsis aggregata you don’t want to tempt bears! wild Mint Mentha arvensis rocky Mountain Lily Lilium philidelphicum Jacelyn Downey is a community naturalist with For more information on planting for Audubon Wyoming. She can be reached at (307) 756- wildlife, go to http://audubonwyoming.org/ 3941 or [email protected]. For more information PDFs/wyomingwildscape-June2005.pdf on hummingbirds in Wyoming, go to http://ces.uwyo. edu/PUBS/B986.pdf or http://birds.audubon.org/ hummingbirds-nectar-feeders. 16 BA r n YA r D S & B A C K Y A r DS Photo by J. Photo by J. Calliope hummingbird Stellula calliope n Where to find them: Common summer resident found in oecker willow and riparian areas of the northwestern mountain ranges of wyoming. Interesting facts: this is north America’s smallest hum- mingbird. they weigh less than three $1 bills. Male Calliope hummingbirds that are exposed to extreme cold tempera- tures at night will enter into a state of torpor, or temporary metabolic shutdown, to conserve energy. Photo by J. Photo by J. Rufous hummingbird Selasphorus rufus n Where to find them: Common fall migrant found in all the oecker foothill and mountainous areas of wyoming. Interesting facts: Adult males are extremely territorial and will aggressively defend a feeder from all other humming- birds. During their long migrations, rufous hummingbirds make a clockwise circuit of western north America each year. they move up the Pacific Coast in late winter and spring, reaching washington and British Columbia by May. As early as July, they may start south again, traveling down the chain of the rocky Mountains. Photo by A. Holloran Broad-tailed hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus Where to find them: Common summer resident that breeds in foothills and mountain ranges throughout wyoming. Interesting facts: they follow the blooming patterns of montane wildflowers, beginning at lower elevations and moving up to higher elevations as summer progresses. the female builds a nest out of lichens, cottonwood seeds, and plant fibers. References: Faulkner, Douglas w. 2010. Birds of Wyoming. Greenwood Village, Colo.: roberts and Company Publishers. http://ces.uwyo.edu/PUBS/B986.pdf www.allaboutbirds.org winter 2011 17 .