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Have you ever seen a hummingbird in real life? Is it one that has been featured in the course so far, or a different species? Tell us about it in the discussion below!You must be enrolled in the course to reply to this topic.
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We have ruby- throated hummingbirds here in Western N.C. I currently have 7 feeders out and they need to be refilled often. They were slow to return this year. So far I have counted 10. Most of them are females. I can watch them for hours.
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I just saw a female ruby throated in my West Virginia garden, and have seen many species in the western U.S. I’m also pretty sure I saw a violetear of some sort as a kid in Maryland. I have an indelible memory of an aqua and green hummingbird on azaleas at my childhood home and found out in recent years that others have seen violetears in Maryland.
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Yes, I live in Tucson, AZ and so I have been lucky to see three species of humming birds here and have several that regularly visit my garden, which was designed specifically with plants that are good sources of hummingbird nectar.
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I have seen 223 hummingbird species, including most of the species shown here. Still counting! My favorite so far was the Red-billed Streamertail in Jamaica.
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I live in the NE now so see ruby throated but when I lived further west, saw many of those hummingbirds which at the time I could ID better than now. There was a B&B outside Ramsey Canyon (Arizona) that had multiple hummingbird feeders and you could see a number of species just sitting in the yard
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I enjoy our year round Anna's hummingbirds and seasonal visits from rufous hummingbirds. When we first moved here, I was surprised to learn that Anna's live in the Pacific Northwest US year round.
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I have an Anna’s sitting on a nest just outside one of my bedroom windows in southern Arizona right now. Hope to see babies in a couple of weeks.
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I live in Guadalajara, México, and I've been lucky enough since I started in bird photography, to photograp 8 different species of hummingbirds, 5 of them where I live, and other three in other places in Mexico, here's the link to my hummingbird observations in inaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?taxon_id=5562&user_id=uncannycueto&verifiable=any The hummingbid species I've seen an photographed are:
- Broad-billed Hummingbird (Cynanthus latirostris) - Guadalajara, Jalisco, MX.
- Violet-crowned Hummingbird (Ramosomyia violiceps) - Guadalajara, Jalisco, MX.
- Berylline Hummingbird (Saucerottia beryllina) - Guadalajara, Jalisco, MX.
- Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) - Guadalajara, Jalisco, MX.
- Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) - Guadalajara, Jalisco, MX.
- Plain-capped Starthroat (Heliomaster constantii) - Vallarta, Jalisco, MX
- Mexican Woodnymph (Eupherusa ridgwayi) - Vallarta, Jalisco, MX
- Zafiro Orejas Blancas (Basilinna leucotis) - Mazamitla, Jalisco, MX
Hummingbirds are some of my favorite birds and what got me into birding in the first place. Love them and love learning about them. -
These are all so beautiful! Some of them I can only hope to see in person someday. Thanks for sharing!
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Amazing! And lucky you to have so many hummingbirds nearby.
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I live in west tennessee and every yr prepare for their arrival. They are here from about mid april to mid sept. I have had as many as 7 feeders but now keep it to 2 in my 2 fav spots to watch them on my front porch. Keeping feeders filled is work but worth it. I just eyeball my sugarwater mixture. I dont measure and dont boil water.
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Probably me but i am having trouble navigating this course that was gifted to me. I go round in circles and cant figure out where am, been, going. I am afraid i am saying i have completed sections i have not completed lanegc@hotmail.com
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Hi Lane. I'm sorry to hear you are having trouble. Please contact Customer Service and they will get you sorted! Just click on "Customer Service" in the previous sentence and the link will take you to the correct page.
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I live on the East Coast of the US and put out a hummingbird feeder, which draws in Ruby Throated Hummingbirds. One amazing thing to watch is the aggressive defense of the feeder if another bird approaches. They could easily share by feeding at different portals but instead they use energy to fight.
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Hello guys, my name is Mateo Bohringer, I'm colombian and I love hummingbirds. With my family we travelled a lot in south america, so I had the opportunity of watching many different species of hummingbirds, and they are amazing. My favourite one is surely the Sword-tailed Hummingbird, which I saw in Guango Lodge in Ecuador, and in Anaime, Colombia. I am enjoying this course, since I am learning many things which are really interesting. Thanks cornell.
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Here on the front range of Colorado we have Black -chinned, Broadtail, Calliope, and Rufus hummers. I have been thrilled to host all four species at my feeders. The Rufus are the bad boys of summer acting like little aztec warriors. I am now learning that when they arrive in late July/early August they are on their way back on the southern migration. They come down through the Rockies on the return trip from Alaska. So interesting. I'm convinced the one in the picture was born here and has returned for 2 years (so far). She/he always perches on this post and loves to rock sideways when we are playing Spanish jazz! Maybe reminds her of her winter digs?
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I took this picture last week of a Mama-to-Be Anna's Hummingbird fetching material for a nest.
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Great photograph!
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we sometimes see them here in the front range in Colorado but more often in the mountains. I do put out a feeder and plant flowering plants; but I have been told to be careful of preditors which can make it dangerous for them. Last year I didn't see one at my feeder. I am not sure if it was the feeder or food I prepared following good directions and keeping it safe for them to feed on. I have the feeder in an open area as suggested. Two years ago, I was able to photograph one or two at the feeder. The most common here in our area. I used the Cornell app to identify it.
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Here in Santa Barbara CA we see Anna's and Allen's, or Rufous/Allen hummingbirds every day at our feeders. I'm looking at a few right now!
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Yes! I live in Western Oregon and we get Rufous and Anna's hummingbirds here. I see Anna's everyday at my feeder and around my yard, Rufous I have only seen a few times during Spring migration.
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I live on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. I periodically see Rufous Hummingbirds during the spring and summer, though that has become increasingly uncommon. Sometimes I wonder if our very plentiful Anna's Hummingbirds are chasing them away. They are amazingly feisty about their territory, and I have witnessed some quite brutal fights between them. Anna's have been overwintering here on the Island for several decades. With our changing weather (increasingly cold and snowy winters), many people try to help them survive by feeding them. Here's one at my feeder this past week. In cold spells, like we are having now, I have to take the feeders in overnight - and, when its really cold, exchange the feeders many times during the day - so that the sugar-water doesn't freeze. Not even a heater is enough sometimes to prevent the sugar-water from freezing! Feeding them properly and keeping their feeders squeaky clean is a serious (but joyful) commitment. Most of the rest of the year, they rely on my many flowering garden plants - some of which I grow specifically for them.
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The only hummingbirds I see in my area are Rufous Hummingbirds, but recently I travelled to see some beautiful Jamaican Mangos that were well worth the flight time!
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I have seen Ruby-throated Hummingbirds numerous times either on a feeder or, more usually, our aloe vera plant flowers.
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I think the only hummingbirds in my area are Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds. The first time I heard one, I thought I was being attacked by a really big bug! Here's an image I captured in 2019 off of my back porch. I was actually photographing a Tiger Swallow-Tail butterfly when this little female joined the scene. Totally unexpected but totally exciting!
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Excellent! Lucky you to experience this and to capture the image. Congratulations.
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@Yasmin Thank you! Happy New Year!
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In my backyard I once had a surprise Calliope Hummingbird that was on a telephone wire. I have also had a couple Black Chinned Hummingbirds. Mostly I get Anna's Hummingbirds and Allen's Hummingbirds.
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I have broad tailed hummingbirds who frequent my yard in the warm months of the year here in Colorado. I have also been fortunate to see black chinned hummingbirds as well as rufous hummingbirds come through my garden. I carved over 300 sq ft of Kentucky bluegrass out of my front yard and replaced it with a mix of native grasses, shrubs, and forbes, and that jump started the hummingbird annual attendance. I have counted as many as 6 in my front yard at one time, all feeding on various flowers within. It's a marvel and precisely the reason I planted as I did! I am enjoying this course so far!
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You have obviously done and excellent job with 're-wilding' your front yard! Maybe some of your neighbours will follow your great example and make a greater habitat for these birds.
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@Yasmin I moved to Sedona over a year ago and started developing a areas of my yard fit for hummingbirds. They “buzz” me every morning as I bring out the feeders every morning in the winter’s first light of the day. A few male Anna’s will immediacy perch and feed while my hands are still on the feeder. I’ve seen 4 male Anna’s at one time aggressively vying for first feeding from the feeder. I also recently have received certification that my yard is a “Hummingbird Haven” from the International Hummingbird Society! My neighbors are supportive of this and are inquiring! Find joy in the small things and prosper!
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I wanted to add to my posting of 12/1/24. This course is fabulous. I'm enjoying Kevin's engaging presentation style. The photos and videos are spectacular. Most of all, I am learning so much. I've been inspired to search the internet for more information. I just researched the Olivaceous thorn bill as I could hardly believe that this bird is a hummingbird. It is indeed. So interesting to see it hop around on the ground for low growing flowers! I look forward to every lesson and will be so sad when this course ends. I'm planning to sign up for the world of woodpeckers next! Thanks Cornell for offering such a wide variety of courses. Life Long Learner, Donna
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I just finished the woodpeckers course, Donna. I think that all these courses at Bird Academy are fabulous. Bird Biology is incredibly challenging and structured like a full time university course. I highly recommend it but plan on it taking a couple of years to complete.
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@Yasmin Hello Yasmin, I was so surprised and pleased to receive notice of your replies to my ruby-throated hummingbird postings. First of all, I'm So glad you have been introduced to the two native flowers species, Bee Balm and Northern Cardinal flower. Northern Cardinal Flower, native to Canada, has been beloved by my husband and me for decades. It is also Native to New York, but for us it is a north country wildflower as that is where we have only seen it, on many canoe camping trips in Ontario and Quebec. I just had to have this flower growing around our woodland ponds for us to enjoy and for our ruby throats to feast on. It's deep red color in late summer is a real eye-catcher. Wanting to spread this beautiful native pollinator in our area, I have given away plant starts and seeds. Thanks for the recommendation of the woodpecker course. I was planning to sign up for this one, but decided at the last minute, to enroll in Spring Field Ornithology North East. It will help me ID more birds in our region. That said, I will be sure to enroll in the woodpecker course next time, especially after reading your positive review of it. I see that you have taken 6 course already. Good for you! Your fellow birder, Donna
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@Yasmin PS I wanted to mention, my husband and I have driven through the beautiful city of Ottawa several times on our way to La Vérendrye wildlife reserve. Of course, we enjoyed stopping to eat lunch or dinner at a restaurant before continuing north. Happy New Year! Donna
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I have offered sugar nectar for the ruby-throated humming birds for decades, here in Western New York. Once I found a nest in a low hanging hemlock branch and was able to watch the two nestling develop. That was many years ago and I was not photographing nature as much then. Still, I will never forget that experience. A few years ago, a friend told me she had a rufous visiting her feeder tube in the fall. This is a rare sighting for Western New York, so I went over to have a look. The humming bird was much more sensitive to close watching than our beloved ruby throats. I few years ago, I planted bee balm and Northern Cardinal flowers. Both are favorite fueling up places for our ruby. This summer, I jut happened to have my camera handy to take these photos. I was thrilled, of course, to capture these images, a first for me!
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Thank you for sharing these photos. I am in Ottawa, Canada and I will follow your lead with some of your plantings.
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Hummingbirds are some of my favorite birds and what got me into birding in the first place. Love them and love learning about them. 
I took this picture last week of a Mama-to-Be Anna's Hummingbird fetching material for a nest. 
I live on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. I periodically see Rufous Hummingbirds during the spring and summer, though that has become increasingly uncommon. Sometimes I wonder if our very plentiful Anna's Hummingbirds are chasing them away. They are amazingly feisty about their territory, and I have witnessed some quite brutal fights between them. Anna's have been overwintering here on the Island for several decades. With our changing weather (increasingly cold and snowy winters), many people try to help them survive by feeding them. Here's one at my feeder this past week. In cold spells, like we are having now, I have to take the feeders in overnight - and, when its really cold, exchange the feeders many times during the day - so that the sugar-water doesn't freeze. Not even a heater is enough sometimes to prevent the sugar-water from freezing! Feeding them properly and keeping their feeders squeaky clean is a serious (but joyful) commitment. Most of the rest of the year, they rely on my many flowering garden plants - some of which I grow specifically for them. 
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