Nova Scotia is located on Canada’s east coast and is well-known for its rugged coastlines, lighthouses, and maritime history. The province has a diverse landscape ranging from the Atlantic coast to rolling farmlands, making it an excellent habitat for a variety of bird species. One type of bird that sometimes sparks curiosity about its presence in Nova Scotia is the hummingbird. So, are there hummingbirds in Nova Scotia?
The short answer is yes, there are hummingbirds found in Nova Scotia during the summer months. However, only one species, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, is commonly seen in the province. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds migrate from Central America up through the eastern United States and Canada to breed during the summer. They start arriving in Nova Scotia in late April or May and stay until September when they migrate south again for the winter.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Nova Scotia
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is the most widespread and only regular hummingbird species found east of the Great Plains in North America. They range across Eastern Canada and the Eastern United States during the breeding season. Their name comes from the distinctive bright ruby-red throat patch found on the adult male birds. Females lack this patch and are more white-colored underneath.
In Nova Scotia, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds take advantage of the proliferation of flowers and nectar sources that occur during the summer months. They are attracted to tubular red or orange flowers with high nectar content, including bee balm, trumpet creeper, cardinal flower, and columbine. Hummingbirds also feed heavily on sugar water from backyard feeders in neighborhoods where people maintain them.
Once they arrive in Nova Scotia for breeding, male Ruby-throats establish feeding territories which they aggressively defend from intruders. Females build a small cup-shaped nest out of plant down, spider webs, and lichen glued together with saliva. The nest is usually located on the fork of a tree branch high above the ground. The female lays 2 tiny white eggs and incubates them alone for 10-14 days before they hatch.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds produce only one brood per summer. By late August and September, they are preparing for their long migration back to Central America where they will overwinter. Ruby-throats make this incredible 3000-6000 mile journey across the Gulf of Mexico in a single flight! Prior to departure, they feed heavily to store up fat reserves for this arduous trip.
Other Hummingbird Species in Nova Scotia
While the Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only consistent hummingbird species in Nova Scotia, several other vagrant hummingbird species have shown up rarely in the province, especially in recent years.
Rufous Hummingbirds, native to the Pacific Northwest, are the most frequent vagrant species reported in Nova Scotia and elsewhere in Eastern Canada. They are known for wandering far off their normal migration routes. Individual Rufous Hummingbirds sometimes get blown east during fall migration and end up traveling all the way to the Atlantic coast. They will occasionally overwinter in Nova Scotia if feeders are maintained for them.
Other rarer vagrant hummingbirds that have been documented in Nova Scotia include:
- Calliope Hummingbird
- Allen’s Hummingbird
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird
- Buff-bellied Hummingbird
These species may show up once every few years when a lost individual gets well off course during migration. Backyard birdwatchers who keep feeders may spot one of these unusual visitors on rare occasions, generating excitement among the local birding community when it happens.
Best Places to See Hummingbirds in Nova Scotia
The top places to spot hummingbirds in Nova Scotia include:
- Backyards – Hummingbirds are commonly seen visiting backyard feeders and flower gardens, especially in towns and rural areas.
- Provincial Parks – Places like Kejimkujik National Park, Cape Breton Highlands National Park, and Point Pleasant Park attract hummingbirds to their habitats.
- Public Gardens – The formal flower gardens with beds of nectar plants at sites like Halifax Public Gardens and Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens are hummingbird hotspots during the summer.
- Nature Trails – Hiking paths with native flowers like the trails at Grafton Lakes Park, Crystal Crescent Beach Provincial Park, and Nature Trust Reserves entice hummingbirds.
Anywhere that provides plentiful nectar flowers, shrubs, and feeders will draw in hummingbirds during their time in Nova Scotia before fall migration.
Attracting Hummingbirds to Your Garden
Here are some tips for attracting hummingbirds to your own garden in Nova Scotia:
- Put out a nectar feeder with a 1:4 ratio of sugar to water and place in a visible location.
- Plant a variety of tubular flowers in red, orange, pink, or purple. Favorites include bee balm, cardinal flower, trumpet creeper, petunias, and sage.
- Make sure garden has small trees and shrubs that provide landing spots for hummingbirds.
- Avoid using pesticides which reduces the insect population that hummingbirds feed on.
- Provide a nearby water feature like a fountain, mister, or bird bath that hummingbirds can drink from.
- Consider supplementing with additional feeders on porches, patios, or along borders.
With the right habitat and a little patience, even city dwellers can experience the magic of hummingbirds visiting their outdoor spaces with some planning.
Interesting Facts about Hummingbirds
Here are a few fascinating facts about our smallest bird species:
- Ruby-throated Hummingbirds weigh only 2-6 grams but have a rapid heartbeat of up to 1260 beats per minute!
- Their wings beat around 50 times per second allowing them to hover in place and fly backwards.
- Hummingbirds have the highest metabolism of any warm-blooded animal.
- They consume up to 2-3 times their body weight in nectar each day and visit hundreds of flowers.
- Hummingbirds are only found in the Western Hemisphere.
- Their long bill allows them to access the nectar inside certain tubular blooms.
- They build a tiny cup nest out of spider silk, moss, and lichen.
Threats and Conservation
The ruby-throated hummingbird has a wide breeding range and large estimated population size. However, habitat loss in both their breeding and wintering grounds poses a threat. Use of pesticides also reduces insect food sources. Window collisions from artificial structures are another source of mortality.
But people can help via conservation actions such as:
- Planting native flowers and maintaining feeders.
- Avoiding pesticide overuse in gardens.
- Keeping cats indoors to reduce predation.
- Participating in citizen science projects that monitor hummingbird populations.
- Educating others on how to support hummingbirds.
With a little help, the hummingbirds can continue gracing our gardens with their beauty each summer for years to come.
Conclusion
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird migrates all the way from Central America to breed in Nova Scotia and other parts of Eastern Canada each summer. These tiny birds display incredible feats of endurance on their long journeys and dazzle us with their hovering flight capabilities. While the Ruby-throat is the only regular hummingbird, vagrants like the Rufous may show up on rare occasions as well. Attracting these pollinators to our gardens not only allows us to enjoy their presence but also helps support and conserve hummingbird populations.
