What type of hummingbirds come to Massachusetts?

Hummingbirds are a beloved sign of summer in Massachusetts. Their tiny size and incredible speed make them a delight to watch as they dart from flower to flower. But Massachusetts is home to several different species of hummingbirds. Here we will explore the types of hummingbirds that visit the state each year.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

The ruby-throated hummingbird is the most common hummingbird seen in Massachusetts. This species breeds in the eastern United States and Canada during the summer months. The ruby-throated hummingbird gets its name from the bright red throat patch found on adult males. Females and juveniles lack this red throat patch and are more difficult to identify.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds arrive in Massachusetts in early May to establish breeding territories. They prefer habitats like meadows, gardens, and forest edges that provide nectar-producing flowers. Some favorite nectar sources are bee balm, trumpet creeper, and cardinal flower. Ruby-throats also feed on small insects like gnats, fruit flies, spiders, and aphids.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds build tiny cup-shaped nests out of plant down, spider webs, and lichens. They lay 2-3 pea-sized white eggs and may have up to three broods in a season. The young fledge in about three weeks. Most ruby-throats leave Massachusetts by early October to migrate to Central America for the winter.

Rufous Hummingbird

Rufous hummingbirds are rare summer visitors to Massachusetts. This species breeds farther north and west in Canada and the Pacific Northwest. Some birds stray east during migration and end up in Massachusetts between May and September.

Adult male rufous hummingbirds are unmistakable with their vivid reddish-orange plumage. Females and juveniles are trickier to distinguish, with greenish feathers on the back and white tips on the outer tail feathers. Rufous hummingbirds are feisty and may chase away ruby-throats from food sources.

Preferred nectar plants for rufous hummingbirds include columbines, bee balm, and red flowers. They also eat small insects. While in Massachusetts, rufous hummingbirds take advantage of backyard feeders stocked with sugar water. They are uncommon breeders in the state but have been known to nest here on occasion.

Calliope Hummingbird

The calliope hummingbird is the smallest breeding hummingbird in North America. It is an extremely rare visitor to Massachusetts, with only a handful of records. Most records are between May and September.

Male calliope hummingbirds have brightly iridescent throats in shades of magenta and purple. Females lack this colorful throat patch. Both sexes have white-tipped outer tail feathers. At just over 3 inches long, these tiny birds can be challenging to identify.

In their limited time in Massachusetts, calliope hummingbirds visit flower gardens and feeders. Their small size allows them to feed on more slender, tubular flowers not accessible to larger hummingbirds. Like other hummingbirds, they supplement their diet with small insects.

There are no confirmed breeding records for calliope hummingbirds in Massachusetts. Their breeding range is typically limited to the mountainous western United States. Any summer records in Massachusetts likely represent wandering individuals.

Other Vagrant Hummingbird Species

In rare instances, other western hummingbird species have turned up in Massachusetts. These records are few and far between, but birders should be alert for the possibility. Species like the Anna’s hummingbird, black-chinned hummingbird, and broad-tailed hummingbird have been documented. However, most sightings are more likely to be ruby-throated, rufous, or calliope hummingbirds.

Some tips for identifying an unusual western hummingbird include looking for bold white markings on the tail, gorget feathers (throat patch) in purple or magenta, and distinctive vocalizations. As with any rare bird sighting, documentation with photographs is extremely helpful.

Attracting Hummingbirds to Your Yard

Here are some tips for making your yard attractive to hummingbirds in Massachusetts:

• Plant native nectar-producing flowers like bee balm, trumpet vine, columbine, and cardinal flowers.
• Consider non-native hummingbird favorites like butterfly bush, lantana, petunias, and fuchsias.
• Avoid pesticides and herbicides which can kill hummingbird food sources.
• Leave brush piles and dead trees which provide nesting sites and perches.
• Supplement flowers with nectar feeders, especially early and late in the season.
• Use a simple nectar mix of four parts water to one part white sugar. No food coloring needed!
• Clean feeders every few days to prevent mold and bacteria.
• Consider placing feeders in both sunny and shaded spots.
• Provide a water mister attachment for hot summer days.
• Avoid mesh around feeder ports which can snag hummingbird bills.

Following these tips will give hummingbirds the food, shelter, and nesting sites they need. With a little encouragement, your yard can become part of the essential habitat that sustains hummingbirds on migration and during the breeding season.

Key Identification Features

When trying to identify a hummingbird in Massachusetts, here are some key features to look for:

Keep an eye out for these identification features when observing hummingbirds. Immature birds and females can be especially tricky to pin down to species. Photographs and detailed notes are valuable for documenting rare hummingbird sightings.

Hummingbird Migration

One of the most incredible facts about hummingbirds is their migratory ability. Here are some key points about hummingbird migration:

• Ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate over the Gulf of Mexico, a 500-mile non-stop flight.
• Rufous hummingbirds migrate north along the Pacific Coast in the spring and summer.
• Calliope hummingbirds follow mountain ranges north in the spring and south in the fall.
• Hummingbirds double their weight before migration to store energy reserves.
• High-calorie nectar and small insects help power their flight.
• Hummingbirds migrate on an internal compass and celestial cues, not by landmarks.
• Fast wing beats up to 80 times per second enable their long flights.
• Hummingbirds are prone to exhaustion and starvation during migration.
• Backyard feeders provide crucial fueling stops for migrating hummingbirds.

The migratory feats of hummingbirds are made even more incredible by their tiny size. Providing habitat and food along their migration routes helps sustain hummingbird populations that bring joy to so many.

Hummingbird Nesting

Hummingbirds that summer in Massachusetts build ingenious little nests to house their eggs and raise young. Here are some facts about hummingbird nesting:

• Nests are about the size of a walnut and often camouflaged.
• Ruby-throats prefer nest sites on downward sloping tree limbs.
• Rufous hummingbirds nest higher up in conifers.
• The tiny nests are made of spider webs, plant down, moss, and lichens.
• Nests expand as the chicks grow to accommodate them.
• Females incubate the eggs and care for the helpless chicks.
• Chicks hatch after about two weeks and fledge in another three weeks.
• Some hummingbird species have two to three broods per summer.
• Females fiercely protect their nests from intruders.

Part of welcoming hummingbirds to your yard is providing appropriate nesting habitat. Dead trees and brush piles make good nest sites. Avoid trimming vegetation once nesting is underway.

Hummingbird Feeders

Backyard nectar feeders provide an excellent source of food for hummingbirds. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your feeders:

• Use a simple white sugar and water solution. One part sugar boiled in four parts water.
• Avoid adding red dye which provides no benefit.
• Clean feeders thoroughly every two to three days to prevent mold.
• Rinse with hot water before refilling.
• Place feeders in both sun and shade to attract hummingbirds all day.
• Use feeders with a “bee guard” to keep away bees.
• Consider styles that clamp to poles or hang from rods for stability.
• Place feeders near flowers, nesting sites, and perches.
• Have multiple feeders spread around your yard.
• Bring feeders inside by early October before freezing weather.

With a properly maintained nectar feeder, you can provide fuel for hummingbirds as they migrate through Massachusetts. Don’t forget to change and clean the sugar water regularly!

Hummingbird Predators and Dangers

Despite their diminutive size, hummingbirds face many threats during their annual cycle. Here are some of the main dangers hummingbirds must contend with:

• Window collisions account for many hummingbird deaths.
• Outdoor cats kill large numbers of hummingbirds.
• Collisions with vehicles and buildings also take a toll.
• Loss of habitat like meadows and forests removes food sources.
• Pesticides reduce insect prey populations.
• Extreme weather can kill hummingbirds during migration.
• Nest predation by snakes, cats, jays, squirrels, and chipmunks.
• Hawk and falcon predation in flight.
• Diseases like salmonellosis at crowded feeders.
• competition between hummingbird species for food and nest sites.

There are steps you can take to make your yard safer for hummingbirds. Keep cats indoors, use bird-friendly glass treatments, and avoid pesticides. Maintaining healthy habitat provides protection from many threats.

Interesting Hummingbird Facts

Here are some fascinating facts and traits of hummingbirds:

• Their heart rate can reach over 1,200 beats per minute.
• Ruby-throats migrate 500 miles nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico.
• They can fly up to 35 miles per hour.
• Their wings beat up to 80 times per second.
• Hummingbirds have the highest metabolism of any animal.
• They consume up to 2-3 times their weight in nectar daily.
• Males perform aerial displays to impress females.
• Annual adult survival rates are only around 30-40%.
• Some hummingbird species enter torpor at night to conserve energy.
• Their feet are used for perching, not walking or hopping.

Hummingbirds are perfectly adapted to their lifestyle of feeding on the wing. From their needle-like bills to their rapid wing beats, every part of their anatomy allows them to hover and feed on flower nectar.

Historical Populations

The numbers and distribution of hummingbirds have changed over time. Here is some perspective on historical hummingbird populations:

• Hummingbirds evolved in South America and later expanded northwards.
• Habitat loss likely reduced populations historically, but the extent is unknown.
• Rufous and calliope hummingbirds have expanded east in the 1900s with more backyard feeders.
• Ruby-throats depend on spring rains and blooms during migration and can suffer mass mortality events.
• The clearing of forests for farms in the 1800s removed habitat and nesting sites.
• Pesticide use starting in the 1950s reduced insect prey populations.
• Backyard feeders likely boost survival and reproduction since the 1970s.

Habitat loss was once the biggest threat, but supplemental feeding and more gardens now support larger hummingbird populations. However, other factors like window strikes and cats still claim many lives.

Role in Pollination

Hummingbirds play an important ecological role as pollinators. Here’s how they contribute to pollination:

• Their preference for nectar-rich tubular flowers co-evolved with many native plants.
• Hummingbirds act as major pollinators for columbine, bee balm, cardinal flower and many others.
• Their ability to precisely hover aids the pollination process.
• They actively gather and transport pollen on their bills, heads, and feathers.
• Hummingbirds visit thousands of flowers per day.
• Their high metabolism and energy needs drive frequent flower visits.
• They supplement nectar by catching insects also improves pollination.
• Hummingbirds help maintain the diversity of wildflower species.

By interacting with so many flowers, hummingbirds facilitate cross-pollination between distant plants. Their specialized role supports beautiful wildflower displays and productive gardens.

How to Get Involved

Here are some ways you can help study and conserve hummingbirds:

• Join a citizen science project to report hummingbird sightings and help with research.
• Add nectar plants to your landscape, avoid pesticides, and set up feeders.
• Post photos and observations to online sites like eBird to contribute data.
• Follow hummingbird banding projects on sites like BandingLab and learn about their travels.
• Reduce hazards by keeping cats indoors and treating windows to prevent strikes.
• Volunteer at a nature center or wildlife rehabilitation facility that handles hummingbirds.
• Support organizations like the Audubon Society, Nature Conservancy, and American Bird Conservancy.
• Spread the word about ways people can help hummingbirds in their communities.

We still have much to learn about hummingbird migration, nesting, and habitat needs. Community involvement provides valuable contributions to helping these special birds thrive.

Conclusion

Massachusetts comes alive each summer with the arrival of dazzling, energetic hummingbirds. These tiniest of birds embark on incredible journeys to reach our gardens and parks. Providing habitat, avoiding threats, and spreading enthusiasm for hummingbirds can ensure future generations will still marvel at their hover, shimmer, and flash. The hummingbirds’ ruby throats, fierce chirps, and aerial feats never cease to brighten our days and deepen our connection to the natural world.