There are a few possible reasons why you may only be seeing female hummingbirds at your feeder:
Males and females have different roles during breeding season
During the breeding season, which lasts from spring through early summer, the males and females take on distinct roles. The males focus on attracting mates and defending their territories, while the females do most of the nest-building and caring for the young. This means the females have higher energy needs during this time as they incubate eggs and feed their hungry chicks. So while the males are busy with their courtship displays, the females are likely taking advantage of your feeder for quick, high-energy nourishment.
Females may be more dominant at feeders
Females can be quite territorial around feeders and may chase males away. They are programmed to aggressively protect food sources to nourish themselves and their young. Some hummingbird species where the males and females look alike, such as Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, also show distinct personality differences by gender. Females tend to be feistier and bully the males away from prime feeding spots.
Males have flashy plumage that makes them more visible
The males of many hummingbird species have brightly colored feathers on their throats or crowns used to attract mates. For example, male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have vibrant red throat patches and male Rufous Hummingbirds have bold orange and red crowns. This eye-catching plumage makes the males more conspicuous as they zip around in search of females and intruders. If they perceive danger, they may avoid feeders more readily than well-camouflaged females.
When do most hummingbirds migrate?
Spring migration
Most hummingbirds migrate north in the spring from their wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America. The timing depends on the species:
| Species | Spring Migration Period |
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | April-May |
| Rufous Hummingbird | February-May |
| Calliope Hummingbird | April-May |
| Broad-tailed Hummingbird | April-May |
Fall migration
Hummingbirds then migrate south again in the fall to return to their wintering grounds, though some young birds hatched that year may overwinter in the southernmost U.S. states.
| Species | Fall Migration Period |
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | August-October |
| Rufous Hummingbird | July-September |
| Calliope Hummingbird | August-September |
| Broad-tailed Hummingbird | September-October |
So most hummingbirds are only in their breeding range for the spring and summer months.
What are some common hummingbird species in the U.S.?
Here are some of the most widespread hummingbird species seen in the United States along with their key identification features:
| Species | Plumage | Range |
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Males have bright red throat, females are pale green | Eastern U.S. |
| Anna’s Hummingbird | Males have pink head and throat, females have grey undersides | West Coast |
| Rufous Hummingbird | Males have coppery orange plumage, females are green | Northwest U.S. |
| Allen’s Hummingbird | Males have orange throat, females have green back | California |
| Calliope Hummingbird | Males have purple throat, smallest U.S. hummingbird | Western U.S. |
| Black-chinned Hummingbird | Males have purple throat band, females are pale green | Southwest U.S. |
Do hummingbirds have good vision?
Hummingbirds have excellent vision adapted for their needs:
Seeing color
Hummingbirds see a wide spectrum of colors. They can perceive ultraviolet light invisible to humans, helping them find nectar guides on flowers. Their eyes have more color-detecting cones than human eyes.
Fast visual processing
Their rapid wing-flapping requires fast vision to navigate and quickly zero in on flowers and feeders. Hummingbirds see new images on their retinas every 5-15 milliseconds compared to humans at 100 milliseconds.
Incredible spatial resolution
Hummingbirds have the highest spatial acuity of any vertebrate, able to distinguish details as small as 0.03 degrees apart. This allows them to precisely locate tiny flowers and sip nectar.
Motion detection
Excellent motion detection helps them quickly identify food sources and predators while in flight. Their eyes have special capabilities to visualize movement much faster than humans.
So hummingbirds not only see better details than us, they process visual information faster for their life of fast-paced foraging. Their specialized vision contributes to their incredible flying skills.
Do hummingbirds have a good sense of smell?
Hummingbirds have very minimal sense of smell compared to some bird species. There are a few reasons their sense of smell is less developed:
Small nasal cavity
The olfactory bulb in their brains that processes smells is very small relative to the size of their brains. Their nasal cavity where air enters the nose is also proportionally small.
Low priority sense
Smell is not an important sense for hummingbirds’ key activities like finding flower nectar. They rely mainly on specialized visual cues to locate food, not scent-tracking. Their high-energy lifestyle prioritizes fast-processing senses like vision over slower chemical detection.
May deter nectar thievery
Having a poor sense of smell also means hummingbirds themselves have little detectable scent. This makes it harder for other animals to steal their nectar, because they leave less chemical trace in flowers they feed from.
So hummingbirds are not like some bird species such as vultures that use smell to locate food. While they do have a minimal sense of smell, vision and fast information processing take priority in their sensory repertoire.
How many eggs does a female hummingbird lay?
The number of eggs a female hummingbird lays depends on the species:
| Species | Number of eggs |
|---|---|
| Ruby-throated hummingbird | 2 eggs |
| Black-chinned hummingbird | 2 eggs |
| Anna’s hummingbird | 2-3 eggs |
| Rufous hummingbird | 2-3 eggs |
| Calliope hummingbird | 2 eggs |
| Broad-tailed hummingbird | 2 eggs |
| Allen’s hummingbird | 2 eggs |
The small clutch sizes are likely an adaptation to the high energy demands of hummingbirds. Raising more than a couple hungry chicks would be difficult while meeting their own extreme nectar needs.
Nesting behavior
The female hummingbird builds a small cup-shaped nest out of plant down, spider webs, and lichens on the branches of trees and shrubs. She lines the nest with soft plant down for cushioning. She alone incubates the eggs for about two weeks, while the male periodically brings her food. Once the chicks hatch, both parents take turns feeding them tiny insects along with nectar. The chicks fledge in about three weeks, an extremely short childhood compared to other birds.
Conclusion
In summary, female hummingbirds are likely more prevalent at your feeder because of their increased energy demands during breeding season and dominance at prime feeding locations. Hummingbirds have remarkably specialized vision adapted to their needs. Their sense of smell is less developed compared to some bird groups. Females lay very small clutches of only 2-3 eggs, which they alone incubate while being fed by males. Understanding hummingbird behavior and senses provides insight into how hummingbirds successfully thrive as tiny, delicate-looking birds that are actually very tough and resilient. Providing a reliable, safe food source like a feeder helps hummingbirds meet the extreme energy requirements of their fascinating lives.
