We love to watch hummingbirds flit around our backyards each season. We go to great lengths like gardening and landscaping or landscape design to attract these birds and provide food and shelter for them. There are wide varieties of hummingbirds living within the U.S., Canada, and all over the world. Moreover, the species are spread across the country (U.S.). Most of the hummingbirds that breed in Texas spend most of their time in Mexico and Central America, apart from those found in coastal Texas that stay there mostly during the winter season.
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The most common nesting hummingbird in Dallas County is the Ruby-throated and can also be found northern and eastern counties. While the Black chinned hummingbird is most common in Tarrant County, and counties south and west, the females and the young ones of these two species are not easy to differentiate even though the Black-chins are known for shaking their tails more often when lingering for food. On the other hand, the males of Black-chinned species have a purple-colored gorget while that of Ruby-throated species have a ruby-red gorget. They are more common around Cedar Hill in the escarpments of southwest Dallas County.
It’s believed that the blooming of Coral Honeysuckle, Crossvine, Scarlet Buckeye and Texas Buckeye are some of the woody plants that attract Texas hummingbirds, leading to their migration. These plants are gardened with the aim of attracting hummingbirds during springtime. The first hummingbirds of the season are believed to arrive mostly in late March.
Generally, these birds are known to be nectivores, but if observed closely they can be seen feeding on tiny flying insects with their long, slender beak. In addition, they have long brushy tongues that they use to suck nectar from plants.
Most of the hummingbirds always nest in less urbanized areas, while some would occasionally nest in urban areas, including North Texas. The female decides on this; she selects the territory and protect it from rivals, constructs the nest, broods, feeds the young ones and weans them all by herself for 8 weeks. If you want to successfully attract Texas hummingbirds, then target summertime, which is also referred to as hummer time. Plant varieties that attract hummer include: Flame Acanthus, Trumpet Creeper, Turk’s Cap, Anise Sage, Tropical Sage, Autumn Sage, Big Red Sage, Wild Cannas, and more; your garden should never miss these. Planting a variety of spring-bloomers with some smaller perennials like Red Yucca, Texas Betony, Cardinal Flowers, and Wild Red Columbine would also help. One should also offer a clean feeder refilled with fresh nectar 2 to 3 times a week as this entice a nesting female and territorial male.
While the U.S. might not have all the species of these magnificent creatures, a large part of the country is a great natural habitat for these birds, and many U.S. residents enjoyed the 2015 Hummingbird Migration during spring. Texas features a large number of Ruby-throats, which can be seen flocking as many as 20-25 at a time.
Apparently, hummingbirds are considered the smallest of all bird varieties, and yet, feature over 320 species. In fact, World’s second largest bird family title goes to hummingbirds. Spring migration is also considered �fast and furious’, but the fall migration tends to be more casual. These hummers may remain on-sight for two weeks or several months before they finally depart within mid-October. The end of the nesting season, often around July 4th, is always followed by much more fun. Scientists refer to this as a post-feeding season dispersal, as the young ones are weaned, notorious breeding territories are abandoned, and attention is shifted on feeding as much food as possible to allow them molt their feathers and gain weight in readiness for migration southwards.
Additionally, summer time is the time to double your hummingbird feeders, preferably those that are generally easy to clean. If possible, use the saucer-shaped ones that do not drip, are ideally dishwasher safe, with built-in ant moats. If you are fully committed to attracting Texas hummingbirds, you need to plant your hummingbird garden and ensure you irrigate it often. Within no time you could have a dozen hummingbirds hovering over your feeders and fighting each other over a piece of what your garden has to offer. Around July and August there is normally a buildup of hummingbirds, as they abandon their territories to head to the south.
It is always recommended to place your feeders within the same vicinity every year because they will always return to look for the feeder. Most people will have more feeders during that season. Visually separating them will ensure that these Texas hummingbirds dominate no particular feeder at any one time.
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