It's a myth that a hummingbird, or any bird for that matter, will be deterred from heading south in the fall because of human-provided food. Instinct and hormonal urges are what drive birds to migrate, and hummingbirds are no different. Besides, there is good reason to leave your nectar feeder up and full of fresh sugar water until the temperature dips to below freezing, even if you haven't seen a hummer for weeks: It will offer late migrants a refueling spot long after most nectar-producing flowers have ceased blooming. Late-to-migrate hummingbirds turn up throughout North America each fall and winter. By providing a food source, you'll be helping them, not harming them.
Sep 9, 2016 |
Featured in: Watching Backyard Birds, October 2015
Helping Hummingbirds in Fall
Anna's hummingbird. Photo by Seth Reams, Portland, OR. The Anna's hummingbird is common along the Pacific Coast all year long (often the only hummingbird present in midwinter).
What do you think? Tell us!
comments powered by DisqusNew On This Site
Vines for Birds added on Jul 17, 2019
How to Keep Pigeons From Your Feeder added on Jul 10, 2019
Discouraging Starlings from Feeders added on Jul 3, 2019
Bald Eagles added in the gallery by Jim Kotchavar on Feb 10, 2019
Red Bllied woodpecker added in the gallery by Lynne Thomas on Dec 11, 2018
Rube-throated Male Hummingbird at feeder. added in the gallery by Sharon Stangle on Oct 5, 2018
The Latest Comments