Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Because I'm not around hummingbird feeders a lot, and because they're frequently in motion even when they're around me, I don't get a lot of chances to get hummingbird pictures. But this summer I got this Ruby-throated Hummingbird picture at the cluster of bird feeders outside the Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary visitor center.

As a female, this hummingbird lacks the ruby-red throat for which this species is named, though she does share some green coloring with the males. They are the only hummingbirds considered native to NJ.

Though they are attracted to red bird feeders (and red flowers), it's sufficient if the feeder itself is red. It's generally considered a bad idea to use red sugar water since it's likely to have additives that are more likely to be bad for the hummingbirds. (As you might expect, Scherman Hoffman (a NJ Audubon location) uses clear sugar water.)

It's pretty unlikely that you'll find a hummingbird up here in NJ now. They like to spend winters in Central America. They'll usually cross the Gulf of Mexico to get there, an impressive feat for a small bird with little fat reserves and no mid-gulf feeding opportunities.

July 18, 2021 at Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary
Photo 148188075, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)


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