Hummingbirds

Hummingbird Facts

Hummingbirds migrate every year from Central and South America to the U.S. They usually show up in early April, and leave in late September or early October. Hummingbirds drink nectar every 10 to 15 minutes due to their fast metabolism and heartbeat. At night, their heart slows down, and they go to sleep. There are over 300 hummingbird species in the world, with only about 20 visiting the U.S. Hummingbirds are only found in North and South America. Hummingbirds are very territorial, and do not travel in groups. The male hummingbird migrates first to set up his territory.

Proper Hummingbird Care

Having plants that hummingbirds drink nectar from is the safest way to take care of hummingbirds. However, it can be easier for hummingbirds to feed from store bought feeders, as they don’t have to work as hard to get the nectar.

It is cheaper and safer to make homemade nectar for your hummingbirds. The nectar needs to be in a ratio of 1 part sugar to 4 parts water, as that is the closest recipe to nectar in the wild. Without preservatives though, homemade nectar needs to be changed out every few days or so, and every day during the summer when it’s hot. This is to prevent hummingbirds from drinking moldy nectar. Extra nectar can be refrigerated up to one week. The recipe for homemade nectar is as follows:

1. Bring four cups of water to a rolling boil.
2. Pour one cup of refined white sugar into the water and mix it until the sugar is dissolved.
3. Let the mixture sit until it becomes room temperature.
4. Pour the mixture into the store bought feeder

Types of Hummingbirds in Roswell

Hummingbirds that visit the Roswell area consistently are the following: