So Much to Learn about Hummingbirds!

Spring is a much anticipated time for our smallest backyard-winged visitors. Hummingbirds may be the most anticipated birds to visit our yards. And why not? These littlest jewels of the backyard have some of the biggest personalities.

Hummingbirds are indeed small, weighing 1/10th of an ounce, about the weight of a penny. They also lay the world’s smallest bird egg, about the size of a blueberry.

For such a little bird, hummingbirds can be feisty and aggressive when defending their territories, including nectar feeders. Multiple feeders spread throughout your yard will encourage more hummingbirds to visit and keep bullies at bay. The more feeders you offer and the more spread out they are, the more difficult it is for a protective hummingbird to defend all the feeders. Others, like females or even juveniles, will be able to eat more often, perhaps staying longer to feed or rest at feeders.

Speaking of feeders, these little birds have big appetites. Hummingbirds eat about every ten minutes and their diet is not made up entirely of nectar. They spend more than 25% of their time foraging for small spiders and insects to obtain essential amino acids and other nutrients.

Hummingbirds use their bill and not their tongue to catch prey while they forage near the ground and in trees. They love spiders and spider eggs and watch for small flying insects like midges, fruit flies, and gnats. They also check leaves and branches for leaf hoppers, aphids, and even the occasional small caterpillar.

Our little hummingbirds are deceptively big on speed. They often seem to explode away from a feeder like a dragster. They typically fly at 30-45 miles per hour (48-72 kph) but can fly up to 60 mph (96 kph). They can even hover and are the only birds able to regularly fly backward and occasionally upside down. They can do this because of an extremely mobile shoulder joint.

Be a seasonally savvy bird feeder by installing multiple hummingbird nectar feeders around your yard to draw in these little birds with big personalities. Visit our store, and we'll help you pick out everything you need to attract hummingbirds to your backyard.

WBU Hummingbird Feeders

Get the attention of one of nature's most mesmerizing creatures with our WBU Hummingbird Feeders. These specially designed feeders have a built-in ant moat that keeps bugs out and feeding ports that prevent rainwater from diluting the nectar solution.

They are easy to hang or pole-mount and easy to clean (it's top shelf dishwasher safe). These feeders are backed with a lifetime guarantee.