Hummingbirds and Hummingbird Habitat

Hummingbirds are in the family Trochilidae.

They are new world birds with a habitat as diverse as the geography of their range.

Depending on the species, and there are over three hundred, you might find them in any yard or natural setting in North, Central or South America that offers them adequate food and shelter.

Hummingbird Species Anna's Hummingbird Black-chinned Hummingbird Broad-billed Hummingbird Broad-tailed Hummingbird Costa's Hummingbird Magnificent Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Sparkling Violetear Types of Birds

Coastal areas, deserts, riparian forests and alpine meadows are familiar territory to at least one species. Many species prefer multiple habitats. They winter in warmer latitudes and fly north or south to temperate summer climates for breeding, depending, of course, on which side of the equator they prefer. The Rufous Hummingbird, for example, breeds as far north as Alaska.

Statistics on hummingbirds in the United States differ slightly, depending on which source you read. There are either sixteen or seventeen different breeding species in the United States. An addition eight or so species have been documented as visiting United States soil. Texas and Arizona lead the United States in hummingbird species diversity.

The western part of the United States is prime hummingbird territory. Traditionally the Ruby-throated Hummingbird is identified as the only breeding hummingbird species of the East Coast. However Southeast stay at home birders' life lists are not totally hummingbird deficient. The Georgia Hummers website, for example, records eleven different species.

Nectar is the adult hummingbird's primary food. Their bill and tongue are adept at gathering nectar from trumpet shaped flowers as well as feeders. Many people landscape their yards with a goal of attracting them. Additionally, they hope that once a hummingbird claims their yard as territory, the hummingbird will return yearly. Research at the University of British Columbia partially validates their hopes. Hummingbirds do have a good memory, and some have been recorded migrating yearly to the same destination.

Consider yourself fortunate if a hummingbird claims your yard as part of its territory. They are great guests. You can often place a seating area close to their favorite flowering bush. They are not adverse to visiting the bush in your presence, as long as you are sitting still.

Hummingbird habitat in the wild is as diverse as the habitat of the many neighborhood hummingbirds. There is some research that tentatively demonstrates that hummingbirds are also creatures of dietary habitat. They can be totally or partially dependent on specific flowers as food sources. Consequently, any particular species' habitat depends on whether their flower food source(s) grows at high altitudes only, low altitudes only, or a combination of both.

© 2007 Patricia A. Michaels