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Hummingbird nest with
youngHummingbirds are only found in the Americas, from southern
Canada and Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, including the West Indies.
The Black-chinned Hummingbird is the most common species in the
western United States and Canada. Only the Ruby-throated Hummingbird
breeds in eastern North America, but occasional members of other
hummingbird species ("accidentals" in birding jargon)
are seen in the east of North America, sometimes as vagrants from
Cuba or the Bahamas. Hummingbirds of the U.S. and Canada generally
migrate to warmer climates, though some remain in the warmest
coastal regions. In addition, there is an increasing trend for
Rufous Hummingbirds to migrate east to winter in the eastern United
States, rather than south to Central America, this trend being
the result of increased survival with the provision of artificial
feeders in gardens.
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In the past,
individuals that migrated east would usually die, but now they
survive, and their tendency to migrate east is inherited by their
offspring. Provided sufficient food and shelter is available,
they are surprisingly hardy, able to tolerate temperatures down
to at least -20°C. Hummingbirds will use feeders, particularly
red ones. A suitable artificial nectar consists of one part sugar
to four parts water. It is easiest to dissolve the sugar in boiling
water, then cool it completely before putting it out for the birds.
Sweet foods other than white sugar, such as honey, ferment too
quickly and can injure the birds. Some commercial hummingbird
foods are available, but they contain red dyes which are unnecessary
and have been anecdotally reported to poison the birds.
Above Pictures From The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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