Types of Hummingbirds in Vermont: Common and Rare
Vermont, a state known for its picturesque landscapes and diverse wildlife, is also home to a fascinating array of hummingbirds. Among them, the Ruby-throated hummingbird is the most common in this region, captivating bird watchers and nature enthusiasts alike. While other rare winter and accidental visitors add a touch of magic to hummingbirds in Vermont.
Key Takeaways:
- Ruby-Throated Highlight: The ruby-throated hummingbird is Green Mountain state’s most prevalent tiny aviator.
- Summer Spectacle: These birds are a source of joy and fascination during Vermont’s summer months.
- Bird Watching Delight: Observing the swift, vibrant antics of hummingbirds is a favorite for those with an eye on the sky.
For more birdwatching in Vermont see our articles on backyard birds, ducks, hawks, owls, and woodpeckers.
Hummingbirds In Vermont
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds
Scientific Name: archilochus colubris Size: 3.8 inches
Description And Field Marks
The most common hummingbirds on the East Coast are the ruby-throated hummingbirds. The males are particularly striking with their namesake feature: a gleaming, iridescent bright red throat that seems to catch every glint of sunlight – a telltale sign of a male ruby-throated hummingbird. This brilliant splash of color isn’t just for beauty, though. It plays a crucial role in their mating displays, as males swoop and dive in the air to catch the eye of a potential mate.
Ruby-throated females are bright green above with a white throat. Fast fliers that appear like large bees while in flight.
The hummingbird is one of the few birds that can fly at night because it has excellent eyesight. It uses its long bill to catch insects to eat.
It can fly up to 35 miles per hour. These tiny birds can fly up, down, sideways, and even backward.
Nesting
The Hummingbird’s nest is tiny, about 2 inches wide and 1 inch deep. It is made in trees about 40 feet high on branches out of thistle, spider silk, and pine resin. It takes the female a little over a week to make.
The female usually lays 2 tiny white eggs. The incubation period is 12-14 days and the young remain in the nest between 18 and 22 days. It’s the smallest breeding bird and the only breeding hummingbird in Vermont.
Diet
Hummingbirds’ diet consists of flower nectar and small insects. They will come to special Hummingbird feeders with nectar source which is white sugar and water. They sell the nectar in stores, but you can also make it yourself.
Please don’t buy the red colored one as it can be harmful to the birds.
Habitat
Everyone loves to see hummingbirds in their backyards. The Ruby-throated hummingbird is the most common species in Vermont. They arrive in late April and stay until late summer. It is easy to identify because of its iridescent bright colors and the fact that it can hover like a helicopter while feeding.
Song And Call
Rufous Hummingbirds (Rare in Vermont)
Scientific Name: Selasphorus rufus Size:3.5-4 inches
Description And Field Marks
Rufous Hummingbirds are known for their aggressive and territorial nature, often chasing away larger birds and other hummingbirds from their feeding areas.
The adult males have striking and vibrant plumage. Their upperparts are a mix of bright coppery-orange, rufous, and green, which glitters in sunlight. It has a vivid iridescent orange-red color throat, making it a key identifying feature. The underparts are mostly white with a rufous wash on the sides and flanks. Females are less colorful, with greenish upperparts and a rufous-washed breast.
Nesting
Rufous Hummingbirds construct small, cup-shaped nests made of plant materials, spider webs, and lichens. The female lays two pea-sized eggs and incubates them for about two weeks. After hatching, the female continues to care for the chicks until they are ready to fledge, usually around three weeks after hatching.
Diet
Their primary diet consists of nectar from a variety of flowering plants. They also consume small insects and spiders.
Habitat
Rufous Hummingbirds breed in various habitats across western North America, including open woodlands, mountainous areas, and coastal regions.
One of the remarkable features of the Rufous Hummingbird is its long-distance migration. In the spring and summer, there breeding grounds in western North America, from southern Alaska to the Pacific Northwest and the Pacific coast. In the fall, they embark on a remarkable journey to their wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America, sometimes covering thousands of miles during their migration.
The rufous hummingbird is rare in Vermont but can be spotted during the winter months. The Rufous Hummingbird is not native to Vermont but has been observed during the migration or as a rare vagrant during winter months. These are usually juvenile birds.
Sightings of Rufous Hummingbirds in Vermont or other eastern states are considered noteworthy because they are outside their typical range.
It’s important to note that rare and accidental species hummingbird sightings are infrequent, and the presence of a specific species can vary from year to year. Birdwatchers and ornithologists often document and report such rare sightings to contribute to our understanding of bird migration patterns and distribution. If you’re interested in recent sightings, you may want to check with local birdwatching communities, birding hotlines, or online platforms where birdwatchers share their observations.
Call And Song
Hummingbird Facts
- A flock of hummingbirds is called a bouquet, a glittering, a shimmer, a hover, or a tune.
- Hummingbirds are unique in the bird world in that their wings are only attached to the bodies at the shoulder joints, which is how they can beat them so quickly and maneuver forwards and backward so deftly.
- Their short legs and tiny feet make it almost impossible to walk or hop, so it’s very rare to find one on the ground. Instead, look at the ends of bare smaller tree branches to find them resting.
Attracting Hummingbirds To Your Yard
Your backyard is the best place to see hummingbirds in Vermont. You can start with adequate water sources such as traditional bird baths. Hummingbirds also adore bathing in the sprinkles, which helps keep their feathers in top condition for deft flying.
You can also supply several food sources. Hummingbirds love tubular flowers like Hummingbird Vine and Cardinal Flower (Lobelia). The brighter the petals, the more they are attracted, especially to colors like red and orange. Other plants that attract hummingbirds are Lupines, Penstemon, Columbine, Delphinium, Morning Glories, Salvia, Honeysuckle, and Foxglove.
Hummingbirds will also go to native plants that attract butterflies like Butterfly Bush, Bee Balm (Monarda), and Butterfly Weed (Asclepias).
A good way to attract hummingbirds is with hummingbird nectar feeders. Either glass or plastic, most are ringed with brightly-colored plastic or metal “flower” ports so that the birds can sip the nectar inside the container.
A word on the nectar for your feeders – whether you buy it already mixed in liquid form, use a commercially-made mix, or do it yourself – No Red Dye, please! While people have been using red nectar for years, there can be issues causing problems for the birds. Keep it natural.
Make your nectar. Nectar is a basic sugar-water mixture – One cup plain white sugar to 4 cups water (one-quarter cup of sugar to 1 cup of water). Heat the water slightly to dissolve the sugar, but don’t boil it. Stir until the sugar is dissolved and then remove from the heat and set aside to cool completely before filling your feeders.
During migration season, a stronger solution of 3 parts water to 1 part sugar will make a higher-calorie version of the nectar. This will give additional energy when the hummingbirds need it most.
Hummingbird Season in New England
In the warmth of Vermont’s spring, the air buzzes with new life as hummingbirds return, signaling the start of their breeding season. By early May, you might spot these iridescent beauties flitting from flower to flower, a testament to the season’s surge in activity. The climax of their visibility hits during the summer, when gardens teem with the tireless energy of these tiny birds. Eye-catching male ruby-throated hummingbirds, with their unmistakable glossy scarlet throats, are a delight for avid bird watchers. Along with the more subtly hued females, they engage in a nuptial dance above the treetops—a spectacle not to be missed. By late August, instincts command a shift, and hummingbirds prepare for their taxing journey to wintering grounds, wrapping up Vermont’s hummingbird season. During these transition months, observers should watch for peak activity around nectar-rich blooms and feeders, capturing a final glimpse before the birds depart.
Conclusion
Hummingbirds in Vermont offer a glimpse into the delicate and extraordinary world of these tiny wonders. From their dazzling plumage to their remarkable migration journeys, these birds captivate the hearts of birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts alike.
