Hummers are Coming! Spring is here and the Hummingbirds are coming. The migration of hummingbirds herolds the coming of spring. Did you know that hummingbirds . . . eat, rest, then eat again approximately 60 times throughout the day do not feed at night but enter tupor, a short-term form of hibernation lap nectar with their tongues at the rate of about 13 licks per second are quite promiscuous and that male and female hummingbirds are rarely together peacefully for more than a few moments will lace together spider webbing to build their nests generally lay 2 eggs that are 10% to 20% of the mother's body mass eat spiders, aphids, gnats and other insects for proteins, vitamins and minerals will navigate back to their summer territory with such precision that they will return to the same patch of perennial wildflowers or hover at a nail where a favorite feeder was suspended enjoy dripping water and sprinkers are not attracted to plants by smell but by color and shape Common Hummers Found in the United States include Allen's Hummingbird - Selasphorus sasin southwestern Oregon to southwestern California; winters in Mexico migrates up the Pacific coast from Mexico partial to penstemon, monkey flower and paintbrush Anna's Hummingbird - Calypte anna Pacific coast north to British Columbia and east to Arizona migrates east to west; Arizona birds fly west to California in mid-spring and return in late summer partial to eucalyptus and tree tobacco flowers Berylline Hummingbird - Amazilia beryllina rare summer visitors to mountains of southeast Arizona in summer strays into southwestern United States partial thistles and nectar feeders Black-chinned Hummingbird - Archilochus alexandri found in low elevations in the west; summers from British Columbia to central Texas and southern California migrates to western United States in spring and leaves for Mexico in fall often nests in backyards Blue-throated Hummingbird - Lampornis clemenciae found in the southwestern part of the United States to southern Mexico migrates in spring; leaves in fall largest of U.S. breeding hummers. Partial to shady spots near water Broad-billed Hummingbird - Cynanthus latirostris found in March to September in limited areas of AZ, NM, southwest TX; winters in Mexico migrates up from Mexico in spring; returns in fall limited range but abundant where found Broad-tailed Hummingbird - Selasphorus platycerus Breeds in south and central Rockies and mountains of the Great Basin south into western Texas and Mexico; winters in Mexico migrates northward through lowlands in the spring and south through the mountains late summer classic hummingbird of the mountainous west Buff-bellied Hummingbird - Amazilia yucatanensis resides in Mexico, Belize and Guatemala found in south Texas in summer Calliope Hummingbird - Stellula calliope summers in mountains of western North America from the southwestern parts of Canada to Baja; winters in Mexico migrates northwest in early spring through Pacific lowlands; southeast in late summer through the Rocky Mountain region smallest of North American hummers but despite size is able to withstand cold summer nights athigh elevantions in the Rockies Costa's Hummingbird - Calypte costae found in southwestern United States; mainly Arizona, California and New Mexico many hummers that nest in the desert will migrate west in the spring Magnificent Hummingbird - Eugenes fulgens found in the southwestern United States to Panama; strays have been seen as far north as Minnestoa migrates only a short distance south into Mexico for winter; few will overwinter in canyons of Arizona Ruby-throated Hummingbird - Archilochus colubris only hummingbird found east of the Great Plains on a regular basis found in southeastern Canada to Gulf states; winters in south Texas, south Florida and western Panama partial to bee balm, trumpet creeper, columbine and red salvia Rufous Hummingbird - Selasphorus rufus southwestern Oregon to southwestern California; winters in Mexico champion of long-distance migration. In spring moves northward through Pacific lowlands. Then beginning in late June moves through the Rocky Mountains and Sierra following the seasonal blooming of flowers; winters in Mexico but has been seen as far north as Alaska feisty and aggressive, will defend flowers or feeders from other birds Violet-crowned Hummingbird - Amazilia violiceps found in a few places of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico seen mostly in summer Be sure to click on our link Regional Plants for Hummingbird Gardens and learn what plants will help you to create a garden attractive to hummingbirds in your area. And by doing a search on our site for hummingbirds you can pull up all kinds of art and feeders. An interesting website with great photos and more in-depth information on hummingbird identification can be found here Hummingbirds.net