Hummingbird Imposters (Mystery Solved)

Self | 9-20-2002 | blam

[blam]

The last three years, at this time of year, I have put out my hummingbird feeders and I presently have 12 feeders hanging around my house, each feeder has 5-6 birds around it.
I have hummingbirds everywhere.

Now, over these last three years each evening as I go out to refill the feeders I catch sight of a strange looking 'bird' that quickly disappears so fast that I began to question whether I actually saw anything. Well, three days ago I finally got a good look at one of these critters.
It is a hummingbird looking thing but a little more fluffy and maybe a little more puffy than the 'standard' hummingbirds. I went to the library and looked through all their hummingbird books and didn't anything that looked like this 'bird.' I was beginning to think that I'd discovered a new species of hummingbird. This 'thing' does not go to the hummingbird feeders but to the flowers nearby that the hummingbirds do not bother with. I don't know what the flowers are but they are shaped like trumpets and I have decided that they are to deep for the hummingbirds to reach the nectar at the bottom. Last night I went on-line and below is what I found.

"We have had numerous reports of small orange and brown or zebra-striped "hummingbirds." These are usually hawk moths (or sphinx moths). They act just like hummingbirds, but they are insects."

These critters have a 'fold up' straw that is about six inches long that they fold out (like a carpenters folding rule) and insert into these flowers and get the nectar at the bottom.

Anyway, I thought I may enlighten some other Freepers to these Hummingbird Imposters
BTW, when the hummingbirds leave here, they fly for 26 continuous hours across the Gulf Of Mexico to the Yucatan.

[tubebender]

Some kids down the road have already do so. They sneak in an I pretend not to see them.

I have high hopes that this paint ball thing will generate many new Patriots and pro gun citizens...

[potlatch]

He's singing "The Woody Woodpecker" song!! ;^)

[mercy]

I keep out two ... one quart feeders. I mix my sugar about three to one water to sugar. Hot water from the tap works fine. No dye. In the hieght of summer they drain the entire half gallon every day.

This time of year we get a steady stream of passers-through meandering South. Our native species is the 'black chin' but this time of year we get a few of the less aggressive 'ruby throats'.

One can never see the true irredescence spectacle of these birds unless they are in full sun. The so-called black chin is actually brilliant deep purple in the sun (a small patch under the beak). The females are just a drab grey.

Despite the hundred or so hummers I have in residence here I have yet to find a nest. Guess I'll just have to climb the oak trees. I REALLY want to see a baby humming bird.

As to their nutrition. The books I have say that hummingbirds eat small insects as well as nectar and I figure they will get more bug meals with the energy I provide with the refined carbohydrates I freely supply.

[blam]

"The books I have say that hummingbirds eat small insects as well as nectar."

Yup. I've read this also.
Now, I was thinking today, do they have West Nile Virus?

[mercy]

What skeeter could ever catch them?

I have some pics with twenty birds or so hovering around one feeder. Never posted a pic however. Do I have to have an image hosting service to post a pic?

[fatima]

Mercy,we would love to see it,I just did a little reading and our hummingbirds are gone for the winter.We had 3 dead crows in our back yard in a month and a lady died from West Nile a few miles down,I think she died today.

[JLO]

I've checked this out very well a few years ago. Lots of questions are answerd.

http://www.hummingbirds.net/feeders.html#recipe

[Humidston]

So you love pileated woodpeckers? We have one in our neighborhood (N of Houston in the woods) and he is LOUD! Right after we moved in, he buzzed my dog and cat on the driveway and scared them to death! (Quite comical to watch.)

Someone else mentioned the hummers have left the north... Yep. They're all down south now, fighting like bandits over our feeder, LOL!

For anyone who 'brews' their own sugar water - Boil water and sugar on the stove. Pour off half or 3/4 and set aside to cool for feeder. In remaining water (in the pan), drop in lemon wedges and mint, let steep for 5-10 min. Scoop out mint and lemon, pour into a container and refrigerate. SWEETEN ICED TEA WITH IT.... DEEELICIOUS! (And it lasts for at least a week, probably two.)

[peedee]

Cool. Now your next mission (if you choose to except it) is to scoot up to that shark tank with that pregnant shark. The tank has no males. Report back as soon as possible.

Did I read about this on FR or did I dream it?

[bjcintennessee]

While visiting my mom in New Mexico, I stood perfectly still next to one of her hummingbird feeders, with my arm extended and my finger just under a perch. My arm was aching before a hummer actually landed on my finger while it fed. It was sooo awesome!! Before it perched on my finger, it darted to a hovering stop right in front of my face (at that point, I became very aware of its two-inch long beak and the vulnerability of my eyes, but I managed to remain perfectly still). The little critter was checking me out before it darted to the perch. Another time, I had to nudge one's little tiny feet to encourage it to perch on my finger.

Here in Tennessee our hummers don't like to share their 4-perch feeder. When they finally allow all four perches to be used, it is usually late in the season and I always thought it was because there was less nectar available. But maybe I'm getting stopovers on their way south.

[dennisw]

We have a redheaded Woodpecker that comes to our feeder. He looks so big hanging there! LOL.

God's creatures are here to amuse us among other reasons.

[dennisw]

Because of you I now have to buy a feeder. I looked around and it seems I have time. They migrate here (Florida) in Febuary.

Where can you buy such feeders? In a nursey or garden store?

[twigs]

Do you have a ping list for your topics? If you do, I would LOVE to be on it! I look for your posts; I don't want to miss any which I could easily do!

[MamaTexan]

Alas, all our little friends up this way in MN seem to have left already.

I've had feeders out the last several years here in central Texas, but since the cooler weather started yesterday, they are moving on.

One of our favorite things to do is to sit out on the front porch and watch 'hummer warz'. We mostly have ruby-throats with a few broad-tails and black-chins mixed in.
I've also had orioles on the feeders in the spring.

One of the more amazing facts about these tiny birds is that they have almost no sense of smell but their eyesight is so good that they can see into the ultraviolet range. That's why the flowers they are most attracted to have very little scent and are bright red, yellow or orange.

For some reason they are also very attracted to my husband. He can't even talk on the phone outside because they hang around his face 'humming' until the person he's talking to asks if we are having problems with our phone.

I think it's because they don't recognize him as a person- he's tall (6'7), skinny, and has bright blond hair and a very red beard.

They probably think he's just some kind of moving flower! LOL!

[galt-jw]

duct tape works wonders to detain reluctant mystery creatures.

[Tijeras_Slim]

We have these moths in the mountains east of Albuquerque, but boy do we have hummingbirds! Due to the drought, the natural flowers were late and scarce. We have a ton of flowers in beds on the property, but we were also going through a half gallon of hummingbird food a day for a couple weeks.

We had Blackchinned, Broadtails, Rufous, and Calliope. I've seen as many as 20 around a feeder (counting them isn't easy!) They'll land on your hand if you're still enough.

[blam]

"Do I have to have an image hosting service to post a pic?"

No. (I know how but can't tell you how) It's easy though.

[blam]

"Did I read about this on FR or did I dream it?"

I read it too but, not on FR. The female shark has had 3 baby sharks and has never even seen a male shark.

[blam]

"Where can you buy such feeders? In a nursey or garden store?"

YES. It may be a little late, everyone is thinking the same thing, right about now. I have to buy ahead on the food because they usually run out this time of year. Most don't re-order until the spring.

[blam]

"Do you have a ping list for your topics? If you do, I would LOVE to be on it! I look for your posts; I don't want to miss any which I could easily do!"

Sorry no. I'll try to remember you.