After studying and watching the behavior of hummingbirds for nearly fifty years I have encountered most of the myths people have about these incredible little creatures. I think it is time to clear the air. Here are 13 of the myths I hear most often and the real story that documents the truth.
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Check Price1. "Feeders Up Postpones Migrating"
Maybe you have even heard this myth before. Hummingbirds do not migrate based on food sources, they do so because of the changing daylight hours. Your feeders help to prepare them for the journey south. I have kept feeders into the fall for more than 30 years, and the birds always leave at the same time.
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2. "Red Dye Attracts More Birds"
This is wrong and dangerous. The red sections on your feeder will attract hummingbirds. Dye in nectar is not needed and could be harmful to the tiny birds. I have used plain sugar water for 40 years and have had great results. Keep it simple and safe.
3. Nectar is the only food source for hummingbirds
About 25% of a hummingbird's diet is made up of small insects and spiders. Protein is especially necessary for them during the breeding season. I have seen them catch tiny insects from the spider webs and catch them while flying. Their nectar consumption is just a quick energy source.
4. "They Never Stop Flying"
Hummingbirds need to perch at times. They need these rest periods to digest their food and save some energy.
5. "Sugar Water Is Bad For Them"
When simple syrup is made at a ratio of 4 parts water to 1 part sugar, the mixture will imitate flower nectar. The mixture is not harmful to bees, but some sweeteners like artificial sweeteners, honey, or sugar substitutes CAN be harmful. So stick to plain white sugar and plain water.
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6. "They Travel on the Backs of Geese"
Though charming, this myth is completely untrue. Hummingbirds migrate alone and can muscle their way across the Gulf of Mexico in a single flight. Some even cross the Gulf over 500 miles in one go. They are remarkable long distance flyers and do not rely on larger birds for assistance.
7. "They Live Only One Year"
I have seen the same female hummingbird come back to my yard for seven years. Even though most young hummingbirds die in their first year, the ones that survive go on to have long lives.
8. "They're Too Small to Remember"
Hummingbirds have extraordinary memory skills. They never forget the feeders and flowers within their territories. They also remember the migration routes and feeding sites from previous years. It's incredible that they can recall spatial information and return to the same location year after year.
9. "Males Help Raise the Young"
Female hummingbirds do all of the work when it comes to building nests, incubation, and chick-rearing. They are single mothers and do all of this on their own. Male hummingbirds do not assist. Usually, male hummingbirds are long gone defending their own feeding territories when the eggs hatch.
10. \"They act aggressive because they are mean\"
The territorial behavior observed in these birds should not be seen as meanness. It is seen as a part of the survival technique that these birds have to use to effectively manage their world. Each bird must defend a reliable source of food to maintain the intense, large energy demands of their high-speed lifestyle. What seems like aggression to birdwatchers is actually efficient resource management from the perspective of the bird.
11. "Nectar Recipes Are Needed"
The "special blends" are a scam! They are just white sugar and water mixed in a 1:4 ratio. I have compared many commercial nectars to this simple mixture, and the birds choose this basic solution every time. Use your money for more feeders instead!
12. “They Die If They Stop Flying”
In addition to stopping their flying activity for the night nights, they go into a state known as torpor. This means that they will deliberately slow their heart rate and metabolism as a means of saving energy. In addition, their body temperature drops, and they may appear to be lifeless. This is remarkable physical adaptation that allows them to endure the dangerously cold nights.
13. "Feeders Make Them Dependent"
The ability to adapt makes hummingbirds unique. They never lose their natural foraging skills to locate food. They move from feeders to flowers to hunt insects. You can see their foraging abilities as they move between all the natural hunting sources.
