Birdwatchers are always excited about Spring, hummingbirds are the first arrivals and signal the start of spring activities. The first hummingbirds are always males displaying bright colored throat feathers. The males arrive first and about 10 days later, the females arrive.
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Check PriceThe Scouting Mission
The first male hummingbirds to migrate are considered the advance guard of the migration season. They aim to get to their destination the fastest to secure the best territories. The best territories have high food availability including early blooming native plants and dependable backyard nectar feeders. early-blooming native plants reliable backyard nectar feeders
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Hummingbirds are super territorial, so the earlier a male arrives, the better his chance of getting a good spot. He will spend all day aggressively defending this patch of flowers, or your favorite feeder, against other males. By establishing this territory first, he demonstrates to the females that he can offer an all-you-can-eat buffet with a safe surrounding.
The Second Wave: Why Females Wait
Female hummingbirds approach their northern trek a bit differently than their male counterparts, arriving a week to 10 days later. This brilliant delayed strategy is based on survival and conservation of energy.
Migrating takes a lot of energy, however, females have a great deal of work to do after the journey. Upon arrival to a new destination, females must build a nest, sit on the eggs to incubate them, and subsequently feed the chicks. By delaying departure a little bit longer, females create spring weather to warm up a little more. Additionally, their delay helps the native vegetation to mature.
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Basically, the males do all the difficult work scouting and dealing with the uncertain weather in early spring. The females show up when it’s buffet style.
Who is at Your Feeder?
It’s good to know exactly who is visiting your yard during the 10 day gap. Knowing how to tell male and female hummingbirds apart is easy and you do not need any fancy binoculars to do so. expensive binoculars
| Feature | Male Hummingbirds | Female Hummingbirds |
|---|---|---|
| Throat Color (Gorget) | Bright, iridescent colors like ruby red or vibrant purple. | Plain white, pale gray, or lightly speckled. |
| Behavior | Highly aggressive. Chases other birds away and chatters loudly. | Quieter and more focused on quickly drinking nectar and leaving. |
| Overall Size | Slightly smaller and more streamlined. | Slightly larger to accommodate egg-laying. |
Preparing for the Females
Use the 10-day gap between the arrival of the males and females to prepare your yard for the bird visitors. Since bully males are known for being aggressive, they often monopolize bird feeders and will guard them. A male will even sit in a nearby tree and dive bomb any females that try to access the feeder.
To guarantee the incoming females receive the energy required, adhere to this straightforward preparation checklist:
The 10-Day Gap Prep Checklist
- Add a second feeder: Hang at least one more feeder out of the direct line of sight of your first one. Placing one in the front yard and one in the back yard is a great strategy to outsmart a bully male.
- Mix fresh, safe nectar: Stick to the golden rule of 4 parts water to 1 part plain white sugar. Never use red dye, honey, or artificial sweeteners, as these can harm the birds.
- Clean your feeders: Wash your feeders with hot water and a splash of white vinegar every few days to prevent harmful mold growth.
- Check your native plants: Take a walk through your garden to see what is blooming. Tubular flowers like columbine, coral bells, and salvia are natural magnets for arriving females.
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As soon as the females come and mate, they will start searching for nesting materials. You can assist them by leaving your yard as natural as you can. If there are spider webs in your garden, just leave them be. Female hummingbirds use the sticky silk from webs to hold their nests together, allowing the nests to stretch as the babies grow. sticky spider silk to bind their tiny nests together
You should also use an understanding of nature instead of chemical pesticides in your yard. Hummingbirds need to eat a large number of small insects (like gnats and mosquitoes) to get the adequate protein needed to raise their babies, so a mother hummingbird nest in your yard is exactly the type of healthy bug garden all nesting hummingbirds need.
Enjoy the Full Flock
When you know the patterns of hummingbird migration, it makes backyard birding so much more fulfilling. When you catch sight of the first feisty males, you can look on with satisfaction knowing they are simply laying the groundwork. During that 10-day window, take a few simple preparatory steps in your yard and set a safe, welcoming home for the newcomers.
