Are there hummingbirds in southwest florida

Choose plants of varying heights, plant them in groups, some in front of others, and resist pruning to geometric shapes; shearing flowering plants removes the insect and hummingbird attracting blooms.

The advantages of such plantings are; rapid fill, visual misdirection so that the effect of privacy is more quickly achieved than straight-line hedges, much reduced maintenance, and the best part, if something goes wrong, the plants are easily replaced without ruining the whole screen.

Such plantings would allow the installation of several species of plants. The diversity and long season of bloom would be immensely attractive to hummers. Shrubby plants to consider for a hummingbird attracting hedge or buffer include firebush, trumpet creeper, coral honeysuckle, bottlebrush, butterfly bush, firecracker plant, firespike, native salvias, cigar plant, and Jatropha. Plan to install mostly native species, they are the favored plants, though the non-native, non-invasive bottlebrush and firespike are good attractors and worth considering in a buffer.

Be sure to choose plants which have growth requirements that match the site conditions and plant away. Beautiful, healthy growing plants are most definitely the best way to attract hummingbirds to your space. They resemble the Costa's Hummingbirds , but the male's Costa's Hummingbird's gorget throat feathers is longer than that of the Anna's.

They are larger than the Rufous Hummingbirds and lack the rusty coloration of the Rufous Hummingbirds. Bahama Woodstars Calliphlox evelynae - Rare vagrants. Their plumage is green above with mixed olive-buff underparts. The male has a reddish-pink throat lined by a white collar during breeding season. After breeding season is over, he loses the colorful throat, which then turns a pale grey color known as "eclipse plumage".

The female has a much duller plumage. She has a rounded tail - while the male's tail is deeply forked. The male is glossy green above and on the chest. He has a deep blue throat. His straight and slender beak is red with a black tip. His slightly forked tail is dark above, and the under tail feathers are white. The female is less colorful than the male. Her throat, chest and belly are light to medium grey. She has a white stripe over each eye.

Could conceivably reach Massachusetts as well. ID: Both the male and female White-eared Hummingbird have a prominent white ear stripe more boldly colored in the male for which this species was named. The upper plumage and chest is mostly green and the undertail feathers whitish. The long, thin, straight bill is red at the base. The male has a turquoise throat, turquoise and white spotted chest and flanks, a deep green back, a white belly and breast and a wide violet-blue band on a short, thin red and black bill.

The female has a white or cream colored throat that is speckled with green, a whitish belly, deep green crown and a drab green back. However, juveniles especially have been venturing into the United States. Several young birds have been sighted in Florida. Adult Males : Overall glossy bright green plumage; more yellowish brown on the flanks sides and vent.

Irridescent blue gorget throat patch that extends from the throat to below the chest - which may appear black in poor light conditions. Outer tail feathers range in color from deep purple tipped with black ot orangey-red to magenta. Females and Juvenile Males have a broad band of magenta and dark blue on the outer tail feathers, with narrow white tips on the outer 3 to 4 tail feathers.

The back is bronze-green. Last night at dusk she was attempting to fly in through our pool screen! It may be wishful thinking but I think I have spotted a tiny hummer once or twice in my garden too - is this the right time for babies? I hung up the feeder this morning and a female Ruby-Throated has appeared three times, the latest visit just a few seconds ago. Let the season begin! Yes - I have them, but only from Mid-august to late September.

I am in Tampa, FL. Snapped a photo of one on my red fire spiker in link below. Great shot, very lucky. Big file, might take a minute or two to load. I have lived in Naples for 15 years, and I saw my very first hummer today. It was feeding on my firecracker plant!!!! BusyBeeSuz, I was in the same boat. We lived here for 8 years and I never saw one.

I tried a feeder but as Brute said the feeder got to be a mess. Three years ago I saw one on my firebush. Now I see them on there for months at a time. I only see one at a time though. I'm not sure if it is the same one or different ones.

A friend in NY had 3 feeders out and would have several feeding at once. I have hummers this fall. Only once before have I saw one in the 10 years I have been here. They are fun to watch but I only see them at dusk when it is harder to see them.

I saw my first one ever a month or two ago, then saw another last weekend. In north Florida saw lots but never south. Till now. Heck I never knew they actually existed growing up in S Florida! Thought they were like unicorns! I'm in Lakeland and presently I have three - one is a returning female Rufous. She first came in Jan. She was caught and banded in Feb. She returned in Dec. She was caught again in Jan. She came back for a third time a week ago last Friday.

You can see the band in the picture. The other two are male Ruby-throated. One is an adult and the other is an immature male I think. He may stay the winter - he seems comfortable with us being out in the yard and will fly down near us to feed. I think I have had about 10 different ones come into the yard since Aug. Each stayed about a week to 10 days then moved on.

Wow Mboston, I'm so impressed with your detail and the photos that capture so aptly these illusive creatures. Good job. This picture was taken in Snapper Village, Miami at th. The picture was taken by my friend Diana about 2 days after I installed the feeder. I'm so very excited, I just saw my very first hummingbird at my home. We've been in SW Florida, for 6 years and today, while sitting on the front lanai at pm, I heard a sound It only stayed a few seconds, while eyeing our Zinnia blossoms, mainly the Orange color one!!

I have 3 feeders out and a firecracker bush, and I have had all females at my house. So far, 5 at once, all fighting over the feeders. They sure are fun to watch! You might be getting some of the southern migration. Do you have this many hummers throughout the summer? I don't know Tom, this is the first time I've put out feeders as we just bought this house and moved to the area not long ago.

Last night, September 10, ironically exact same time PM, I saw what appeared to be a much larger hummer, but it flew off before I could get a good look. Am hoping it is a mate to the smaller hummer I saw last week.

Real nectar from plants cannot be replaced. Also, maintaining clean water in your hummingbird feeder is very important. You should change the sugar water every couple of days to reduce the bacterial buildup in the feeder, which might have a harmful effect on hummingbirds.

One more thing to be aware of is ants in your feeders. Ants apparently think these feeders are hung in trees to feed them and their little buddies. Bees sometimes will congregate on feeders; this is why I prefer the plants that attract them over anything.

My youngest daughter, who lives in Ohio, always rubs it in that she has so many hummingbirds in her yard, she has to put out another feeder, because the four she already has are not enough. Keep butterflying!!