It is a lot of responsibility providing them with unfrozen nectar during the winter, however, without a steady supply they will not survive, especially if winter flowering plants are not in flower at the time of a deep freeze or are not nearby. This is even more critical during the winter when they rely on you to get them through the day.

Hummingbirds need to feed at daybreak,В so hang feeders at daybreak. It helps keep them warmer for longer and the hummingbirds don't seem to distracted by the added sock no matter what the design. To help insulate the nectar from the cold I slip on wool socks with an opening slit into the toe, over the feeder. This is another good reason to have more than one feeder. If nectar freezes during the day, have more than one feeder and switch them out during the day. Place them on trays to capture any spills and return them outside in the morning. In mild climates, just bring in the feeders in the evening if a hard frost is predicted. People are quite inventive when it comes to keeping the nectar from freezing. Check online for other innovative solutions. Or clamp an infrared shop light a couple of feet away from the feeder. Another option is to wrap the feeder with a string of outdoor rated incandescent holiday lights. They are commonly sold at garden centres, at Wild Birds Unlimited and at Amazon. To keep nectar from freezing during the winter attach a hummingbird heater to the feeder. DonвЂ™t use brown sugar, honey or any other type of sweetener. вЂ‹To make the nectar, boil a cup of water and mix in Вј cup of white sugar and allow to cool. Alternately, mix 2 part water to 1 part vinegar and soak for a couple of hours.В Rinse and dry thoroughly then refill with fresh nectar. At only 4 inches long (about the length of a. This copper-colored bird males are all copper, females are copper and green is renowned for its long-distance migration of 8,000 miles round-trip from deep in Mexico to its breeding ground in the Puget Sound area. Keep feeders filled and clean thoroughly every 5 days with one part bleach to 9 parts water with a dash of dish soap. The Rufous Hummingbird is likely the hummingbird of Pacific Northwest legends. Have more than one feeder as hummingbirds are very territorial and don't like sharing. It's also a good idea to hang them where they are protected from the elements, especially from snow as it covers the feeding ports. A steady supply is also critical so inspect them a few times a day to make sure the nectar hasn't frozen in the feeder. Since there's no nectar in the winter, hummingbird feeders are essential.

Even with their slowed down metabolism, they must have nectar to survive. For example, their breathing rate will drop from 245 breaths per minute to 6 breaths! That's a fantastic adaptation to the conditions, hence their success. As they 'sleep' their bodily functions slow right down. When it does get cold, hummingbirds have the ability to go into a restful state. However, with below freezing temperatures, especially for prolonged periods of time, even our hardy Anna's hummingbird will die. When winters are kind without hard frosts, Anna's do quite well with chilly nectar - as long as it isn't frozen. While other wee fliers migrate down south for the winter, Anna's hummingbird does not. вЂ‹If you happen to live where hummingbirds overwinter, such as the Pacific Northwest, they need a steady supply of nectar. ThatвЂ™s the easiest way to distinguish the two.Lily-of-the-Valley Shrub, Pieris japonica In the adult male, the AllenвЂ™s Hummingbird has a green back and rump, but a rufous tail, and the Rufous Hummingbird usually has a rufous back, rump and tail. In fact, the female and immature males of both species are pretty much indistinguishable. The AllenвЂ™s Hummingbird is very difficult to distinguish from the Rufous Hummingbird. In their natural environment, they use native plant species such as honeysuckle, bush-monkeyflower, and fuchsia-flowered gooseberry for their nectar needs. Though their habitat has been altered by humans, theyвЂ™ve adapted well to urban and suburban environments вЂ“ zipping from feeder to feeder. AllenвЂ™s hummingbird has the most restricted breeding ranges of all native North American hummingbirds. It was named after the Californian bird collector, Charles A.

This small but territorial hummingbird has a medium-short to medium black bill and an extensive rufous plumage.

Hummingbirds of the pacific northwest