Who are you?

I admit it.  The first time a hummingbird moth buzzed past me in my garden, I thought it was a baby hummingbird.  I watched closely, trying to follow this speedy little creature as it hovered and zoomed between flowers.  I noticed its long curved proboscis curling in and out as it collected nectar from our flowers, and I realized it must be some kind of butterfly or moth.

Curly proboscis finds nectar

Meet the Hummingbird Clearwing Moth. Sure enough, these little moths are considered hummingbird mimics, and act in many of the same ways that hummingbirds do.   However, their life cycle is completely different, as they are moths, not birds!

Enjoying some Mexican Hyssop

In the fall, the caterpillars burrow into the soil to spend the winter as a brown, hard shelled pupae.  As spring days grow warmer, they emerge as adult moths.  The moths lay their little green eggs on the underside of leaves.   These eggs will hatch in about a week, and take about four weeks to become full sized caterpillars.  In Canada, the moths usually only go through one breeding cycle per year.

Bee balm is their all time favourite in my garden

Invite Hummingbird Moths to Your Garden. It’s easy!   Two very hardy, long-blooming and beautiful flowers are absolute favourites of these beauties.    Plant some Red Bee Balm and Mexican Hyssop, sit back, and enjoy the show!

The post It’s Not a Hummingbird…But What is it? appeared first on Leslie Abram Photography.

Sassy!

Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds (The only species of hummingbird in Eastern North America) are fiercely territorial.  The parents, especially the male, will dive bomb and chase the babies all over the garden, driving them away.Papa Hummingbird Guards his Territory

Here’s the male guarding his territory.  He sat on the same three or four sticks all summer long in between feeding, just watching out below.  He attacked anything that went into it, including his wife and kids.

Get out of Here!

Buzz Off!

So, now the parents are gone, and the kids can hang out and grow up without being hassled. Well, except by each other!

A Little Bit of Red

You can see the young male bird is starting to develop the distinctive red feathers on his neck.   In the photo above he is puffed up, displaying his red feathers the best he can.

Red Necklace

In just a week more and more red feathers develop around his neck.

Taking a Break

So, you want to attract hummingbirds to your garden?   It’s pretty easy.

Female Hummingbird at Feeder

Early in the summer you can put out a sugar water feeder.  Use a 1/4 ratio of sugar to water, boil the mixture, and put into the feeder.   Be sure to change the food at least once a week.

Hummingbird Garden

Plant some red flowers.   The very best one is bee balm (monarda).  It is a magnet for hummers. After this flower blooms in early July, I do not even bother with the sugar water feeder anymore- the hummingbirds are addicted to the bee balm.

Hummingbird at Beebalm

Resting

A third thing to do is to push some sticks into the ground, or tolerate some bare patches in your shrubs.   Hummingbirds love to sit on an open perch, and survey their surroundings.

Pretty Intense!

You never know, you might end up with one watching you!

For more information on hummingbirds, visit:

All About Birds

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