NORTH CAROLINA HUMMINGBIRDS Haven Where Beauty Takes Flight

INTRODUCTION

Hummingbirds, with their iridescent plumage and lightning-fast movements, have long captivated the hearts of North Carolinians. These tiny aerial acrobats, including the resident Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and Rufous Hummingbirds, bring a dash of magic to the state’s skies year-round.

• As spring approaches, anticipation mounts for the annual migration, signaling the return of these delightful creatures to backyard feeders across North Carolina.
• North Carolina’s diverse landscapes, from coastal plains to lofty mountain ranges, provide an ideal habitat for its rich avian population, which includes approximately 470 bird species.
• Among these, hummingbirds stand out as jewels in the crown of the Tar Heel State’s natural heritage.
• Whether you’re a seasoned birdwatcher or a novice enthusiast, North Carolina offers ample opportunities to witness the beauty and grace of hummingbirds in flight.
• So, as the season changes and the hummingbirds return, prepare your feeders, for the skies of North Carolina are about to be painted with the enchanting colors of these winged wonders.

North Carolina Hummingbird Diversity

Category	Species
Resident	None recorded as residents, but Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have been seen year-round
Seasonal	Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Rufous Hummingbirds
Rare/Accidental	Black-chinned Hummingbirds, Buff-bellied Hummingbirds, Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, Anna’s Hummingbirds, Calliope Hummingbirds, Allen’s Hummingbirds, Broad-billed Hummingbird
	Mexican Violetear and Green-breasted Mangos recorded in the past but not in the last 10 years

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD

In North Carolina, ruby-throated hummingbirds are frequently spotted in the summer and typically arrive in the first part of April. Typically, males arrive up to two weeks ahead of females.

• Fall migration occurs between September to Mid-October; some Ruby-throated Hummingbirds overwinter in North Carolina.
• Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are bright green with iridescent red throats for males and green with white undersides for females.
• They’re the sole breeding hummingbirds in eastern North America, migrating to Central America.
• Arriving in the far south in February, they may reach northern states and Canada for breeding by May, migrating south again in August and September.
• These tiny birds feed on nectar and insects, rarely walking due to their short legs.
• Look for them in gardens, woodland edges, and nectar feeders in towns.
• Male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds defend flowers and feeders aggressively before migrating by early August post-mating.
• Females build nests with thistle or dandelion down and spider silk, laying 1-3 tiny eggs measuring only 0.6 inches (1.3 cm).

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD

Although rufous hummingbirds are uncommon in North Carolina, a small number of them do come this far north every year for the winter, which is another incentive to leave your hummingbird feeders out.

• Rufous Hummingbirds sport bright orange plumage with iridescent red throats in males, while females exhibit greenish-brown backs and rusty sides.
• They hold the distinction of being one of the longest migratory birds relative to their size, traveling up to 4000 miles each way from northwest Alaska to Mexico and the Gulf Coast.
• Migration routes include north along the Pacific Coast in spring and through the Rocky Mountains in late summer and fall.
• Their diet comprises primarily nectar from colorful tubular flowers and small insects like gnats, midges, and flies.
• Rufous Hummingbirds construct nests in trees using soft plant down and spider webs, laying 2-3 tiny white eggs.
• Displaying aggressive behavior, they fiercely defend territory, chasing off other hummingbirds, even larger ones, during migration.
• They inhabit mountain meadows during breeding season and woods and forests in winter.

BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD

Though uncommon in North Carolina, a few wintering Black-chinned Hummingbirds have been observed from the Gulf Coast. The back of Black-chinned Hummingbirds is a dark metallic green, while its underside is grayish-white.

• Male Black-chinned Hummingbirds have a thin, iridescent purple foundation with a black throat, while females exhibit a light throat and white-tipped tail feathers.
• They predominantly breed inland in western states and migrate to western Mexico and the Gulf Coast in winter.
• Their diet consists of nectar, small insects, and spiders, with tongues capable of licking 13-17 times per second when feeding on nectar.
• Nests are constructed using plant down and spider silk to hold them together, with 2 tiny white eggs laid measuring only 0.6 inches (1.3 cm).
• Black-chinned Hummingbirds are often observed perched at the tops of dead trees on tiny bare branches, with a tendency to return to favorite perches.
• They can be found along canyons and rivers in the Southwest or by shady oaks on the Gulf Coast.

CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD

Despite being thought of as a summertime hummingbird native to western states and a wintertime visitor from Mexico, Calliope Hummingbirds have been known to spend more time in the Gulf Coast during the winter, with some even venturing as far north as North Carolina.

• The tiny ping ball-sized Calliope Hummingbird, the smallest in the US, flies over 5000 miles annually, defending territory and even chasing Red-tailed Hawks.
• Males have bright magenta throats, glossy green backs, and dark tails; females lack iridescent throats and have pinkish-white undersides.
• Spring migration occurs along the Pacific Coast to breeding areas from Mid-April to early May.
• Nests, usually on evergreen trees, may be reused; fall migration is along the Rocky Mountains to southwestern Mexico.
• Calliope Hummingbirds are frequently seen during fall migration between mid-July and mid-September.

BUFF-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD

Slightly more common in North Carolina than it was previously thought, the Buff-bellied Hummingbird is an incidental species. With a bill that is darker at the tip, the female Buff-bellied Hummingbird has a redder bill than the male, which is medium in size.

• Throughout Central America, the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and southern Texas are breeding grounds for buff-bellied hummingbirds, which travel briefly along the Gulf Coast to winter in Louisiana and Florida.
• In Texas, they build their nests in big bushes or small trees between April and August. They deposit two white eggs each and may have two broods annually.
• Their preferred environments are semi-open woodland margins or backyards with flowers or nectar feeders. They also eat small insects.
• Use red tubular flowers, such as Turk’s cap and red salvia, and nectar feeders to draw in more buff-bellied hummingbirds.
• Discover how to create your own sugar water and how to use plants and flowers to draw hummingbirds.

BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD

The Broad-tailed Hummingbird is an accidental species of hummingbird found only sporadically in North Carolina. wide-tailed Hummingbirds are iridescent green on the back, brownish on the wings, and white on the breast and extending into the abdomen. They are found at higher elevations.

• While females and adolescents have green dots on their cheeks and throats, males have an iridescent rose throat.
• Broad-tailed Hummingbirds breed in high meadows and open woodlands between 5,000 – 10,000 feet elevation in the mountainous west, between late May and August, before migrating to southern Mexico for the winter.
• Due to the cold at higher elevations, the Broad-tailed Hummingbird can slow their heart rate and drop their body temperature to enter a state of torpor.
• Nectar from flowers is the usual food of hummingbirds and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds drink from larkspur, red columbine, sage, scarlet gilia, and they will also come to hummingbird nectar feeders.
• They supplement their diet with small insects and will feed their young on insects too.
• Broad-tailed Hummingbird nests are usually on evergreen or aspen branches and are made with spider webs and gossamer under overhanging branches for added insulation during cold nights.

ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD

Anna’s Hummingbirds are an accidental species of hummingbird seen only sporadically in North Carolina. Small birds, mostly green and gray in color, are called Anna’s Hummingbirds. The female has a grayish neck with specks of red, while the male has an iridescent reddish-pink head and throat.

• Unusually Anna’s Hummingbirds do not migrate and are the most common hummingbird along the Pacific Coast.
• They make a dramatic dive display during courtship as the males climb up to 130 feet into the air before diving back to the ground with a burst of noise from their tail feathers.
• Habitats of Anna’s hummingbirds are often backyards and parks with large colorful blooms and nectar feeders but they are also found in scrub and savannah.
• Anna’s Hummingbirds’ nests are high in trees around 6 – 20 ft and they often have 2-3 broods a year.

ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD

Only a few sightings of the Allen’s Hummingbird, an incidental species in North Carolina, have been reported. In the thin strip of coastal woodland and scrub that separates them between California and Oregon, Allen’s Hummingbirds and Rufous Hummingbirds are nearly identical in appearance.

• Male Allen’s Hummingbirds have iridescent reddish-orange throats and orange bellies, tails, and eye patches. Both males and females have long straight bills and coppery-green backs but the females lack the bright throat coloring.
• The difference between Allen’s and Rufous Hummingbirds is the narrow outer tail feathers in Allen’s Hummingbird. They build nests at no fixed height near shady streams and have up to 3 broods a year.
• Allen’s Hummingbirds spend winter in Mexico and migrate as early as January up to the Pacific Coast in California and Oregon. Some remain resident in central Mexico and around Los Angeles.

BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD

The Broad-billed Hummingbird is an unforeseen species of hummingbird that has only been observed a few times in North Carolina. Broad-billed Even among themselves, hummingbirds have dazzling colors. The males have a blue throat that reaches down the breast and are beautiful metallic green all around.

• Both sexes have large red beaks with black tips near their heads, and the females have a whitish belly.
• Broad-billed The Mexican Pacific Coast and central Mexico are home to hummingbirds throughout the year. A few birds spend the entire year close to the Mexican border, while others move north into the mountain valleys of southern Arizona and New Mexico in preparation for breeding.
• Broad-billed Hummingbirds prefer foraging in canyon streams and alpine meadows, but they will sometimes visit garden feeders.
• Nests near streams are often built at a relatively low elevation of three feet.
• Learn how to use flowers and plants to draw hummingbirds. Additionally, how to produce sugar water at home.

GREEN VIOLETEAR HUMMINGBIRD

The grass-green back of the mature male Green Violetear fades to bronze on the rump and top tail feathers, and there is a wide violet patch in the middle of his upper breast. His tail is square and has a small notch, and the tip is dark blue striped.

• The adult female is similar but typically smaller, with duller plumage and a narrower chin band than males.
• The Green Violetear Hummingbird is a rare visitor to North Carolina, with only three or four records in the state.
• Green Violetears, also known as Mexican Violetears, are typically common residents in Central America and Mexico, with some seasonal movements recorded, including northward migration into North America, with some sightings even in Canada.

GREEN-BREASTED MANGO HUMMINGBIRD

The majority of an adult male’s lustrous bright green plumage is yellowed brown on the flanks and vents. A wide stripe of blue extends from beneath their chests to their throats. The feathers on their outer tails are tipped with black and range in color from deep purple or magenta to orangey-red.

• Females have broad, glossy dark blue and magenta bands on outer-tail feathers, tipped in white. Their backs are green-bronze, and tummies are white with dark middle stripes changing from blue-green on throat to black at chin.
• Green-breasted Mango Hummingbirds are very rare in North Carolina but have been recorded more frequently, especially juveniles venturing into the United States.
• Native to Central America, Mexico, and down to Costa Rica, they inhabit tropical deciduous forests up to 3,300 feet elevation, as well as orchards, open areas with large trees, cultivated areas, and garden.

How Can Attract the Hummingbird

There will be an increase in hummingbird sightings in North Carolina as spring approaches. Hummingbird Central has a list of hummingbird-friendly flowers you can put in your garden if you’d want to draw hummingbirds to your yard on their journey. Since they are drawn to red, red flowers are a great way to get their attention!

Tips
1. Sprinkle your yard with enchanting hummingbird feeders, each a gateway to a world of fluttering wonder.
2. Keep the nectar flowing like sweet ambrosia, a homemade elixir of life, free from the taint of red dyes.
3. Let the soothing melody of water dance through your garden with a birdbath fountain, a tranquil oasis for our feathered friends.
4. Paint your landscape with a tapestry of native blooms—salvias, fuschias, and trumpet creepers—inviting hummingbirds to a vibrant feast.
5. Embrace nature’s harmony by shunning toxic pesticides and herbicides, preserving the sanctuary of your avian guests.
6. Offer resting spots on delicate perches, where hummingbirds can pause and contemplate the beauty of your sanctuary.

Hummingbird Favorite Plants

Summary

Hummingbird species can be seen fluttering around North Carolina’s skies, but only two remain throughout the year. These delicate elves come and go from our gardens, whispering remnants of their vivid beauty. But there is a world of avian delight just beyond their brief stops.

Discover the fascinating tapestry of North Carolina’s birds, which includes the regal Bald Eagle and the gregarious Carolina Wren.

FAQs

1. What types of hummingbirds can be found in North Carolina? Numerous hummingbird species can be found in North Carolina, including the Allen’s Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, and Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
2. When is the best time to attract hummingbirds to North Carolina? Usually arriving in North Carolina in the spring, either in March or April, hummingbirds linger in the state until late summer or early fall. When they are migrating is the greatest moment to draw them in.
3. How can I attract hummingbirds to my yard in North Carolina? Plant lots of nectar-rich flowers, such trumpet creeper, fuschias, and salvias, to draw hummingbirds. These little birds can also be attracted by placing hummingbird feeders with clean nectar and providing water sources, such as birdbaths.
4. Are there any specific plants hummingbirds prefer in North Carolina? Indeed, native plants that give an abundance of nectar for hummingbird nourishment, such as milkweed, lantana, butterfly bushes, zinnias, and pentas, attract hummingbirds.
5. How do I know if a hummingbird is nesting in my yard in North Carolina? The average hummingbird nest is tiny, well-hidden, and frequently perched on a limb or in a shrub. If you see that the female hummingbird is returning and forth frequently to a specific spot, it could mean that she is taking care of her nest.
6. Is it safe to use pesticides in my yard if I want to attract hummingbirds in North Carolina?In order to protect hummingbirds and other animals, it is advisable to refrain from using pesticides and herbicides in your yard. To keep the habitat these little birds live in healthy conditions, use natural pest management techniques.
7. How can I contribute to hummingbird conservation efforts in North Carolina? Planting native flowers, taking part in citizen science initiatives like hummingbird counts, and speaking up in favor of habitat preservation in your neighborhood are all ways that you can contribute to hummingbird conservation.