Ruby throated Hummingbird

One of my favorite reasons to see winter end is watching all the birds that have migrated south begin to return as the days get warmer,

The Ruby throated hummingbirds usually arrive back in Wisconsin during the first week of May and if I have not yet hung the feeder out in the usual place, they hover, as if looking in the widow, until they are noticed.

The name Hummingbird comes from the sound created by wings beating in a figure-8 pattern up to 80 beats per second. They are not shy and the humming noise they make often causes me to duck when they come near my head!
These tiny birds are able to hover, can travel over 30 miles per hour, and fly backwards and even upside down.

They are delightful to watch during the summer while they are here.

Ruby throated hummingbirds are the only species that is common in the eastern half of the US

These hummingbirds look different depending on the lighting. Sometimes they can appear dark green color, but in bright sunshine shine they are emerald green on the back, wings, head, and tail. Female Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have a white throat and underside while males have a bright shining red throat.

The sugar water feeder provides a reliable food source when flower blossoms are not abundant.

Ruby throated Hunnmers migrate in the fall to spend the winter in Mexico, or Central America.. They gain as much as 100% of its body weight in order to be able to fly across the Gulf of Mexico on a nonstop flight. It's an amazing journey for a bird that only weighs 0.07 ounces!