This week we were on the lookout for hummingbirds as part of the Outdoor Hour Challenge: Hummingbirds nature study. We haven’t had too many hummingbirds yet in our feeders, a few here and there that we have noticed. Summertime is hummingbird time in our backyard and we have several hummingbirds that perch on the tree behind our picnic table and in the evenings we see them sitting there watching us eat our dinner. There isn’t much information in the Handbook of Nature Study on hummingbirds but it is enough to answer a few of our questions.
The hummingbirds we have in our yard are Anna’s Hummingbirds and they are very pretty. They are green and pink and very fast flyers. They will soar way up high in the air and then suddenly swoop down.
The Handbook of Nature Study says, “Hummingbirds are not supposed to sing, but to use their voices for squeaking when angry or frightened.” We often hear the male Anna’s Hummingbird before we see him. He will fly up high in the air and then swoop down and make a chirping sound. They also make a sound as they sit on the branches of the tree…cuing us to look for his distinctive silhouette.
We found this video and now we are anxious to observe our hummingbirds to see if we think it is their tail that chirps.
There is always something new to learn.
I am fascinated with hummingbirds and our last trip to the desert was memorable because we visited a hummingbird aviary at the museum. I posted then about the hummingbirds.
Isn’t he gorgeous?
This one was not shy at all and we spent a long time watching him fly and sip.
Here is a hummingbird nest that we collected a number of years ago. I am in awe whenever I look at the way it is constructed.
Can you imagine how small the eggs are inside this miniature sized nest? Amazing stuff.
One last thing to share from this week’s Outdoor Hour time with the boys. We came across a very bold Spotted Towhee that let me come up fairly close and take a video of him singing his song. Enjoy.
Hope you enjoyed reading about our Outdoor Hour this week and our continued study of hummingbirds as well as any other bird that crosses our path.
What a great post! So interesting to learn about the tail chirping. Great pictures. I would LOVE to visit a hummingbird aviary.
Wow, the hummingbird nest is amazing! It is so intricately made. Thanks for sharing it with us
You are so lucky to have found a hummer nest. My friend found one – it actually looks like a pipe, the way it’s perched in the crevice of a small, small branch. Lucky duck!
We still haven’t had a hummingbird come yet, but we’re waiting patiently 🙂 Thanks for sharing pictures of the nest. Very cool that they’ll use spider webs so that when the babies are born it can stretch larger. Isn’t God awesome?
We do have an awesome God. The nest is a treasure and a testament to the design and the wisdom of our Creator. I am really glad that I remembered to post a photo of it for you all to see.
Barb-Harmony Art Mom
That nest is such a miracle, isn’t it? Thanks for sharing those pictures. (I’m working on a hummingbird resource. We have so enjoyed ours this summer. I haven’t seen one in several weeks now, but an expert told a friend that there may be some coming through on their way South in Nov.)