Hummingbirds in Winter – Q and A

Q: It’s fall (or winter) and there are still hummingbirds in my yard. Shouldn’t they have migrated by now?

A: The hummingbirds seen in October thru February /March are almost certainly Anna’s Hummingbirds, a species which is steadily expanding its range northward. This is the only hummingbird species that does not migrate south from our area to winter in warmer climates. They are year round residents in Washington State with Yakima area populations increasing in recent years.

Q: How do hummingbirds survive in winter? Should I feed them?

A: Hummingbirds are uniquely adapted to surviving in the winter. They have a very high metabolism which requires a lot of energy to sustain. To conserve energy at night, they go into a state called torpor, where they lower their metabolism to almost nothing (kind of like a really short hibernation) in order to survive the cold.

Many people do not know that the main source of food for hummingbirds is insects rather than nectar. Drinking nectar gives them the energy they need to sustain their metabolism and hunt insects. There are some insects active in winter, but not many. Having a reliable source of nectar is important to their survival. So, if you plan on putting up a hummingbird feeder in the winter, plan on keeping it up until the temperatures warm in the early spring.

If you put up a feeder, please remember these tips. First, and most importantly, keep the feeder clean. This is essential. Change the nectar at least once a week (more often when it is warmer outside), and clean the feeder every time you change the nectar. Wash the feeder with a mild detergent and warm water and rinse well.

Second, place the feeder out of the reach of cats, at least four feet off of the ground. Third, if it is cold and the feeder freezes, keep a second feeder available. Keep two feeders full of nectar, and when one starts to freeze, bring it inside to thaw and put the other one up. After it gets dark, bring the feeder(s) inside and put them in the fridge until daylight (literally – these birds are hungry when awaking in the morning! It’s best to put feeders out just before daylight).

The recipe for nectar is simple; four parts water to one part sugar. Use only cane or beet white table sugar – NO brown sugar – NEVER use honey or artificial sweetener, and NEVER add red food coloring to the nectar. Bring to a boil, cool and store for a week to ten days in the refrigerator.

An alternative to bringing feeders in and out in freezing weather is a heated hummingbird feeder. Here are some options that are available locally:

• Hummers Heated Delight, a very popular option. You can purchase it online using the link here, or you can purchase one at the Yakima Arboretum.
• Hummer Hearth, sold at Wild Birds Unlimited (WBU) and other bird and wildlife stores in Washington. This heater is easy to use and matches up perfectly with hummingbird feeders purchased at WBU and other types of feeders, too. Here is a link to the Hummer Hearth website. The Hummer Hearth website does not sell them, but they have a list of retailers where you may purchase them in your area.

One thing to remember about using heated feeders is that you need to watch the nectar carefully. Because of the heat, it spoils more quickly and you may need to change it more often.

Q: Will putting up a feeder for Anna’s hummingbirds keep other hummingbird species from migrating?

A: NO. That is a myth. We have four species of hummingbirds that visit/live in Washington for all or part of the year. Many people keep hummingbird feeders up all year and the only species that over winter are the Anna’s. The other species are genetically programmed to migrate, and a feeder hanging in your yard will not stop them.

Q: Where can I learn more about hummingbirds?

A: Here are some resources for learning more about hummingbirds:

• The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Their All About Birds section is very informative. Click here to view the section on Anna’s hummingbirds.
• Click here to search All About Birds for information about other types of hummingbirds, or other bird species.
• The International Hummingbird Society. Click here to visit their website.