Ruby-throated hummingbirds are almost back in MS. Here’s when to put out your feeders
Warmer temperatures and blooming foliage signal that spring is nearly here in Mississippi — bringing with it the return of birds and other wildlife across the state.
The Magnolia State’s most common hummingbird, the ruby-throated hummingbird, will soon be seen fluttering about as the birds begin their migration back starting in mid-March.
Here’s what to know about the tiny bird and how to attract them to your yard this season.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds
Weighing about as much as a penny, ruby-throated hummingbirds are the only hummingbird species that breeds east of the Mississippi River, according to the National Audubon Society, an environmental organization dedicated to bird conservation.
The colorful birds migrate thousands of miles annually, traveling up to 500 miles in one nonstop flight, according to Audubon. They feed on nectar from wildflowers and insects attracted to that nectar.
How to attract hummingbirds to your yard
The best way to attract hummingbirds to your yard is by getting a feeder out and planting a pollinator garden, according to the Mississippi State Extension. Here are some tips for attracting the tiny birds:
- Make homemade nectar: mix four parts water with one part sugar and boil it for two minutes. Change them out of your feeder every three to five days
- Plant annuals and perennials (hummingbirds prefer red flowers)
- Consider buying a mister or a shallow bird bath
Here are some native pollinator plants that attract hummingbirds, according to the Mississippi State Extension:
- Bee balm
- Coneflower
- Button bush
- Lanceleaf tickseed
What other popular hummingbirds can you see in MS?
The five most popular hummingbird species in Mississippi are the following, according to bird identification and discovery platform AviBirds:
1. Ruby-throated hummingbird
2. Calliope hummingbird
3. Rufous hummingbird
4. Black-chinned hummingbird
5. Broad-tailed hummingbird