Hummingbird Meaning & Hummingbird Symbolism Hummingbird Meaning & Symbolism Appearing out of no where ~ bringing joy Hummingbird Meaning... "Appearing out of no where the Hummingbird springs joy in the heart, and there is magic in the air in this moment of fleeting serendipity. Iridescent colors shimmering in the breeze, she pauses mid air to to drink in the sweet nectar that the flower so generously provides her. Hummingbird is a symbol of all things good". Hummingbird Symbolism The sweet little bird of joy, ever so dainty and beautiful, the Hummingbird symbolizes great courage, determination, flexibility and adaptability. This little beauty is only a few ounces in weight, yet has the courage of a lion . Indeed size is of no consequence, Hummingbird is a totem of fearlessness, and represents lightness of being. Hummingbird so eloquently reminds me of Elton Johns song "Tiny Dancer", and I can't help but be in awe of this bejeweled tiny dancer in every way.

Hummingbird Spirit Animal Medicine Hummingbird totem powers of: Great Courage, Protecting Boundaries, Fearlessness Hummingbird spirit animal symbols: Joy, Lightness of Being, Enthusiasm Hummingbird animal magic attributes: Enchantment, Love, Spiritual Journeys Hummingbird ~ symbol of love and fearlessness Hummingbird Meaning and Love Symbols With her beautiful allure, captivating and beguiling, Hummingbird is an enchantress, a vixen of seduction calling you to follow. In this pursuit, Hummingbird is the perfect totem to use in your spells of charm and love. Keeping pictures or figurines of the Hummingbird power animal will invite the energies of love and romance into your world, this is a powerful totem or talisman of love to be sure! Hummingbird; Symbol of Endurance, Flexibility & Adaptability Taking a 3,000 mile journey each way during it's migration from Central America up into North America, as far as Alaska it faces many daunting challenges. Some Hummingbirds fly over 500 miles of open water spanning the Gulf of Mexico on their migration. Hummingbird spirit animal is a powerful symbol of endurance.

One of the most fascinating things about the Hummingbird is that on it's migration it returns to the very same gardens year after year, and it is most territorial, it boldly claims the gardens it visits as it's own, and allows no trespassers. The Hummingbird will launch an all out aerial attack on any intruder, as the nectar in the garden is the needed sustenance for the journey. In this way Hummingbird symbolizes the respect of territories, protecting and enforcing your boundaries, the need to be feisty if needed to protect your boundaries and what is yours. With their wings beating incredibly rapidly, Hummingbirds have incredible energy but at the same time burn a lot of juice, needing frequent refueling. Spiritual Essence of Hummingbird Meaning The Spiritual meaning of the Hummingbird spirit animal symbolizes preparation and attention to details. The need to be prepared for your journeys, attend to the small details, take your energy into consideration and don't over extend yourself, take frequent breaks to nourish yourself. This message from the Hummingbird extends to the spiritual path as well. The journey of Spirit will take you far...

into new realms, here you will face challenges of new ideas and boundaries of the mind, your new ways of being may be challenged by others, this is when you will have to defend the territories of your new beliefs. The Challenges of Hummingbird Meaning Hummingbird meaning reminds us that there are times when we have to make a difficult journey to get to the destination of our goal, there will be obstacles, symbolizing the need for endurance and perseverance. Hummingbird challenges you to say "yes I can", and believe it will be done. Another challenge from the Hummingbird spirit guide can also be a signal that you are not experiencing enough joy in your life, look to simple ways in which you can begin increasing your joy. The Special Magic of Hummingbird Spirit Animal The Special Magic of the Hummingbird is movement... the motion of the Hummingbirds wings creates the infinity symbol. Hummingbird can stop on a dime in mid flight, can fly backwards and from side to side. Hummingbird is a symbolic ambassador of this special magic; meaning that with skillful maneuvering, and the magic of believing anything is possible.

You were born to have a rich juicy experience, big daring adventures and love beyond expectation, call upon the Hummingbird totem animal in joy and enthusiasm for the energy and blessings of these charms. Hummingbird Meaning... the Essence of Joy and Enthusiasm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hummingbird Myths: The "Top Ten" (Plus Two) Week One of our annual Hummingbird Expeditions to Costa Rica is filled, but places are still available for Week Three. Come join us in sunny, arm, tropical Guanacaste Province in February 2009. HUMMINGBIRD MYTHS: THE "TOP TEN" (PLUS TWO) Especially in summer we get dozens of e-mails and phone calls from folks interested in hummingbirds. We also encounter thousands of hummingbird enthusiasts annually at lectures, workshops, and banding demonstrations we give around the country.

Because "everybody loves hummingbirds," events such as our Hummingbird Mornings allow us to interact with the public and provide opportunity for people to ask questions, perhaps the most common being the "best" recipe for artificial hummingbird juice to place in feeders. (We recommend four parts water to one part table sugar.) Audience inquiries are often insightful or thought-provoking and in some cases science doesn't yet know the answers--such as when folks ask specifically where hummingbirds from South Carolina or West Virginia spend the winter. And then there are queries that, when voiced, bring a chuckle from the audience because they are: 1) Off-the-wall, 2) Lacking in logic, or 3) Just plain funny. Such questions are asked sincerely but sometimes indicate simple lack of understanding about how nature works and hummingbirds function. To clear up common misunderstandings about these tiny feathered wonders, this week at Hilton Pond we offer our "Top Ten Hummingbird Myths (Plus Two)"--complete with myth-busting facts that reveal the truth as we know it.

Our comments below--several of which deal with feeding habits--may apply to hummers in general, but relate primarily to Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Archilochus colubris, we've studied for almost a quarter-century in the eastern U.S., Canada, and Costa Rica. All text & photos © Hilton Pond Center Young male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have white throats and resemble females; some immature males have white throats with dark streaking and/or one or more red feathers; like females, young males always have white tail tips (above) HUMMINGBIRD MYTH #12: All The Hummingbirds At My Feeders This Summer Are Females Because They Have White Throats It is easy to sex adult Ruby-throated Hummingbirds when they arrive during spring migration; all the males have red gorgets and all the females have throats that are white (or lightly streaked with very pale gray). By mid-summer, however, sexing white-throated RTHU at your feeder is no longer possible. That's because young MALES have white throats and resemble females--including the white tips on their outer tail feathers.

(Adult males have black tail tips.) Some recently fledged young males have dark (green or black) throat streaking--a "five o'clock shadow"--but this can be difficult to see. Not unless a young ruby-throat at your feeder gets one or more of his distinctive red throat feathers can you safely say he's a male--and NOT a female. White-throated young males depart North America for a winter in the Neotropics and return the next spring with an all-new plumage--including full red gorgets and black tail tips that show they are now adult males, full of testosterone and ready to mate. All text & photos © Hilton Pond Center At least some red food coloring is excreted in hummingbird urine (note pink tint above), indicating the dye is not metabolized but passes through the kidneys--where it might cause problems HUMMINGBIRD MYTH #11: I Need Red Food Coloring To Attract Hummingbirds To My Feeder 'Way back when, folks made their own hummingbird feeders out of clear glass bottles, rubber stoppers, and bent glass tubing, then added red food coloring to the sugar water mix to get a hummingbird's attention.

These days, virtually all commercially made hummingbird feeders have red plastic parts that negate any need for food coloring. Although the jury isn't in about possible dangers of red dye to hummingbirds, such chemicals are additives that might cause harm; since the dye is not needed, why take the risk? The REAL question is why some manufacturers of feeders and commercial hummingbird food still add red food coloring to their products. (Sometimes a hummer we catch at Hilton Pond Center has a pink tint to its urine--see photo above--a sure sign it has been feeding in some nearby yard where unsuspecting enthusiasts use red dye in their sugar water.) Hummingbird experts have advised several companies to stop selling ready-made mixes with coloring, but their executives respond they continue to offer artificial food mixes containing red dye because "that's what the public wants." For the sake of hummingbird safety and their own future profits, conscientious feeder makers should seize the chance to educate the public by NOT selling food mix with red dye. Keep your sugar water fresh and curious hummingbirds will eventually find and frequent your feeder--no matter what color it might be.

All text & photos © Hilton Pond Center Sometimes a droplet of hummingbird urine (above) will contain speck or two of dark matter--exoskeletons and other indigestible parts from tiny insects the hummer consumed HUMMINGBIRD MYTH 10: Hummingbirds Get All Their Nutrition From Flowers & Feeders You can't build baby hummingbirds out of flower nectar, nor can an adult hummer maintain and replace muscles cells or feathers with what comes from artificial feeders. Both flowers and feeders contain almost nothing but sugar--nectar may be laced with minute amounts of minerals and other compounds--but these liquids are essentially carbohydrates good for quick energy rather than for other important metabolic tasks. Like other animals, hummingbirds must have an outside source of amino acids (i.e., proteins), so it's essential they consume cabs AND proteins AND energy-rich fats. Thus, in addition to flower nectar, hummingbirds hunt and eat tiny insects--fruit flies, gnats, mosquitoes, aphids, etc.--thatv are superb sources of fats and proteins (plus all the other necessary vitamins and minerals).

Breeding females especially need an insectivorous diet, first to produce albumin and yolk of the egg and later to feed their fast-growing nestlings. In autumn, both sexes feed heavily on sugar water and nectar, if only to provide enough energy to hunt down and consume hundreds of insects that, in turn, allow hummers to store fat. Although hummers may convert some carbohydrates into fat, a fall feeding frenzy on insects allows Ruby-throated Hummingbirds to almost double their weight before beginning long-distance migration. The moral of this story is that sugar water feeders are not enough to satisfy your hummers; your yard should also provide a water element and natural plantings that attract fat- and protein-rich insects to round out the hummers' diet. So, for the sake of hummingbirds and the rest of nature--to say nothing of humans--please DON'T use insecticides indiscriminately.

All text & photos © Hilton Pond Center Hummingbirds have "typical" anisodactyl feet (above), with three long toes in front and one behind; the short tarsus barely has room for a band HUMMINGBIRD MYTH #9: Hummingbirds Have No Feet Hummingbirds and swifts are classified in the same order-- Apodiformes--which means "no feet." Such a misnomer may have arisen in several ways. For one, neither kind of bird can walk because their legs are too far back on their bodies; thus, an adult hummingbird (or swift) on the ground with a broken wing--or a flightless chick fallen from a nest--are both essentially helpless. Except when preparing to land, a hummingbird in flight typically holds its legs tight against its body, where they disappear under contour feathers and provide streamlining. We're guessing when the first hummingbird study skins were sent back to European taxonomists for evaluation the birds' legs were tucked beneath the body feathers--giving the impression they had no feet.

Its obvious, however, hummers DO have toes, feet, and legs; otherwise Perky-Pet wouldn't put perches on feeders, and there would be no such thing as a banded hummingbird. All text & photos © Hilton Pond Center Leaving up a feeder in autumn not only does NOT stop hummingbird migration, it has potential to attract winter vagrants such as this juvenile male Rufous Hummingbird (above) that visited Hilton Pond in late September 2002 HUMMINGBIRD MYTH #8: If I Leave Feeders Up Past Labor Day, My Hummingbirds Won't Migrate Adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds begin moving south as early as late July or early August, followed sometime thereafter by adult females. Juveniles stay a good deal longer. Hummingbird departure is believed to be triggered primarily by photoperiod; when the days get short enough, hummers move out. Our records indicate 95% of ruby-throats are gone from Hilton Pond Center by the end of September, 99.99% by mid-October. We maintain at least a dozen feeders year-round and we've NEVER had a ruby-throat stay past 18 October.

For anyone to think keeping up a sugar water feeder past Labor Day would alter hundreds of thousands of years of hummingbird migration behavior is a very egocentric view of the universe! Although ruby-throats are cold weather wimps that do bail out long before first frost, running a feeder throughout the fall has the added promise of bringing in western vagrant hummers that arrive in late autumn or winter--such as the two Rufous Hummingbirds that visited Hilton Pond well after Labor Day on 23 September and 20 November. All text & photos © Hilton Pond Center An adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbird (above) whose fresh, clean plumage indicates he is a recent spring arrival; he's making use of sugar water mix available from the feeder but has no problem finding other food sources HUMMINGBIRD MYTH #7 If I Start Feeding Hummingbirds And Go On Vacation They Will All Starve More egocentrism. Hummingbirds are curious, and they are survivors. A hummer likely knows the location of every reliable feeding source within up to a half mile of its main territory.

If you go on vacation and let your feeders go dry, the hummers may abandon your yard and opt for a neighbors'; they might not return (we doubt they hold grudges), but they're NOT going to die. Besides, few hummingbirds--probably only sick or defective ones destined to succumb anyway--become so dependent on artificial feeders they fail to take natural nectar from flowers. And don't forget hummingbirds get primary nutrition from tiny insects abundant year-round in most habitats. The only scenario we can imagine for hummingbirds perishing if you were to quit feeding would be if you lived in the middle of a desert and were the only food source for miles and miles; in that case, please hire a dependable hummer sitter to replenish your feeders if you plan to leave your oasis and vacation elsewhere. All text & photos © Hilton Pond Center The Ruby-throated Hummingbird above, photographed visiting an Inga tree in Costa Rica in early February 2008, spends much of the tropical winter resting--not feeding; note the gap in the wing caused by primary feather molt HUMMINGBIRD MYTH #6: Hummingbirds Will Die Unless They Feed Constantly Think about it.

If hummingbirds had to feed constantly, when would they sleep? When would adult males find time to defend their territories and mate? And how would females be able to incubate eggs for hours on end? On days at Hilton Pond Center when we're particularly successful at catching Ruby-throated Hummingbirds we with net or trap, we hold the hummers temporarily in soft mesh bags. We don't keep a bagged hummingbird more than an hour; instead we shoot for 20 minutes or less and usually have the bird captive for fewer than five minutes. Interestingly, adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds actually LOSE weight in mid-summer at the peak of the breeding season, primarily because they spend so little time feeding and so much energy chasing interlopers away from feeding territories. A particularly aggressive male that weighed 3.1 grams when he showed up after spring migration might drop as low as 2.5 grams due to territorial displays and frenetic chases.

Although hummingbirds do just fine during the short time we have them in captivity, we typically insert their bills in a feeder just prior to release; about 98% of the time they lap up a little sugar water before darting off to resume normal behavior--and sometimes fly right back into the same trap a few minutes later. All maps, text & photos © Hilton Pond Center Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have the most extensive distribution of any hummer species (see map above) HUMMINGBIRD MYTH #5: Hummingbirds Migrate To South America For The Winter Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are probably the most common of all 339 or so hummer species, and have the broadest distribution. During spring and summer they are the only breeding species in the easternmost 38 states and southern Canada (see map above); their nesting range appears to be expanding. In winter the vast majority of cold-intolerant ruby-throats fly to central Mexico or one of the seven countries of Central America--but they do NOT go all the way to South America. (In fact, they are extremely scarce in Panama west of the Canal Zone and rarely get into eastern Panama.

Our study site in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica is the southernmost dense population of ruby-throats known to science.) Historically, a few Ruby-throated Hummingbirds overwintered in south Florida and eastern Texas, but with increasing regularity are being found year-round throughout the Gulf Coast and Atlantic Coast states--and even at a few inland sites. (Global warming, anyone?) And by the way, hummingbirds DON'T hibernate--although they can lower their body temperatures as much as 30 degrees and go into torpor during cool nights. All text & photos © Hilton Pond Center Bill Wigley of Huntsville AL photographed a pre-dawn swarm of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (above) on 6 Sep 2005; rest assured this is NOT a family group (nor is it a "Photoshopped" image) HUMMINGBIRD MYTH #4: I Have A Pair (Or Family) Of Hummingbirds At My Feeder Humans love to anthropomorphize about nature, i.e., to apply human traits to animals. Folks delight in the fanciful story of lovesick swans that pair for life and shrivel up and die if anything happens to the mate.

Although monogamy is the preferred mating system for most human societies, very few animals are 100% monogamous--including Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. When someone tells us about that "pair" of ruby-throats that comes to a backyard feeder, we're always skeptical; the pair bond for many hummingbird species lasts about three-tenths of a second--as long as it takes to copulate. In ruby-throats the male guards his territory with a vengeance, defending against all other adult males but also against females and juveniles. After a female finally agrees to mate with a particularly virulent male, she goes off and lays an egg in the nest she built herself from spider webs and lichens. The next copulation may be with the same male, but there's always a possibility Male #2 will attract her attention and copulate--after which the female lays her second egg. Having a different male fertilize each of her two eggs is actually a pretty good strategy; a second father for her second offspring provides a degree of insurance if there's something genetically deficient about the Male #1.

A male ruby-throat, by the way, spends LOTS of time trying to win over females and may breed with several during any given year, leaving incubation and nestling care to mates while he defends his territory. Once the chicks fledge they are pretty much on their own and as far as we know are just as likely to be bombarded by their father as by any other aggressive male. (Incidentally, hummers of any age or sex can be "territorial"; young hummingbirds quickly learn to monopolize a feeder, and a female ruby-throat may defend a nest viconity AND her own feeding territory.) This hardly results in the "big happy family" concept some anthropomorphizers mistakenly apply to what is actually a harem system in Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.

All text & photos © Hilton Pond Center Hummingbird tongues have a split tip (above), the better to lap up more nectar and sugar water; this high-speed photo was made by inserting the bill of a hand-held hummer into a shallow container of sugar water HUMMINGBIRD MYTH #3: Hummingbirds Sip and Suck Nectar It's amazing how many people think the hummer's bill is like a long straw the bird uses to suck up nectar and sugar water; likewise, folks are often surprised a hummingbird can even open its bill. Actually, the upper and lower mandibles can separate at about a 30 degree angle, allowing the hummer to stick out its tongue or to capture tiny insects. After inserting its three-quarter-inch long bill into a flower or the port on a feeder, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird opens the bill tip slightly and sticks its tongue out and in rapidly--about 3-5 times per second.

If you have a feeder with a clear plastic base you may be able to see the hummer's tongue flicking into the juice; also, the nearly transparent tongue is sometimes visible just as the hummer removes its bill from the feeder or when it flips the tongue out to clean juice droplets from its bill. The efficiency of the hummingbird tongue is enhanced by feathery edges that draw in more nectar via capillary action and by a split tip (above) that creates even more surface area. The tongue--which can extend another three-quarters of an inch beyond the bill tip--is divided at the base, with each fork wrapping around the back of the bird's jaw and inserting in its forehead. To summarize, hummingbirds don't suck when they drink; they lap up nectar and sugar water just like a cat or a dog would do.

All text & photos © Hilton Pond Center This Hummingbird Clearwing, Hemaris thysbe (above)--a day-flying moth that is a hummingbird mimic--was photographed July 2008 on Butterflybush at the Wadsworth OH home of Ron & Cindy Hilton Farver HUMMINGBIRD MYTH #2: The Little Thing Hovering At My Flowers Is A Baby Hummer Nope, hummingbirds must be fully grown and developed before they leave the nest, i.e., baby hummingbirds cannot fly. If you see a baby hummingbird at your feeder, it's a bumblebee; if you see a tiny hummer at a flower, it's undoubtedly one of the Hummingbird Moths (above), a type of Sphinx Moth (Sphingidae).

These amazing diurnal insects are hummingbird mimics that often mislead casual observers with their morphology and behavior: The Hummingbird Moth beats its scale-less, semi-transparent wings very fast and is able to hover; when feeding it extends a dark, rolled-up proboscis that looks for all the world like the long, thin bill of a hummingbird; and some of these moths even have abdominal appendages that, when extended, resemble a hummingbird's flared tail. Additionally, Hummingbird Moths hang out in the same habitats as hummers AND take flower nectar, so it's understandable some folks might mistake these lepidopterans for hummingbirds. Incidentally, we often get inquiries from Europe and Asia about travelers who say they saw hummingbirds on those continents. However, because hummingbirds are native ONLY to the Western Hemisphere, we're always confident those folks have seen some species of Sphinx Moth acting as a hummingbird mimic. All text & photos © Hilton Pond Center Canada Goose and Ruby-throated Hummingbird (above): Who's hitchhiking whom?

AND THE #1 (most preposterous) HUMMINGBIRD MYTH: Hummingbirds Hitchhike On The Backs Of Bigger Birds When Migrating Hummers are the smallest of birds. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird is about the size of an adult human's thumb and migrates long distances in autumn from North America to the Neotropics and back again the following spring. Even one-way this seems like an unbelievable feat, so sometime someplace somehow someone concluded it just wasn't possible for hummers to fly 500 miles across the Gulf of Mexico all by their widdle bitty selves and concluded they must be hitchhiking on the backs of bigger birds. But which is more preposterous, that under their own power Ruby-throated Hummingbirds migrate over land at treetop height and at sea just above the waves, or that they climb aboard Canada Geese and hold tight while the honkers ascent to bone-chilling altitudes as high as 29,000 feet?

Besides, geese aren't even going to the same destination; the bulk of the eastern goose population ends up wintering from Virginia to the Carolinas, while ruby-throats are aiming farther south for Mexico and Central America. No, it's not hummers that are hitching rides on Canada Geese, but the other way around. If you look carefully at photos of migrating geese (see example above), you'll note beneath virtually every goose is a tiny hummingbird, delicately balancing the much bigger waterfowl on its iridescent green pea-sized head. Thus, we speculate geese are actually riding the stout backs of these tireless hummingbirds and getting off at the first stop along the South Atlantic Coast, letting the hummers fly unimpeded toward their more distant wintering grounds in sunny Mexico and beyond. Hummingbird myths, indeed. We hope we've dispelled the "Top Ten" (plus two), even as we've started one of our own at Hilton Pond Center.

All text & photos © Hilton Pond Center Adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbird at feeder courtesy Roger Smith Swarm of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at feeder courtesy Bill Wigley Hummingbird - Symbology, Mythology, Nazca Lines, Crop Circle Hummingbird Symbology The Hummingbird is another symbol of regeneration or resurrection. Hummingbird is the creature that opens the heart. When the hurt that caused us to close our hearts gets a chance to heal, our hearts are free to open again. With hummingbird consciousness, we learn the truth of beauty. Our life becomes a wonderland of delights in flowers, aromas and tastes. We laugh and enjoy creation, we appreciate the magic of the present moment, and the magic of being alive. Hummingbird, the tiniest of all birds, is the only creature that can stop dead while traveling at full speed. It can hover, or can go forward, backward, up or down. It lives on nectar and searches for the sweetness of life. Its long tongue lets it bypass the often tough and bitter outer layer to find the hidden treasures underneath.

Hummingbird is loved by the flowers and plants, for as it sucks the nectar from the flower, the plant reproduces and more of its kind are created. In many traditions, Hummingbird feathers have been prized for their almost magical qualities. It is said that Hummingbird brings love as no other medicine can, and its presence brings joy to the observer. If you have Hummingbird medicine, you adapt easily to whatever situation you may find yourself in, and make the most of your new circumstances. You don't waste time looking back and wishing for "what was" for you are concerned with making the most of "what is". Also, you could never become addicted to any artificial stimulants, for you find joy in your own heart. You take great pleasure in spreading joy and love and beauty to all around you, and have the gift of taking that inner joy into new and different surroundings. You have a talent for finding the good in people, and are not put off by a gruff or abrupt exterior, for you know that, if you can only get beyond that tough outside layer, you'll find goodness and beauty inside.

You may have a gift for working with flowers, maybe growing them to share with others, or using flower essences for healing. Aroma therapy may be your calling. You have high energy and a spirit that must be free. To restrict that wonderful, free, loving energy is to suffer great depressions and feelings of uselessness. Hummingbird must fly free in search of beauty, spreading joy and love to all it touches. It is about independence and courage. Quetzalcoatl with Hummingbird (Creation) How to feed hummingbirds, includes nectar recipe. Feeding Hummingbirds Feeding hummingbirds is an easy, inexpensive and rewarding pastime. All you need is a feeder, table sugar, some water and you are all set. Here are some easy guidelines to get you started. Feeders The most important criteria when selecting a feeder are that it be easy to clean and easy to fill. In order to be a responsible host, you must keep your feeder very clean and full of fresh nectar. We all lead busy lives, so choosing a feeder which makes these tasks easy will help to ensure that you do them. Feeders should come apart so that all parts are open and available for cleaning.

Please do not underestimate the importance of this. It will be explained more in the section on maintenance. Hummingbirds will eat from anything with nectar in it, but they must be able to find it. Most hummingbird feeders have red on them because the birds seem to be more attracted to red than to other colors. If you look at the feeder in the photo at the top of this page, you will see that it is practically a beacon for hummingbirds saying "EAT HERE!" If your feeder does not have red on it, don't worry. Just tie a piece of bright red ribbon or nursery tape on it to attract them. They will explore around and find the nectar once they discover the feeder. Some feeders have perches and some do not. Hummingbirds do not need perches on feeders, but they will use them if they exist and you will get to see a special treat: a hummingbird sitting still. It is also fun to watch them learning how to do it. Food In nature, hummingbirds eat flower nectar for energy and bugs for protein. Flower nectar is 21% to 23% sucrose - regular table sugar - so it is very easy and inexpensive to make.

It is a lot harder to make bugs, so I recommend you stick to feeding nectar. Here is the recipe for making hummingbird nectar: Mix 4 parts water to 1 part table sugar in a pan. For example, use 1 cup sugar to 4 cups water. Make sure to use cane sugar only. If it doesn't say cane on the label it is probably beet sugar. I know of nothing harmful about using beet sugar, but a lot of anecdotal evidence suggests that the birds strongly prefer cane sugar. Do not use honey, Jell-O, raw sugar, corn syrup, turbinado, molasses or brown sugar. Especially do not use artificial sweeteners. Putting hummingbirds on a diet will kill them. They burn prodigious amounts of energy for their size and need real sugar. Do not use red food coloring. It is unnecessary and can harm the little hummers even in low concentrations because they eat so much nectar. If your feeder isn't red, tie a red ribbon on it as described in the Feeders section, above. Do not add anything else that you might think of. Just sugar and water, that's all. Bring to a boil then remove from the heat.

Stir it while it is heating until all of the sugar is dissolved. Don't boil it for long because that will change the ratio as water is boiled off. The reason for boiling is not to make syrup, but to drive out the chlorine in the water and to kill mold and yeast spores that might be in the sugar. This will help make the nectar last longer both in the feeder and in your refrigerator. Cover and allow to cool before using or pouring into the storage bottle. We recommend making a large batch of nectar and storing it in the refrigerator in a 2 liter soda bottle (washed thoroughly first.) This makes refilling the feeder so easy that you won't mind doing it every few days. Cleanliness Sugar water is a very rich growth medium. Yeasts like to eat it causing fermentation which can harm hummingbirds. Mold and bacteria grow in it and can also harm the birds. That is why it is important to keep the feeder clean and the nectar fresh. You must change the nectar frequently to avoid these contaminants. In cooler temperatures we recommend changing it every seven days. If the temperatures are getting above 60 degrees, follow this chart: (A note about this chart.

It was originally created in the 1990s in response to questions from people living on the north coast of Oregon where temperatures rarely get much above 70 degrees. I have been informed that the times were way too high for some other parts of the country and so have revised it accordingly. Please understand that there are many factors which will really affect these times so your actual experience may vary. Placing the feeder in direct sun will cause the nectar to go bad quickly. Failing to adequately clean your feeder when refilling will cause the nectar to go bad quickly. Improperly preparing nectar can cause it to go bad quickly. Keeping the feeder in the shade, cleaning it well when you refill, and not putting more nectar in the feeder than will be consumed in the recommended time are good feeder management techniques and will result in safer feeding for your birds and a better overall experience for yourself.) Daily high temperatures 86+ daily Remember: these are guidelines, not absolutes. If you notice that the nectar is turning milky or that white strings or black spots are growing in it, change it more often. Clean the feeder with very hot water each time you refill it.

Most good feeders, and all of of the ones that we sell, come apart for easier cleaning. Be sure and take them apart every time. It is usually the work of a couple of seconds. If contamination occurs, use a mild bleach solution to sterilize it, but if you use bleach, rinse thoroughly afterwards. Even a tiny amount of bleach could be harmful to birds weighing only a quarter of an ounce! Glass or metal pieces can be boiled, but you should probably not boil plastic pieces. The black mold may leave a very faint stain, but this will not affect the safe operation of the feeder. Placement It is best if the feeder can be kept in the shade because the nectar will remain fresh longer. If you are willing to change it more often, it is fine to hang it in the sun. The feeder should be placed out of the reach of cats. We recommend hanging it near a window so you can watch the birds eat. Hummingbirds are so quick and agile that they quickly lose their fear of us slow-motion animals. After just a few days or a week of feeding outside of a window, most hummingbirds will let you come right up to the window and watch them eat.

Pests Ants and bees can become pests at your nectar feeder. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you can keep them from finding the nectar source in the first place, they will not become a problem. Hummingbirds will not drink from a feeder with ants crawling on it or with dead ants floating in it. An ant guard will prevent ants from finding your feeder by blocking their path as they crawl down the hanger. Most ant guards are small moats that surround the hanger. Or you can purchase the moats separately. I have heard of using Tanglefoot on the hanger, but I would recommend against it. Tanglefoot is so sticky that the hummingbirds themselves can get stuck in it. If they don't die before you rescue them, then their feathers will probably be too messed up to be able to fly. Others have recommended Vaseline, but I don't recommend that, either. The Vaseline will creep down the hanger and into the nectar and can even get on the hummingbirds' feathers, making it difficult for them to fly. Bees, especially wasps and yellow jackets, will fight off the hummingbirds who come to drink.

Bees cannot be blocked by a moat because they fly. The way to keep bees from your feeder is by making sure that no nectar leaks or splashes out to where they can eat it. Feeders with tubes hanging down are the worst offenders. They literally pump out nectar as the air trapped in top of the feeder expands and contracts with changes in the air temperature. Bees love the drips. Other feeders might not drip in this manner, but will allow the nectar to splash out if the feeder is buffeted by the wind. Feeders are available which reduce or prevent these problems. Mythography | Ambrosia - Food of the Greek Gods - in Mythology home | greek | lexicon | ambrosia Ambrosia - Food of the Greek Gods Ambrosia was the food of the gods and goddesses in Greek mythology. It was often accompanied by the drink nectar in celebrations, and indeed, ambrosia and nectar both appear in myth and literature as divine confections that were guaranteed to satisfy the hunger and/or thirst of any immortal resident of Mt. Olympus .

While scholars are not entirely certain what the ancient Greeks thought the composition of ambrosia (or its liquid counterpart, for that matter) actually was, it is believed that these mythical items had some connection to a sweet treat enjoyed by mortals throughout the ages - honey. Honey was highly regarded by the people of ancient Greece, so this suggestion makes sense. Ambrosia made more than just a delightful meal, however. There are several episodes in Greek myth in which ambrosia is used by the gods and goddesses as a sort of balm, to confer grace or even immortality (in the case of mortals) onto the recipient. One such incident that demonstrates how ambrosia was used to beautify involves Aphrodite , the enchanting goddess of love.

In the Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite, the goddess prepares herself for some serious seduction with the assistance of eau de ambrosia: "...there the Graces bathed her and anointed her with ambrosian oil such as is rubbed on deathless gods, divinely sweet, and made fragrant for her sake." And while this may have been an example of gilding the lily (Aphrodite already being irresistible), ambrosia played a more serious part in other myths. In one poignant and memorable scene from Homer's Iliad, the sea-nymph Thetis uses ambrosia and nectar to preserve the body of the dead warrior Patroclus. In the same epic, Zeus calls upon Apollo to anoint another fallen hero - this time, Sarpedon - with ambrosia. To see more definitions of words, visit the Mythography lexicon of Greek terms . Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds | The Nature Conservancy We're taking kids to an amazing new place. It's called OUTSIDE! Time spent outside with nature goes a long way toward creating a happy, healthy childhood. So we're giving kids a place they can call their own. Literally.

Click on the link to learn more! Though hummingbirds are present for a short time in Indiana, many Hoosiers plan their whole garden around these wonderfully tiny and colorful creatures. There are over 340 species found in the Western Hemisphere (none are found in the Eastern Hemisphere), but only one can be found in Indiana. Be part of our community! Every month, the Conservancy’s Great Places e-newsletter brings you conservation updates from Indiana and around the world — plus incredible nature photos and green living tips you can use. Join today — it's free! Every year starting in April to around the end of September, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird makes its way back to our great state. Like most hummingbirds, this small bird makes a big statement with its iridescent coloring. Ruby-throated hummer's most distinguishing characteristic is given away in its name, but only for the males. Like most species of hummingbirds, the females are not as showy or brightly colored as their male counterparts. However they do share an emerald-colored back like the male, but will have a white breast and throat.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is one of the most common hummers found in the States as it has the largest breeding ground of its kind. As the months grow warmer, it will travel over 4,000 miles from where it winters in Costa Rica to make it back to their ancestral nesting sites in the eastern half of the United States. During migration, hummers fly 18-20 miles non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico and losing half their entire body weight. Once these small beauties are back in Indiana, they're heading straight to the flowers and feeders. Track the 2015 migration of Ruby-throated hummingbirds. Nectar and Hummingbirds Nectar derives from the Greek nektar and means "drink of the gods." It is also the sweet liquid produced by flowers that attract hummingbirds. Hummers feed through a long, "W"-shaped tongue that darts into the flower's petals for nectar. Its brushy tongue also grabs insects trapped in flowers or while in flight. Nectar is an important food source for the hummingbird as it takes a lot of high-energy food to support its level of activity and fast metabolism. Hummingbirds are incredible fast and active.

It will beat its wings anywhere between 60 - 200 times per second with its heart beating up a little more than 1,200 beats per second. It rarely rests during the day, spending so much time in the air that its feet are too weak for them to walk In order to survive, a hummer mush eat its own weight in nectar and protein-rich insects every day. Learn about the Children of Indiana Nature Park, and be inspired to start your own journey with nature! Nectar can be gathered from a variety of flowers, shrubs and feeders found in natural areas, gardens and backyards. If planting or putting out feeders, do so strategically as hummingbirds are territorial and will terrorize other birds that will go near "their" plant. Plants that are pollinated by hummingbirds are those that are less noticed by bees and other pollen-gathering insects, so there is not much competition between other pollinators. Many of these species tend to be red (as are most hummingbird feeders) and facing downward for easier access while the hummers feed in mid-flight. A diverse selection of plants overlapping blooming seasons will provide nectar to visiting hummingbirds over the long growing season.

Annuals - varieties of pinks; zinnia; snapdragons; scarlet sage and jewelweed; Perennials - bergamot; cardinal flower; columbine; fire-pink, foxglove; phlox; red iris; red morning glory and scarlet sage; Shrubs - native species of rhododendrons and deciduous azaleas; rose mallow; pepperbush; Vines - trumpet creeper; coral honeysuckle and passionflower; Trees - flowering trees like the tulip poplar and Ohio buckeye. Ambrosia & Nectar - Research Center - Ambrosia Society - AmbrosiaSociety.org Living Water “Ambrosia” is derived from the Greek ambrotos where a- ("not") and mbrotos ("mortal"). The literal translation of Ambrotos into English would be the word Immortal where im- (“not”) and mortal (“death”). In Greek Mythology ambrosia is sometimes the food, sometimes the drink, of the gods, often depicted as conferring ageless immortality upon whomever consumes it.

It was brought to the gods in Olympus by doves (Odyssey xii.62), so may have been thought of in the Homeric tradition as a kind of divine exhalation of the Earth. Ambrosia is very closely related to the gods' other form of sustenance, nectar. The two terms may not have originally been distinguished, though in Homer's poems, nectar is the drink and ambrosia the food of the gods. On the other hand, in Alcman, nectar is the food, and in Sappho (fragment 45) and Anaxandrides, ambrosia is the drink. Derivatively the word Ambrosia (neut. plur.) was given to certain festivals in honor of Dionysus , the bright shining spotted, woodland dwelling God, the original creator of the ancient Greek “wine.” “Nectar” is derived from Latin nectar "drink of the gods", which in turn has its origins in the Greek word (néktar), presumed to be a compound of the elements nek- "death" and -tar "overcoming".

“Amrita” is derived from a Sanskrit word that literally means "without death", and is often referred to in the Rig Veda as Soma and or Nectar. Corresponds to the Greek ambrotos (ambrosia). “Soma” is derived from an Indo-Iranian root *sav- (Sanskrit sav-) "to press", i.e. *sav-ma- is the drink prepared by pressing the stalks of the Soma plant. The root is probably Proto-Indo-European (*sewh-), and also appears in son (from *suhnu-, "pressed out" i.e. "newly born"), which leads to interesting questions as to what the concept “son of God” originally meant.

In the Rig Veda Hymns, Soma, Amrita and Nectar are found as descriptive terms for the same “plant/God/drink” so the Soma or “pressed” drink was Amrita or "without death"and it was also the nectar or “death overcoming.” In ancient Greek, Soma means “body” and if the Greeks followed the Vedic model, it was from the Soma “body” that the Ambrotos “not-mortal” and Nectar “death overcoming,” sacred food and drink came from. “Living drops” a term for the Soma drink found in the Rig Veda, the Soma drink as an immortal God was composed of “living drops” Rig Veda 9-64-17.

“Mead of Poetry” (Old Norse skáldskapar mjaðar), also known as Mead of Suttungr (Suttungmjaðar), in Norse mythology is a mythical beverage that whoever "drinks becomes a skald (Poet) or scholar" able to recite any information and solve any question.The drink is a vivid metaphor for poetic inspiration, often associated with Odin the god of “possession,” “runes.” “magic” and “poetic inspiration”. The “Mead of Poetry” is differentiated in the Norse myths from the common or alcoholic mead made with yeast. The name Poetic Mead or Mead of Poetry implies that the drink inspires elegant Poetry and either tastes like honey or was made with honey. Dried Amanita muscaria when water extracted as a strong solution, looks, smells and tastes remarkably like honey. The Fleece generated from dried Amanita muscaria will also grow quite well on a honey water solution. In the Rig Veda, “Soma” also called the “master Poet” is equated to honey in taste.

The “Mead of Poetry” like “Soma” the “Master of the house of Song,” can inspire poetry because it contains Poetry in it self, the drink is liquid poetry, the wellspring of poetry and song. The “Elixir of Life”, also known as the elixir of immortality or Dancing Water or Aab-e-Hayaat and sometimes equated with the philosopher's stone, is a legendary potion, or drink, that grants the drinker eternal life or eternal youth. Many practitioners of alchemy pursued it. The elixir of life was also said to be able to create life. It is related to the myths of Enoch, Thoth, and Hermes Trismegistus, all of whom in various tales are said to have drunk "the liquid gold” and thus achieved immortality.

Not only does a water extract of dried Amanita muscaria taste sweet, it is golden to amber in color, like “liquid gold.” A water extract of properly dried Amanita muscaria can also resurrect and “create life” just as the Alchemist’s Elixir of Life was reputed to do, as the quote above shows “the elixir of life was also said to be able to create life.” The “Water of Life” is a term found in the New Testament which corresponds to the Greek Ambrotos the Sanskrit Amrita and the Alchemists Elixir of Life. John 4:14 “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” Rev 21:6 “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” “Living Water” is a Biblical term related to the “water of life” and to the “living drops” of Soma.

Jeremiah 2:13 “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed themselves out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” John 7:38 “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” This quote from John seems to refer to psychoactive urine, the knowledge of which is commonly found in cultures consuming Amanita muscaria, the only ”plant” in Eur-Asia known to produce a mentally active urine. A vast area of ancient Eur-Asia was home to a Sacred God/plant/drink with hundreds of Sacred Names. A drink of Wisdom and Poetry from the very dawn of time that is found everywhere the Indo-European peoples had an influence. The Sacred drink had the following properties; it was “immortal” often associated with divine vessels, the drink was fragrant and tasted good, it “inspired” the drinker being either the source of Poetry or the source of Wisdom, it healed disease, it prolonged human life, and in a religious context it was the way to immortality.

See these other Ambrosia Society pages for related information.

Question: What do hummingbirds and Greek gods drink?
Answer: Nectar