Experts at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture answer your questions in the latest installment of Ask the Burke. Got a question for next time? Send it here.
Winter is here and I still see hummingbirds in my backyard. I thought hummingbirds migrated south, so what are they still doing in Seattle and aren’t they cold?
It is true that many hummingbird species that you are used to seeing in the warmer months, such as the Rufous Hummingbird and the Black-chinned Hummingbird, head south to Texas or Mexico for the winter, but there is one species that sticks around Washington year-round – Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna).
Anna’s Hummingbirds used to be limited to western California, but in the past few decades, they have expanded their range northward and can now be found breeding throughout the Puget Sound. An increase in backyard hummingbird feeders and exotic flowers has allowed these birds to remain north year round.
To survive cold winter nights, Anna’s Hummingbirds employ an interesting survival strategy: their body temperatures drop dramatically and enter a state called torpor. By lowering their heart and metabolic rates at night, the hummingbirds consume far less energy than when they are awake and they are able to keep from starving to death through the night. During the day however, they must feed frequently to stay alive. Nectar (sucrose) is the most important food source for hummingbirds, but they also feed on insects throughout the winter months.
If hummingbirds are accustomed to visiting a feeder in your yard during the warmer months, it is likely they will continue to look for food in your yard during the winter. Seattle Audubon Society encourages you to maintain your food supply as much as possible and offers several practical tips for keeping your nectar mix from freezing. Continuing to offer nectar is a nice way to help these birds and makes it possible for us to enjoy hummingbird sightings twelve months of the year!
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