It’s an exciting feeling to see hummingbirds and witness their activities in our gardens. New England being the Northeastern region of the United State is also home to some good numbers of hummingbirds. So, what type of hummingbirds in New England can you find?
New England consists of different states in the US and hummingbirds can be seen in all these states. There are over 300 different species of hummers known in the world.
However, just one species is very common in New England and this is Ruby-throated hummer. The Ruby-throated hummingbird is also the only species that breeds in this region. But you may still find a few vagrant species here.
We will be looking into the types of hummingbirds in New England, their arrival and departure, how to attract these birds, and so on. So, continue reading to gain some insight on hummingbirds in New England.
Types Of Hummingbirds In New England
So, because there are different states in New England, there might be some slightly different species found here. However, Ruby-throated hummers and Rufous hummers are the most common hummingbird species in New England.
Here are some species of hummingbird in New England and some states that can be found:
- Massachusetts: Ruby-throated, Rufous, and Allen’s species can be found here.
- Maine: Ruby-throated and Rufous hummers can be found here.
- Vermont: Ruby-throated and Rufous hummers can be seen here.
- Connecticut: Ruby-throated, Rufous, and Calliope hummingbirds can be found here.
- New Hampshire: Ruby-throated and Rufous hummers can be sighted here.
- Rhode Island: Ruby-throated and Rufous hummingbirds can be found here.
Below are some details of some of the types of hummingbirds found in New England:
1. Ruby-throated Hummingbird – Resident Species
Ruby-throated hummers are commonly known to breed in the northeastern region of the United State.
The adult male of the Ruby-throated hummers has their throat to be ruby. However, this red color is not always visible all time. The visibility usually depends on how light falls on certain parts or angles of the bird. Some lightening may cause the throat to even appear black in some instances.
The juvenile females and adult female Ruby-throated have their throat to be white. It can be sometimes marked with faint grey or buffy streaking.
The juvenile males also have this white throat just like in the females. However, it is more streaked to a greater or lesser degree with green or black.
The tail of the adult male Ruby-throated hummer is more forked-tailed with a pointed outer feather that looks solid black. The female Ruby-throated hummers on the other hand have this bluntly rounded tail that is usually black. Then they have white tips to the outer feathers.
2. Rufous Hummingbird – Occasional Species
Usually, the Rufous hummers tend to breed in the western part of the United States. However, things are changing. You may also find the Rufous hummingbird in the northeastern part of the United States.
The adult male of the Rufous hummingbird appears to have bright orange on the back and belly. Then they have this visible iridescent red throat. When the light is visible, the male Rufous has this glow like coals.
However, the female Rufous is green from the upper part of their body. Then they have these Rufous washed flanks, rufous patches in their green tail. Then you may often see a spot of orange in their throat.
3. Other Vagrant or Rare Species
Vagrant species of hummingbirds are as well found in the northeastern region of New England. When we refer to a hummingbird species as a vagrant, we are implying that these hummingbird species are sighted unexpectedly.
Some of the vagrant species that have been sighted in New England include Anna’s hummingbird, Allen’s hummingbird, Calliope’s hummingbird, Broad-billed hummingbird, and Black-chinned hummingbird.
Seeing these types of hummingbird species around this region is usually very rare. And sighting them in these unexpected regions is also unexplainable for now.
However, if you are lucky and you happen to find one of these vagrant hummingbird species around New England, then it won’t be a bad idea to take a picture and share just for the record.
When Do Hummingbirds Arrive In New England?
There are different states in New England northeastern region. So, because of this, the arrival and departure of hummingbirds may slightly vary for these different states.
But generally, hummingbirds return to our side from spring. Hummingbirds in New England tend to arrive starting from April. Then some regions may experience hummingbirds arriving later in May.
By this period, flowers have begun to bloom signifying that things are set for these charming hummers to sip nectar.
How Long Do Hummingbirds Stay In New England?
As we said earlier, different states are found in the region of New England. Hence, the period hummingbirds stay here may slightly vary for each state.
We can however generally say hummingbird stays from April to December in this region.
Learn more about When Do Hummingbirds Leave Colorado?
What Flowers Attract Hummingbirds In New England?
It’s no news that hummingbirds love flowers because of the sweet nectar they derive from them. if you reside in New England and you wish to improve the visits of hummingbirds in your yard; you can plant some flowers hummingbird loves. This will help attract hummingbirds to your garden.
Here are some flowers that have been known to attract hummingbirds in New England:
- Foxglove: this type of nectar-producing flower is a perfect type of flower you can plant in your garden to attract hummingbirds.
- Bee balm: bee balm is another great flower that produces nectar for your sweet hummingbirds. From their name, they are also flowers that attract bees and butterflies. So, these combinations can help with pollination in your garden.
- Morning glory: they are flowers perfectly shaped to the taste of hummingbirds and they are appealing to them. Hence, morning glory flowers are great for attracting hummingbirds.
- Petunia: this is an annual plant that tends to bloom continually. So, it is another appealing flower that can draw hummingbirds to your garden.
Conclusion
Hummingbirds are always a delight to watch anytime we see them flitting or hovering our yards. There are also hummingbirds in New England and we have talked about some of the types found in this region. We have also discussed when how long these birds stay in New England.
So, you can gain some good knowledge about hummingbirds in New England in this post.