The great state of Iowa has the pleasure of hosting at least two species of hummingbirds on their migration routes, both north and south. Two hummingbird species commonly described in Iowa are the Ruby-throated Hummingbird and the Rufous Hummingbird. These tiny birds visit Iowa during their spring migration, usually staying until the end of April and into May, and then they return for their fall migration and stay in August and September.
Recognizing the hummingbirds that visit that new feeder just hanging or enjoying the nectar from the flowers in that carefully visited. garden plant hummingbird is not very difficult, although both species are similar in size. Certainly they are not similar in color. The male Ruby-gutture Hummingbird, which coincidentally is the smallest of these birds at about 3.1 pounds, is probably the most commonly known hummingbird anywhere. This is a humpbacked bird that has a scarlet throat, hence its name. This male also has an emerald green back and a forked tail. The female of this species is slightly larger than the male and has an emerald green back, but that’s where the similarities end, as the female has a white breast and a round throat and tail.
The male Rufous Hummingbird is the largest male of these two species, weighing about 3.2 pounds. This male is very similar to the ruby-throated male, a species named after the color of the sea, which in this case is the predominant red color found on the tail, crown and on both sides. This bird also has a white breast and an orange-red throat and a back or red, green, or a combination of red and green. The female Rufous Hummingbird is the largest of these two hummingbird species with an average weight of 3.4 pounds. This white bird has the appearance of male breasts, but there the similarity between the two sexes ends. . The female has a green crown and a red back and tail tipped with white.
Gardeners who are interested in creating hummingbird gardens are encouraged to include these beautiful birds in trees, shrubs, and flowers. red, pink and tubular. These include trees and shrubs such as red buckeye, northern catalpa, bottlebrush, coralberry, lilac and red high weigela. Annual flowers nona, fuchsia, impatiens, morning glory, nicotiana, petunias, pineapple sage; red sage, scarlet runner beans, shrimp plant and zinnias. Perenni flowers to consider are bee balm, reeds, columbine, bell coral, delphinium, daylily, hibiscus, hollyhock, hosta, liatis, lily, lobelia, penstemon, phlox, russella, hybrid, lupine, trumpet, vine, yucca. With a flower garden and/or a field that includes some of these plants, along with some hummingbird feeders, these are the smallest. Travelers will become guests at least twice a year and I hope they will return for many years to come.
