“Hummingbirds in Massachusetts” may not be a phrase you hear very often, because usually when people think of hummingbirds, Massachusetts is not the first state that comes to mind. But, luckily for Massachusetts, they have the opportunity to enjoy at least three species, if only for a short time. These three species, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird and Allen’s Hummingbird, are usually seen in Massachusetts from May to mid- September.
In Massachusetts it is not possible to distinguish hummingbirds by size, since all these species of hummingbirds are very close to each other, weighing from 3.1 to 3.24 pounds. Since size cannot be used to identify the fans in question, feather differences must be used. The first thing to do is look at the hummingbird’s throat area. Most hummingbirds have very clear, colorful throats, and the males of these three species are not dissimilar. The male ruby hummingbird gives its name to the color of its throat. It has ruby feathers that cover its throat, making it one of the easiest hummingbirds to identify. The male Rufous Hummingbird does not get its name from the color of its throat, but it has bright golden-red feathers that cover its throat, making it very different from other hummingbirds in Massachusetts. The male Allen’s hummingbird has iridescent copper-red feathers that cover its throat, once again, the only hummingbird in Massachusetts to have such a colored throat. In Massachusetts, female hummingbirds do not have as brightly colored throats as their male counterparts. Ruby-throated females have white feathers that cover their throats. Females have red-white feathers, covering their throats as well, but also with black feathers scattered throughout the white feathers. Female Allen’s Hummingbirds also have white feathers covering their throats, but they also have red feathers birds will have quite a good idea of what species of hummingbird has become a visitor. to the country of Massachusetts. However, to be more positive in distinguishing the species of hummingbird in question, other areas of more prominent colored birds can be investigated. For example, both sexes of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird have emerald green feathers that cover their backs. The male also has a bifurcated tail, the female a round tail. Both sexes of rufous hummingbirds have rufous-colored feathers covering their sides, and males cover their crown and tail with rufous-colored feathers. Males have red feathers on their backs that can be green, red or mixed, females green, to resemble a crown. Allen’s Hummingbirds differ from Ruby-throated and Rufus because there are few similarities between the sexes. The male has red feathers, covering the sides, head and back covered in metallic bronze-green feathers. On the other hand, the female Allen’s Hummingbird has rufous colored feathers covering both sides, confusing it with the female Rufous Hummingbird.
Massachusetts residents who are interested in attracting hummingbirds to their part of the state can do so in two ways. either by establishing a hummingbird garden, or by having hummingbird feeders, and full of preserved sugar water, or a combination of the two. Either way, hummingbird garden or satiety, take planning, preparation and of course, spending. If the option is to be chosen hummingbird-gardens, it is necessary to include proper plants. These plants are Bee balm, bergamot, bishop’s hat, bleeding heart, butterfly weed, cardinal flower, columbine, bell coral , Coral Cissanthemus, Lily, Delphinium, Fireweed, Foxglove, Gay Feather, Giant Hummingales Mints, Hollyhocks, Horsemint, Hosta, Impatiens, Ipomopsis, Jewelweed, Larkspur, Liatris, Lilac, Mexican Sunflower, Butterfly Milkweed, Nasturtiums, Obedients plant, Penstemon, Gem, Larkspur, Liatris, Lilac, Mexican Sunflower, Phlox, Plaintain Lily, Red Morning Glory, Red Sage, Rhododendron, Sage, Red Runner Bean, Scarlet Sage, Skyrocket, Snapdragon, Soapwort, Texas Sage, Tobacco Tree and Zinnia.
