Hummingbirds!
There is only one species of Hummingbird in the Chicago aea, the Ruby Throated Hummingbird. They spend their winters in Central America and arrive here in May. Throughout the summer, though, there was almost no sign of them in our garden this year.
That changed about 10 days ago. Since then, we see hummingbirds almost every time we approach the front steps. Usually they are feeding at the containers stuffed with Hummingbird-attracting annuals.
Using the sports setting and a zoom lens, Judy got some pretty amazing photographs. These tiny guys move around so fast that they are a blur much of the time. Of course, that is part of what makes them so fascinating – plus their ability to hover like tiny helicopters.
Cigar Plant (Cuphea ignea) is a big hummingbird favorite.
They also really like Star Flower (Pentas lanceolata).
And like the butterflies, they are very fond of Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia lanceolata).
After a while I thought the hummingbirds were getting tired of having their pictures taken. Is he mooning us here?
Despite this suspected rudeness, it’s been exciting having the hummingbirds around.
Have you seen hummingbirds in your garden this year?
gardeninacity 
I hate to say it but we have oodles Jason. They come for the monarda and stay for the phlox, echinacea, glads, Obedient plant, hosta flowers, catmint, and lobelia. I plant a big patch of monarda near the house so I can watch them.
You really don’t need to apologize. I don’t know why the hummers don’t come earlier, I have lots of Monarda and Nepeta.
Hi Jason. These are great shots. We have had hummingbirds at our feeder and flowers all summer. We also only have the ruby throated ones here. We have seen a marked increase in the feeding the last week and they fatten up for their trip south. Amazing little birds!
They are amazing, aren’t they? We don’t have a hummingbird feeder.
Aren’t they fun to watch? Great photos. I can never get a clear image of hummingbirds. We’ve had a good number of them this summer. In my garden they like monarda, echinacea and salvias.
I don’t understand about getting a clear image, I leave that to Judy. Something about shutter speed.
As the Will Co .Audubon birders know there is a large (hummingbird) moth that fools a lot of non-birders into thinking they have discovered a hummingbird. We sometimes get more than just the Ruby-throated in our area. When one of these western visitors shows up, ” birders” are really attracted to the garden so honored by this rare visitor. To attract these visitors plant more flowers with long`neck blossoms, preferably in reddish tones. You might also add hummingbird feeders. Ccheck out the Illinois Audubon Society’s website for location of “banding” sites. Maryann Gossmann, Montgomery COS, IAS (Will & Morgan Co.chapters)
I have seen the hummingbird moth, though they haven’t been around this year. They look like something out of Dr. Seuss. Thanks for dropping by and commenting!
Oh my, what a treat it must be to see them, I have only seen them in photographs….such astonishingly beautiful birds. I have enjoyed your pics Jason, even if I am a little jealous.xxx
In South and Central America they have an amazing number of different species; some of them make our Rubythroat look quite plain!
We have some. My neighbor, who watches keenly, says there are three. Ours are year-round residents. It is amazing to think of those tiny little creatures out there in the cold and wet of Winter.
I feel the same way about the goldfinches and chickadees that stay here all winter.
I’ve got a yard full of hosta so this is one of their favorite stops. Excellent photos!
I didn’t realize they liked hosta but that makes sense, given the shape of the flowers.
Great pictures! I finally started seeing them in the yard a couple of weeks ago as well. Not long enough for any photos though. Enjoy!
They are really hard to photograph, I couldn’t do it.
The pictures you took of the humming birds are just delightful. when I see one I never have my Camera Love your garden.
Thank you!
We’ve had a pretty good set of Ruby Throated HBs this year. Really the best ever in this location.
A lot of people are saying this has been a good year for Hummingbirds.
Also want to add that a former neighbor told me to have my HB feeder filled and ready to go by 11 April. It’s been good advice.
I was told early May for this area. I don’t actually have a feeder, but I’m thinking about it for next year.
Kudos to Judy for some fantastic photos! About the only decent hummingbird photos I manage to get are while they are at the feeders–in other words, not moving:) We’ve had quite a few hummingbirds all summer long, but they really have been active the last week or so. I think they must be fueling up for their migration soon. ‘Black and Blue’ Salvia and a rosy salvia called ‘Wendy’s Wish’ seem to be their favorite here.
The do like ‘Black and Blue’, though I am not growing it this year.
Judy got some superb shots indeed! Oh my!!! I have seen many as well but I do not have the skills like Judy so I have yet to capture one so beautifully. They come to my garden for my annual Wendy’s Wish. Such a joy when I can spot one to show the beans! I just taught my oldest bean how many times their wings flap per second….she always reminds me that they lay the smallest eggs! So fun…beautiful photos!!! Have a great weekend Jason! Nicole
They are almost magical, and so fascinating for small children and adults.
Unfortunately we do not have hummingbirds in Denmark. Wonderful Pictures.
Thank you!
Envy, envy, there are no humming birds in Europe – isn’t that sad?
Sad indeed. Still, I can only feel a bit mournful for you, there in sunny Italy with your red poppies and olive trees (and Italian food).
Lovely shots. We don’t have them in Europe, so I just have to settle for the hummingbird hawk moths instead! 😉
I saw your hummingbird moth pictures – wonderful!
stunning photo…
Thanks!
Hello Jason, it must be lovely to have hummingbirds in the garden and those shots are incredible! In our old garden, I ended up growing lots of plants for hummingbirds, but of course, they never came, because they’re all in your amazing garden!
Do you have hummingbirds in the UK? I thought not.
Great pix!!! I see them most often at the zinnias by the patio, simply because of the plants’ proximity to the house. The hummingbirds usually arrive here around June 1, a welcome sign of summer. I also see hummingbird moths on occasion.
I see the HB moths most years, but not this year.
Great photos of that elusive species! I thought I would see more, especially at the garden where a lot of the farmers grow zinnias and tithonias. I did see one. Maybe more will pass by on their way even further South than Georgia!
The Ruby Throats spend the winter in Central America. There is an organization I found called Georgia Hummers. Apparently you have three species to our one, and they are present all year.
http://gahummer.org
Great hummingbird shots! It is so exciting to have hummers in the garden. They really liven up the place! We have hummingbirds from early spring to late fall. We usually have one or two pairs mate in spring but fall is the peak time for hummers in our garden. Our local hummer organization said that you can estimate the number of hummers in your garden by multiplying the number you see at one time by 6.
That’s a good formula to know, though I don’t think we have ever seen more than two at time.
I’d love to say I’ve had hummingbirds visiting my garden, unfortunately they don’t do Scotland 😉
Such a beautiful little visitor to have and glad to see they are having their fill at Jason and Judy’s.
Very thoughtless of them not to do Scotland.
We get “hummie” visits to the fuchsia outside our dining room several times a day. The most I have seen at one time has been 3 birds. I love to hear the chatter of the birds as they fight over their territory.
I haven’t seen them fight over territory – maybe next year. I have heard they do love fuschia.
Beautiful photos. I put my feeder out but haven’t gotten any takers this year. I love them and do everything I can to attract them. 😦 Thanks for sharing your photos.
Sorry they have been so thoughtless – maybe next year.
I covet your hummingbirds ! They are fantastic and your photos are amazing!
Thank you so much!
Ahhhh… the sports setting, now why couldn’t I figure that out!?
We’ve had hummers for most of the later half of the summer. I’m glad you got yours though, it would be a shame for all those hummer-flowers to go to waste!
That’s how I feel.
I have a lot of hummers but doubt I’ll ever succeed in taking a photo of one. Everyone will just have to take my word for it. I need to give that cigar plant a try. :o)
Your word is golden around here. I think you’d like the cigar plant.
We’ve had hummingbirds at the feeders and flowers since May. I’m surprised you haven’t seen any until now. Maybe they’ve been there, but now they’re more plentiful as the ones from the north migrate through? But, I agree with the others–Judy is a very talented photographer! Those little buggers move fast–especially when they’re hovering at the flowers. I only seem to have luck when they’re resting at the feeders. ;^)
Perhaps I should try a feeder or two. How often do they need to be cleaned?
They are beautiful pictures Jason. They are so difficult to take pictures of! I think we had a nest of them in the garden this year but we did not find it.
Thanks.
Great photos and I am so jealous. I have yet to see one hummer in my yard. They are not even showing up at the Portage where I have seen them in droves. I guess I can’t be a tiny oasis in a desert for these guys. But I still have hope.
Keep hope alive.
As luck or fate or whatever would have it I did have one female hummingbird stop by one of my three feeders last night. She must have been hungry, she sat on the feeder and drank her fill four or five times. She’s gone, now I will wait for the next visitor.
This is way cool! I’ve had a good number at the feeder this year and discovered they like hosta blooms. Wish I had photos like yours!
This is the first I’ve heard they like Hostas, but other commenters are saying it too.
I’ve had quite a few here this summer. They loved the bee balm under my kitchen window, and of course the hanging fuchsia on the front porch. Since the bee balm is pretty much done now, they’ve moved over to the “vegetable” garden and seem to favor the zinnias. Last night I was in that garden picking some tomatoes when a hummer buzzed my head! Funny! Lastly, my Crown of Thorns plant is summering on the front porch, in the far, shady corner, and I’ve frequently seen a hummingbird visit it!
PS–I meant to add that those are great pictures your wife took!