Hummingbirds in Central Texas
Hummingbirds fascinate birders and non-birders alike. Below are a few tidbits of information about hummingbirds in Central Texas.
Species in Central Texas:
Nesting Species:
- Black-chinned Hummingbird
- Nests in the Hill Country.
- Arrives before and leaves after Ruby-throated Hummingbirds
- Pulls back into the Hill Country during the peak of Ruby-throated migration.
- May over-winter.
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Nests east of the Hill Country.
- Arrives mid-late March.
- Will return into October.
Non-nesting species:
| Calliope Hummingbird | (July - January) |
| Broad-tailed Hummingbird | (July - October, rare November - May) |
| Lucifer Hummingbird Rare More likely in western counties - has been photographed in Kerr County |
(June - October) |
| Buff-bellied Hummingbird Rare, but is being seen more and more frequently east of the Hill Country |
(records for May, August and December) |
| Blue-throated Hummingbird Rare More likely in western counties |
(April, May, July - November) |
| Rufous Hummingbird More frequent winter presence |
(Late August through early March) |
| Anna's Hummingbird A winter nester in west Texas |
(winter months) |
Rare Species
| Green Violet-ear | (May - September) |
| Violet-crowned Hummingbird | (October) |
| Broad-billed Hummingbird | (April, July - Hill Country; May in Oaks and Prairies) |
| White-eared Hummingbird | (July, August) |
| Costa's Hummingbird | (February, March) |
| Allen's Hummingbird Note: This species is no longer a Texas Bird Records Committee review species. It is probably more common than we think, but we would still like any sightings reported to our RBA. |
(July - February) |
Please report rare species to the TAS Rare Bird Alert compiler, Issac Sanchez or call 263-2767
Identification Aids:
Most field guides list the color of the gorget as a key identification mark, but there are better and more reliable field marks:
| Bill | (very reliable field mark) - shape,length,color |
| Head | shape, color |
| Wings | shape, length, color |
| Tail | shape, length, color |
| Breast | color |
| Rump | color |
As most birders have discovered, it can be difficult to distinguish between Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and Black-chinned Hummingbirds unless you are lucky enough to get a look at the Male's gorget in just the right light. Here are some identification marks for those other times.
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Black-chinned Hummingbird |
|---|---|
 |
 |
| Generally not associated with the Hill Country - east of Austin | Generally found in the Hill Country |
| Primary species during fall and spring migrations | |
| Nest may be high in tree - 5ft to 45ft | Nest low - 5ft to 15ft | Will use pine straw instead of grasses in nest | Use grasses in nest |
| Bill about as long as head | Bill obviously longer than head |
| Back generally darker green | Back is grayer green |
| Wings tapered | Wings rounded |
| Tail extends beyond wingtips | Tail barely extends beyond wingtips |
| Tail is deeply forked | Tail is less noticeably forked |
| When hovering, tail is still | When hovering, tail is in motion |
Providing for Hummingbirds (attracting them to your yard):
| Food | Plants:see
our plant list Sugar Water: Mixture: 4 parts water to 1 part sugar (NO food coloring is needed), boil for 3 minutes, serve, keep the remainder in the refrigerator until needed. Keep your feeders clean. Replace the mixture frequently to prevent mold accumulation. Place your feeder in a location where the hummingbirds can see predators. If you provide sugar water, don’t take your feeder down during winter! You may miss any wintering hummingbirds. Don’t worry that the birds won’t migrate if you leave your feeder up. Birds migrate because of an abundance of food where they are going, not because of a lack of food where they are. |
The best situation is to provide plants that produce nectar and plants that provide insects (don’t kill the hummer’s food source!) Most of the large hummingbirds eat mostly insects. Sugar water should be used for supplemental feeding, not the main or only source of food. |
| Water | birdbath, mister | |
| Shelter | bare branches for perching, dense foliage for escape | |
| A Place to Raise Young | Usually in trees, evergreen & deciduous - Central Texas preferences: oak,
mulberry, cedar elms. Always near a reliable food source. |
Texas Hummingbird Roundup:
The Hummingbird Roundup is a state-wide survey of hummingbirds. Data from the survey is used to learn more about the range, distribution, favored sites, and feeding habits of the 18 species of hummingbirds recorded in Texas. The data also provides insight on conservation and habitat needs for the birds. See the Texas Parks and Wildlife link below for more information or to sign up.
More Information:
Travis Audubon Society Hummingbird Workshops
Compiled by Shelia Hargis, September 2004
Source: Travis
Audubon Society Hummingbird Workshops, instructor Mark Klym, Parks and Wildlife Department
Hummingbird Roundup Coordinator. Contact Mark.