Homestead Fl

[rickr]

After reading an article in the Herald about atrracting hummingbirds, I decided to give it a try. Planted fire bushes, firecracker bushes, trumpet vines. Already had milkweed,  hibitus, and butterfly bushes. Even started putting out a feeder. That was two years ago. No hummingbirds. Plenty of butterflies. Really disappointed so I gave up the feeder. All the bushes and vines grew big and look nice.
Then last month, a hummingbird! Couldn't belive it. Now it's been two months and I see the humminbird everyday. Guess it decided to winter in my back yard. Well worth the wait. Guess the the Herald knew what he was writting about. Anybody have any luck with hummingbirds in the Homestead area?

[bumicu]

I too, suffered for years trying to attract hummingbirds. Little did I know I was putting out the feeders at the wrong time of the year! I started putting them up in October and they have been visiting regularly for about 4yrs now. I'm in sw Miami, they love the firespike in the yard.

[rickr]

Really wasn't sure when to put up the feeder because I never seen a hummingbird. From what I read, I'll keep the feeder up until I don't see the bird for a couple of weeks.
I was hoping more would show up but no such luck. At least from what I read, a hummingbird will remember a food source year after year and come back to that spot. Maybe next season this one bird will bring some friends!

[bumicu]

They usually stay around here through February. So I put my feeders up in October and keep them out until I don't see anymore for a few weeks, like u said. Good luck!

[rickr]

Any idea of the type of hummingbird I keep seeing? It has a green chest but is brown or dark colored other then that. No red or anything. Seems to be sticking around now for 2 months.

[Steve Backes]

rickr,

Is it a large hummingbird with a green head? Green headed/breast and brown body sounds like a Buff-bellied Hummingbird. They are possible in Homestead but it would be very rare that far south.

The expected species for your area would be Ruby-throated (green above and light below) or Rufous (all reddish brown or green above and reddish brown below).

Steve

[rickr]

Thanks Steve. I'm not really sure about what type it is. Problem being that the hummingbird is so small and just darts around, it's hard to get a good look at the coloring. The bird is stilll hanging out so maybe I'll get a closer look. Maybe not.

[Julie]

I live in Homestead (Keys Gate) and I have seen hummingbirds in my yard during the winter for a few years now, but didn't see them very often. Today I had two at my feeders and flowers. I also plant for butterflies so the hummingbirds benefit from those flowers. I am unsure what kind they are, (green with white chest) but they are beautiful. I was able to sit out there and get some photos today. I'd be glad to share them, but I am new to this site and haven't figured out how to do that yet.

[Steve Backes]

Julie,

You may have to be logged in as a member to add an attachment. If you click the "Reply" button rather than "Post Quick Reply", you'll see an "Add Attachment" button in the upper right corner of the Create Post window. Follow the directions to browse your computer to choose photos to attach. There is a 1 MB limit on uploads.

[rickr]

I'd really like to see pictures of the hummingbirds you get in your yard. Never really thought about getting a picture because the one bird I get,  just pops in every now and then. And just when I think it's gone, it pops in again. Think your lucky if you got some pics snapped.
As far as the butterflys, that's what I started with. Milkweed, Butterfly Bushes, etc. So there are always butterflys in my back yard. Just need to plant the right host plants.
Hummingbirds are still a bit of a mystery but at least I'm seeing one this year for the first time. Looking forward to your hummingbird pics. Maybe I can then figure out what type I have.

[rickr]

No hummingbirds this year so far. Put the feeders out in Sept but no luck. I thought the bird from last year would return but it hasn't. I have all the hummingbird vines and bushes in bloom for feeeding. I guess there is nothing else that can be done.

[marmur]

I am a new member. I live in (Coral Gables/Schenley Park) Miami, Florida area. For several years I have placed my feeder next to my firecracker plant and nothing. Last year I think I had one brief sighting of a hummingbird but did not feed from my feeder. This year, I am ecstatic. I have two about 2"-3" hummingbirds that are brownish and have a white chest all the way to the beak. They make sets of two cracking sounds.....snap, snap. I have not been able to photograph them so I cannot tell what species they are. Anyone have any idea? I am just so grateful that they have come.

[rickr]

I only have one that shows up each each year. Gave up on the feeder as the nectar needs to be changed twice a week or so. But after three years the bird stayed long enough for me to ID it this year. Ruby throated hummingbird. Green down it's back.
I'm sure you can probably google your bird to ID it. There are only a limited amount of types that general come to south Florida.
The good news is when they find a good feeding spot, they come back year after year. But only for maybe three months each year. Enjoy!

[Joe M]

Thanks for sharing the sightings in the Miami area. Another useful site is Lanny Chambers' "Hummingbird Net". Plenty of useful information.
In the drop down menu under species is a listing by of hummingbirds by State. www.hummingbirds.net/index.html

Cornell University maintains a wonderful site called "ebird" that is loaded with annual data going back years on all species of birds (including hummingbirds) based on sightings that are screened for accuracy. If your interested in what species of hummingbirds have been observed in the Miami or any other area throughout the years, this is a fairly easy way to get some answers.
ebird.org/content/ebird/