Hummingbird Fun Facts

• Their wings beat about 53 times per second.
• They can fly upside down and backwards.
• Their tongues actually split in two to lap up the nectar. (Watch this video to see it in action.)
• They must consume more than their own weight in insects and nectar every day to stay alive.
• They hatch from eggs the size of a bean.
• Plus, identifying is super easy. There's only one species that is commonly found in the Northeast, and that's the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. The male has a ruby throat surrounded by emerald green feathers, while the female's neck is just white.

There are basically two ways to recruit hummingbirds to your backyard, and I would recommend doing both to increase your chances.

Option 1: Put out a hummingbird feeder with nectar

There are scores of hummingbird feeders out there. The Jewel Box Hummingbird Feeder ($28 at the Audubon Shop at Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary), which attaches to your window, is a great one to start with. You can purchase nectar, but it's much cheaper (and more fun) to make it yourself.

To make your own:

• Combine 4 parts boiling water to 1 part sugar.
• Let the sugar dissolve and then cool.
• Fill the feeder and store remaining nectar in the fridge.
• Clean feeder really well once a week. This chore can be easier if you have two feeders - one in the dishwasher while the other is hanging outside.
• Note: No need to add red dye -- it's neither beneficial nor harmful.

Bee Balm (Monarda), Purple Coneflower (Echinacea), and Butterfly Bush (Buddlia) are easy to maintain and look great together. Not much of a green thumb? Try Hanging Fuchsia.

Editor's Note: And if you haven't read it already, be sure to check out Hillary's great post on bird watching for beginners!

Image credit: Phil Brown via Mass Audubon