Hummingbirds are considered one of the fastest flying birds in the world. They usually can be seen migrating to various places in different seasons. In this article, let us see which hummingbird species come to Oklahoma, when they come, and when you can put the feeders in Oklahoma.
Which species of hummingbirds are found in Oklahoma?
There are 3 species of hummingbirds that are frequently found in Oklahoma. Out of them, 2 species of hummingbirds named as the Ruby-throated and Black-chinned are seen to be nesting in Oklahoma in the summer months. The last one, known as the Rufous hummingbird, doesn’t nest there but can be seen migrating through the state during the spring and fall.
The ruby-throated hummingbird is the most common among the species, and it is found mainly in the eastern half of Oklahoma state. On the other hand, the Black-chinned hummingbird is found in the western quarter of the state and is famous in the southwestern corner. These birds return to Oklahoma in the early spring, stay there during the summer, and return to the south in September.
When to put out hummingbird feeders in Oklahoma?
Hummingbirds migrate twice in a year, once in the spring and then in the fall. They take a whole month to reach the United States, and now they might be in their halfway. Oklahomans start to see hummingbirds in early April, but some might arrive early as well, depending on the flying speed. So for the safer side, you can hang the feeders 2 weeks earlier to April to welcome the early arriving birds.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the native breeders of Oklahoma and are seen in Summer from April to October and are rare in winters. Therefore if you would like to see these species in your backyard, then you can keep the feeders until October. You can keep the feeders till November to provide food to the late migrant species of hummingbirds and also to some of the other native species there.
Hummingbirds have a very sharp memory, and as they are loyal to their feeders, they return to the same feeder every year. But, at that time if you haven’t put the feeder, then the bird might fly to another place in search of a feeder and might not come again to your place.
There are various factors that decide when the hummingbird can migrate to different places and when you can put the feeder.
Location
Some of the southern and the coastal areas of the US and Mexico are the homes of the hungry hummingbirds in the whole year. Therefore you can keep the feeder full all the time to feed these native birds. But, for the other regions, the perfect time to put the feeders depends on the location and the migration patterns of these species.
Climate & Temperature
Hummingbirds prefer warm areas in the early springs therefore, it is best to feed them in such areas so that they have a good source of nectar nearby to visit. On the other hand, the regions with cold temperatures are advised to put the feeder when the temperature starts to warm up.
Migration patterns
If you are very fond of hummingbirds and like to feed them when they arrive, you should definitely learn about their migration patterns to put on the feeders on time. If the birds are migrating, they might need a good source of nectar, and therefore, they look for fresh feeders to eat and then get ready again for their journey to different places.
Tips for attracting hummingbirds to the feeders in Oklahoma
Migrant hummingbirds are always searching for food to fuel up their bodies. If you like to feed hummingbirds and also like to watch them, then here are some of the tips that can be applied to attract hummingbirds to the feeders in Oklahoma.
Place feeders near flowers
Flowers are the preferred place for the birds to eat the nectar. Therefore placing the feeder near the flowers makes it easy for the bird to find it.
Add a water source near the feeder
Hummingbirds like to bathe in the water and clean their wings. Therefore, keeping a water bath near the feeder will make the bird come to the feeder and enjoy the food and water.
Place tiny perches
Hummers like to sit on the perches and enjoy their food. If you don’t have tiny perches near the feeder, then you can bring it from the tree in your garden and attach it to the feeder or in the nearby area.
Clean the feeders
It is always a good practice to keep the feeders clean. Sugar water spoils the feeder if it is kept for a long time. Therefore before refilling the feeder with food, you must always clean it.
Be organic
Hummingbirds are susceptible to chemicals. Therefore always feed them organic and clean food to keep them healthy and fit.
When to put down the feeders?
You can put down the feeders after October, as the migrating hummingbirds won’t arrive from November to March in Oklahoma.
There isn’t a specific date to take down the feeder as the hummingbirds start their migration after they get an instinct to fly. Therefore they might reach the destination around that time. Sometimes they might reach early, and sometimes they might reach the location late.
So, you can take out the feeders two weeks after November month so that you can feed the left out migrating birds. You can also take down the feeder for refiling and cleaning purposes.
Conclusion
Each bird has a different migration period, and so they prepare themselves accordingly. After reading this article, I hope that you have come to know about the migration period of the hummingbirds and when you can put the feeders for them. If you know any other information about the hummingbirds in Oklahoma, then do let us know in the comment section below.
