The True Winter Survivor | Anna's Hummingbird or Golden-crowned Kinglet?
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- Опубликовано: 27 янв 2023
- It's incredible that birds as small as the Golden-crowned kinglet and Anna's hummingbird live in northern locations during winter. Small animals have so much working against them during the cold season and yet somehow these two species make it through, but which one is truly a winter warrior?
Audio:
Golden-crowned Kinglet calls @ :38 seconds - 1:42
Marvin, XC748366. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org748366.
Golden-crowned Kinglet calls @ 4:19 - 4:56
Paul Marvin, XC699495. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org699495.
Anna's hummingbird call @ 5:05 - 5:25
Paul Marvin, XC691002. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org691002
Anna's hummingbird calls @ 8:38 - 8:53
Paul Marvin, XC691002. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org691002
Golden-crowned kinglet calls at 9:34 -10:04
Paul Marvin, XC699495. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org699495.
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Blows my mind how a hummingbird is able to survive winter
In south america there some hummingbirds at surprisingly high altitudes, I think I read they also use torpor
I had no idea that they can be around in the winter time with snow!
I started feeding hummingbirds in winter almost 23 years ago when they TOLD me they weren’t going anywhere! I’d been ‘advised’ to take my feeders down or the birds wouldn’t migrate but I was violently scolded (by hummingbirds) until I put the feeders back up!
I use a 3-1 sugar mixture in winter, and rotate two feeders, keeping the extra in my fridge. On mornings when the feeder is frozen, I swap them out, putting the frozen one in the fridge to thaw. The sugar would mold or go cloudy if I left it out on the counter!
I use white sugar & dissolve it in water vs cooking. I find the dissolved sugar lasts longer than the cooked. I also prefer a feeder with a perch, so they can rest.
Good luck & happy feeding!
@@GaiaCarney cool 😎pfp
@@GaiaCarney good luck
Kinglet with it's punk rock featherhawk for the wing..er...win.
These two beautiful little wisps of life have made me realize, I complain far too much about the cold. lol It's just amazing what birds accomplish. Thank you for posting yet another informative and entertaining video. 👍✌️
Haha! I know what you mean. It makes me feel pretty guilty when I'm out there with them and I'm struggling to keep warm while they are just zooming back and forth. Little miracles of life. I'm glad you enjoyed the video, thanks a lot for the pleasant comment.
But maybe the birds’ songs are actually complaints about the cold weather. All dsy long they might be saying back and forth, “I’m cold.” … “Me too.” …. “I’m cold.” … “Me too.”
Not just the cold but complaining about anything in general. 💕
Me, too.😪
@@ludlowworthington697 Funny. It would be a hilarious movie if they come up with a machine that would translate what animals are saying, and the sweet little bird is cursing like a drunk sailor about how cold it is. "Hey, I'm freezing my F*&^%$ ass off in this M@#$$$# F&^%% god-forsaken S%3 hole of a country... "
I love my Anna's, and work hard to keep them fed all winter, but I think the kinglet wins the contest.
Those stats on hummingbird torpor are mind blowing. Imagining the little fella having to emerge from torpor reminds me of starting the old cars of the 1980s in winter. Gonna be a haaaaaaaard start!
Yeap! That's really true. I believe it takes hummingbirds a half hour to come to full capacity after waking up.
Thank you for this post! I live in an urban area; I've got Anna's Hummingbirds browsing my bare, leafless oak tree outside, and it's super cold. I've been flummoxed, trying to figure out how they're alive & kicking!
Nothing makes me happier than seeing these tiny insect eaters sliding through the spruces in winter, because I know that they've also been poring over every other apple tree and berry bush on the place! Which means Lots better fruit for me and everyone else next summer...😊
Exactly, wonderful little creatures to have around :)
@@LesleytheBirdNerd - something that folks might want to know; having open sheds for machinery, wood, etc. helps these little critters find safe habitat for extreme weather, without feeling too confined for their liking. Very few of these wild birds would ever come into my dairy barn/hay loft, but they'll huddle right up into an open shed or sugarhouse,
I did not know there is a hummingbird that can survive winter. We learn something new everyday. I love this channel!
Although the beauty of the hummingbird feels serene, the Kinglet is my winter months royalty. Another great informative video!
Wow…what a great video…informative and featuring two absolutely adorable birds!! They are both remarkable little beings!! Thanks, Lesley. 😊❤️
Thanks a bunch, Christine :) I agree, those two little birds are just incredible.
@@LesleytheBirdNerd ❤️❤️
yeah 😊new video
Thank you Leslie for this extremely informative, and awesome video...as always! In the last couple of years, I have spent a lot of time feeding, getting to know, and loving birds on my property. I consider it one of the biggest gifts of my life. Birds give us their heart...and they take ours! ❤️❤️
You are very welcome! You said it too, "birds give us their heart, and they take ours" Love it!
Man incredible that these cute little fellas can survive up here, especially the hummingbird!
My hummingbird feeders and camera have taught me, that Anna's Hummingbirds can overwinter in Oregon, even further east than the map shows. We also have Ruby-crowned Kinglet overwintering too.
Watching the Anna's hummingbird slowly move north on Vancouver Island has been fascinating. The map shown is slightly out of date because we're seeing Anna's commonly overwintering on all parts of the island now and they are even being seen nesting at all times of the year. I've been feeding them for a few years now in central Vancouver Island.
Same here in Utah, I was just out on a January hike in southern Utah and there where anna’s and costa’s hummingbirds EVERYWHERE flying throughout the live oaks. I have seen reports of them in northern Utah in winter on iNaturalist as well.
I love seeing golden-crowned kinglets every winter, but I didn't know any of this! Thanks so much for the education--I will appreciate them even more.
Thanks for watching! 🧡❤If you want more amazing birds here is a video on a few awesome owls! ruclips.net/video/VdECvrMQky/видео.html
Tough decision on the the True Winter Survivor. I learned a lot from your video. The Golden-crowned Kinglet has fascinating food searching habits and that's impressive that they do not cache food like Black-capped Chickadees. The metabolism and biology of the Anna's Hummingbird is simply amazing though! I'm calling a tie - both impressive birds. Great video as always - thanks for sharing and happy birding. :)
I like your decision. I think those two birds are just phenomenal in each of their own right. Thanks for the pleasant comment and for weighing in your own thoughts.
I agree, there's no way to choose between these two amazing birb friends.
Neil Barker - I agree, it’s a tie! That these tiny birds endure in such hostile conditions is amazing!
@@GaiaCarney I love your picture🥰
@@GaiaCarney how is it it a tie I'm confused 😕
Thank you, Leslie.
This was fascinating.
I've only seen a Golden-Crowned Kinglet a few times in Virginia. In the Shenandoah Valley.
I've seen them at my parents feeders. Only one at a time, though.
I've always wanted to see the Ruby-Crowned kinglet, but I have not.
I had no idea that they used torpor or that they survived in such cold climates.
I have a friend in BC who has had feeders out in the early part of the year for the Hummingbirds, but he believes they migrate.
He lives back in the mountains, so perhaps they don't stay in that part of British Columbia. I always believed they migrate.
The Scouts show up here around the end of March. And I have seen Ruby - Throated Hummingbirds stay here as late as the 1st over Nov. In mild Autumns. I always believe they catch a hurricane headwind to help them make it farther south.
One year I saw a Hummingbird at my sunflower seed feeder on Oct the 11th about 12 yrs ago. I was shocked and I ran to get the feeders I had put away for Winter and hurriedly made sugar water and cooled it. I watched all afternoon staring at that feeder and I felt to miserable. I now leave my feeders up until the first week of November.
We were always told to take them down around Sept 16 or so to get them to move on.
Well, I wonder how many birds who are stranglers around in little valleys and other areas up north, came south to find nothing.
I always plant flowers for them, but unfortunately, I'm not well and I have hideous, ignorant neighbors who destroy my flowering Vines. It's so upsetting. But I feed the birds year around and I have many species.
Anyway, thank you for sharing your little bird friends and bird information. 🌹
Thank you for sharing all that great information and for being so kind to the birds. :) I would have done the same thing as you if I saw a hummingbird at my yard that late into autumn.
I'm the opposite haha, I see ruby crowned kinglets in my backyard in Utah daily but I'm yet to see a golden crowned kinglet
Great video! I've heard of hummingbirds that brave the winter if food is readily available- I've always removed my feeders in October to prevent the incentive. I'd be a nervous wreck if I had a hummingbird in sub freezing conditions. 👀
Me too, Todd. Those poor little things are living on the razor's edge of existence under normal circumstances let alone in sub zero conditions
@@LesleytheBirdNerd Exactly- I remember your Baltimore Oriole. So stressful for everyone. 😔
I hope you're staying warm.
I was just commenting today that it amazes me how the little ones survive these northern winters!
Wow! Awesome timing :)
Awesome scenery, informative, and delivered in Lesley's soothing calm voice. Superb as usual!
Fascinating and informative. Enjoyed learning about these tiny birds. Especially fascinated to learn of the social nature of kinglets and that they communicate with one another and huddle together, and that they put on weight so rapidly in the day.
Thank you so much. I am so happy that you enjoyed the part about the Kinglets social nature; always communicating to one another. Beautiful little creatures.
We are the winner every time we get to see them !!!
Wow inch worms for the kinglets fantastic ! Blue gum trees in B.C wow so interesting. TYVM Lesley amazing video , exceptional narration and explanations. I think they are both exceptional. But the Anna's just amaze me.
We live in British Columbia and I am surprised how tough the little hummies are. And how they fight over the feeders, they do not share, no matter how miserable the weather. You would think when it is snowing and two of them find a feeder they would share it, but no. They chase each other away in huge acrobatics and their little snap snap sounds. You would think they want to conserve their energy, but they are too fierce!
Also, they fluff up so much you would think it was a tiny chickadee!
What a wonderful video! In September of last year, here in CT, USA, we had a rash of Ruby Crowned Kinglets for a few weeks during their migration, although it took me a little while to figure that out. On my daily hikes in the nature preserve behind my house, I kept noticing quite a few of what appeared to be small Vireos fluttering about. But they were like REALLY small, probably 3 to 4 inches tops. They were much smaller than any Vireo I'd ever seen, so I was quite flummoxed. And then one lucky day I happened to notice one adorable little guy singing from a low branch, and he had a small crimson red stripe of feathers on the top of his head, spiked up like a mohawk! When he was done singing, the red mohawk receded back into his head, and he flew off. After a bit of research I realized that they were actually Ruby Crowned Kinglets, and not tiny Vireos. Apparently their red crown stays hidden unless they are singing! They were only here for a few weeks, and I'm already looking forward to seeing them again next September. Thanks for another great video, Lesley!
I love that you saw all those adorable little Ruby crowned kinglets but didn't know for sure what they were. Too awesome about you getting that wonderful view of their striking flaming crest. Ruby-crowned kinglets are such little delights to watch. It's hard to believe a bird that small could even exist. That is correct, they erect those colorful head feathers when singing, but also when excited. Too cute. I loved reading your experience, and thank you for the kind comment on the video. :)
Living in Washington and we love our Anna's. They greet me in the mornings when I check the feeders, amazing birds
HB’S are truly incredible survival artists,but I’m going with the Kinglet for the win on this one Nerd. Great stuff 👍😃✌️!
Thanks for giving both Fahrenheit and Celsius.🐦
I love the tiny but MIGHTY 😍🥰😍🥰😍🥰😍
Yes I do! Our little UK birds seem to be finding food in our small garden as well as making the most of the sunflower seeds we put out for them. They amaze me.
It's so amazing how life always seems to find a way to survive.
Sooo beautiful~💞
Thank you for sharing this video~🤗
Wonderful video. I agree the Kinglet is very like our Goldcrest here in the UK. (sound as well). Saw a Hummer half way up a Volcano in Chile with snow about. Amazed me! There have been Goldcrest families nesting in a Fir tree near me for over 50 yrs, staying all year. Regards, John.
Love both of the precious birds and your great information! Thank you Lesley ❤
Having hummingbirds all year round would be amazing! We get Rubies here from mid-May to early September. May can be cold with temperatures below 0°C overnight. I mix their nectar a bit sweeter in May. Closer to 3:1 water:sugar ratio rather than the usual 4:1. As it gets warmer, I gradually lessen the sugar a bit until the 4:1. Just a reminder to use regular white sugar. Don't use organic white sugar, it is too high in iron.
Anna's, hands down. We feed Anna's all winter up here on the north end of Vancouver Island. I believe more Robins are wintering here too. The Winter Wren is a very hardy individual also, and one of my faves.
While I give props to both species, if forced to choose I must give the nod to the Golden-crowned Kinglet as it can survive without help from Homo sapiens. That being said I am amazed by Anna’s Hummingbird and it’s adaptability.
Excellent video!
For birders in the northern climates - one needs to think like Prepper Mors Kochanski and his painters mil plastic sheeting. Preppers can make a plastic tent (fully enclosed) next to a campfire - and the inside of that simple plastic layer allowing in infrared heat - and keeping it tropical if not a sauna inside - can do the same for tweeties.
One can wrap a small bush with a drycleaning bag (or plastic stretch wrapping) over the top of the tree, but open at the bottom. Sunlight coming in creates infrared heat and warms the air inside, contained within the plastic. Or a plastic sheeting strung over a clothes line (and pinned down) between 2 bigger shrubs and having a south-facing front (with open and wind flow-protected east and west entrances) provides another secure location where rain, wind, snow, ice, are kept at bay (and go out and clean off the plastic in the mornings - keeping the plastic tenting clean, dry,, and warm for the critters). Install a feeder stand (and hummingbird feeder), suet block, very-finely ground pemmican meat fibers and lard, chopped up fruits, berries, and vegs, crushed grains and seeds, worms, mealworms, some brewer's yeast (Vit B energy complex), semi-dried, chopped up/crumbled herbs and grasses, and a warm watering basin, alongside another sand or dirt bathing basin, inside the bag or tenting, and this becomes a 10* solar motel-hotel restaurant-cafe-diner for the chirpers.
One can even backstop the inside of the north side of the plastic sheet tent with REFLECTIX (double mylar sided bubble wrap), providing an air convection current blockage, as well as further solar albedo bounce (visible sunlight and infrared heat) within the bag or tenting, having even greater daytime heating conditions. If one really gets industrial, then using RADIANT BARRIER - mylar layered cotton-fiber matting for the inside north side, and this creates an even more black/dark side, heat absorbing matting material (vs sunlight bounce), and great north side insulation - stopping heat loss air flow convection and conduction. If the tweeties want some fibers for a nest - then they can pick at the massive layer of fiber matting.
Lesley, I started feeding hummingbirds in winter almost 23 years ago when they TOLD me they weren’t going anywhere! I’d been ‘advised’ to take my feeders down or the birds wouldn’t migrate but I was violently scolded (by hummingbirds) until I put the feeders back up!
I use a 3-1 sugar mixture in winter, and rotate two feeders, keeping the extra in my fridge. On mornings when the feeder is frozen, I swap them out, putting the frozen one in the fridge to thaw. The sugar would mold or go cloudy if I left it out on the counter!
I use white sugar & dissolve it in water vs cooking. I find the dissolved sugar lasts longer than the cooked. I also prefer a feeder with a perch, so they can rest.
Good luck & happy feeding!
I have year-round Annas and they are so fun to have around!
It seems they’re doing a better job than me! Incredible creatures
I hear ya! I feel like a wimp, haha
I love kinglets! Very feisty for such small birds! We have ruby-crowned and golden-crowned kinglets here in the fall and winter (in Costal Southern NC). Golden-crowned kinglets love to stay at the top of the pine trees or in the spanish moss of the live oaks to forage.
so happy to see a new video! i rewatch your videos so often, they’re very relaxing 💕 your videos inspire me so much to continue my birding journey, and help my little buddies in minnesota during the rough winter here
For me it’s the Golden Crowned Kinglet.
When I think of the word, “bird” that little, chittering poofball takes image in my mind.
🥰🐦
I have a big soft spot in my heart and respect for my local resident PNW Anna's Hummingbirds. They're so resilient, curious, and full of character. The same hummer we've had for over five years is still going strong, and has even inspired me with their unshaken determination. Thank you again for sharing about our little warriors
Great video as always. We have at least 2 Anna's Hummingbird nests in our yard. One pair love our cedar tree. They were staying here even before we put out hummingbird feeders.
I have seen Golden-crowned Kinglets in the woods and have struggled to get a picture of them. Now I know why, they just don't sit still.
Another great little winter bird is the American Bushtit, I run in to small little flocks of like 6 to 10 of them here in Seattle following each other from spot to spot looking for food, digging in the snow in winter and hopping around bushes. They are very active and adorable.
For the last four years I have been continuously stocking three nectar feeders for 15 to 20 Anna's Hummingbirds. Tonight, will be way below freezing so I have brought the feeders in the house and will take them back out at 6 AM. Some of these hummers are so used to me that they tolerate me about 18" away from them on the feeder. I live in Portland, Oregon.
Hummingbirds for me are tropical in its DNA for me so have to go with the hummer.
Both of these are gorgeous little birds, so I refuse to choose between them. ;)
Wow!! Absolutely Amazing!! Thank you Leslie for sharing this beautiful and almost unbelievable video💕Prayers for each of these little🪶loves!!~*
You are so so so sweet, Cindy. I pray for the little birds all the time especially when we get a cold snap.
@@LesleytheBirdNerd ❤
I am going to say both or any bird you see alive anywhere is a great survivalist, especially now the world is more polluted than it used to be. Great video. I enjoyed watching & learning about them. Thankyou. I did some videos myself on feeding birds. I cannot get them to feed out my hands like you do. But they do come much closer than they used to. I can get swans & ferrol pigeons & ducks & geese to feed out my hands in the park, but only if they are really hungry.
Lesley---good job on repairing info on 2 birds I have never seen....beautiful little guys...we always feed our h/ummingbirds but as you know upstate NY we only get the Ruby...would love to see Annas.......I would imagine the nectar must freeze or do they have heaters....that Kinglet ia beauty also...hope all is well my friend God Bless
Thanks so much for sharing such an amazing video and the information is very valuable, I took many beautiful photos of the Kinglet on 2022 🐦👍🤗
They are both beautiful
Insects are an important part of a hummingbird's diet. Catching insects provide protein for the hummers all through the year (when available) with insects in their diet consisting of for more than 50%. Flowers with high nectar content is crucially important too, but many will not be in bloom during winter, thus the importance of clean feeders and some help with keeping them from freezing or taking them in a night and bringing them out in the early morning. Salvia, Porterweed, and Cuphea are great examples of plants that are high in nectar content. Lovely video with great photography of the birds and landscape shots. Well done.
Thank you so much for providing this information on hummingbirds and their diet. It's always great to learn more from people with first hand experience.
Hello! My husband and I love your channel and watch each and every one of your videos, we are catching up on older ones and recently watched the one bout how you helped a Baltimore Oriole one winter. Thank you for that! We love our Orioles here every spring and summer in Connecticut! We want to purchase a camera for use whilst birding and would like to know what camera you use, if you are able and willing to share that. Thank you again for all the joy you bring to so many sentient beings, avian and human alike!
I wanted to personally thank you for being an inspiration to my daughter. She suffers from physical limitations so I'm always on the lookout for things that aren't too physically demanding for her to do but where she can get off her phone and get some exercise. She has 4 wonderful birds so is always watching bird videos and stumbled across your channel. Guess she never realized there were birds in the wild and not just the pet store. She asked if we could go bird watching and our very first sighting was a Northern flicker, very exciting and we were both hooked. She binge watched your videos and was inspired to create her own chanel and in her first video did an adorable shout out to you! You even inspired her channel name. So she's getting lots of exercise, learning to shoot and edit videos and so much more. I don't know if you have children but my daughter is the most important thing in my life so anyone who helps make that life better deserves all the best in this world and we pray for your continued success and that you can inspire other people like you have us. Thank you so much!
Oh my gosh, wow. I'm so deeply touched by your comment. It feels me with great joy to know that what I do with wild birds has helped your daughter in the most wonderful way. What a perfect bird (Northern Flicker) for you and your daughter to see for the first time. They are very pretty, and just comical to watch. And she even has a channel, and gave me a shout out? I am very honored. Thank you. :)
Unfortunately I am unable to have children so I will never know the beauty of that experience. The birds are what fills that void for me, they have become my children and that is exactly how I treat them. You are so blessed to have your little girl, and you are doing a great job with helping her through her limitations.
Thank you for your very beautiful prayers to me and what I do. I pray all the same back to you and your daughter, may you both have many blessings together. In my experience, birds are a huge blessing so you are both on the right track.
@@LesleytheBirdNerd bird's do amazing things to survive 😊
I live on Vancouver Island. We keep a feeder going year round. On the occasional cold snaps I will rotate three feeders through the day. The last comes in after dark and first is out before first light. Our lodgepole pine hedge is a favorite roosting spot for our little flock.
I didn't even know that Hummingbirds stay during winter. I always thought they migrated south.
Thank you lesley the bird nerd nice to watch your videos again 😊
You're welcome 😊
I never knew Hummingbirds could live in winter zones in coastal Canada.
Just the Anna's hummingbird species so far.
That’s where I live and they are so special to see all winter long. We don’t get the snow and cold that other parts of Canada do though. It’s more a rainy climate here. If we do get wintry weather, it never lasts very long.
Loved this one, Lesley. Great information. I was especially interested in the Golden Crowned Kinglet since I know a few of them winter around here. :)
There both beautiful birds. Each have a uneak way to survive in winter. luv all birds. Hummingbirds my favourite. There both winner's in my book. from 🇬🇧👍👍 an old cockney gal
They are both the winner! Thanks for sharing!
Love these little birdies!❤❤❤❤ My mom used rig up a covering and heat source for her humming bird feeder. So adorable!
These birds are crazy! Winter birds have always been normal to me (born and raised in NE Ohio) but these 2 are next level, I wouldn't have thought it was possible. My niece and sister also love birds, and I was telling them about this video. My sister asked why the hummingbirds would even start staying over the winter despite the danger, when they could just fly south. I explained it's at least partly to have first dibs on territory. Then I realized they're like people camping out in front of stores for black friday or for new game/movie releases, concert tickets, etc! 😆
I have a video of one taking a drink at the local library in Abbotsford, British Columbia during fall. The mild winters here probably make it easier for them. Please don't forget that feeder syrup must not be dyed!
My grandparents lived in central New Hampshire and they always had feeders out for the birds. My absolute favorite to see were the Ruby Crowned Kinglets. So cheeky and bright.
What a great lesson .. I had no idea that birds ran so "hot".. Thanks Leslie
Glad you enjoyed it! It's remarkable how birds operate :)
Sweet program, Lesley. The moon through the bare tree limbs was coldly beautiful. Thanks for sharing! Stay healthy! Stay warm too!
Hummingbirds do survive in extreme climates, torporing in the Andes mountains.
I say its a tie.. both are tough! Cool video!!!!
learned a lot on this one. never seen kinglets at my suet feeder in golden bc. ??
wow, I would have never known about Anna's Hummingbird staying in B.C during winter, thats amazing ! Thanks again for your wonderful videos, Happy Birding !!
I know it's incredible. I never learned this information until a couple of years ago. Thanks for watching! :)
Interesting I have been caring for my bird friends for many years. Late this fall in Mi. I went out back to take my dog for her daily run. As I was walking through the pines I noticed a little tiny bird laying prostrate in the pine needles. I picked her up and I had never seen this little bird here in S.W. Mi. The bird was obviously near death just a tiny light in her eyes. I quickly took her in and the first thing I do on a window hit or anything is give a few drops of sugar water. She kinda moved a little. Unfortunately she didn't make it. I at first thought it was a male as it had a yellow crown. It was a Yellow Crown Kinglet.
I did have better luck with one of my flock of House Finches. A couple of Finches showed signs of bird flu. Kinda sad because others in the flock seem to ostracize the sick birds from the flock. One sick male kept coming back alone to my cleaned feeder. One day I was able to open my window and he was almost blind so I was able to reach out a snatch him up. Again the sugar water drops and that perked him up. I then cleaned up his crusted eyes with regular eye drops and Q tip. I kept him in a cage for a few hrs and he perked up, so I let him go. Not sure but I think he came back. I think so because he always fed on the window side looking in.
I have Anna's Hummers every year but never ever in winter. Couple things that amaze me is when they get here they come and hover in my window when I'm eating and say "We're here put up the feeders". And they also hover in the window and tell me when the nectar needs changing. One thing puzzles me about the Anna's is at the end of summer about a month before heading south they start chasing each other around the feeders and beyond. Puzzles me because geez in just a short time they gotta fly 1k-2k miles south for winter. Makes no sense wasting all that energy chasing each other when they gotta make that long trek. Maybe theyre just getting in shape..anybody know?
Sorry so long here, love your posts Leslie. Next time I'll write about the family of 5 Crows I've befriended.
This is so good, thanks. Fun that it was Bernd Heinrich who discovered the huddling kinglets - I assume he had done his calculations and predicted they could not survive without huddling. Your video answers questions that arose after a recent encounter with a male Anna’s on our deck (20 miles east of Seattle). During a frigid spell a few weeks ago (thanks Canada!) he mobbed me at close range, clearly wanting a feeder (we had not put feeders out since mid-summer, when the hummers stopped coming, presumably because they preferred real nectar; we have kept it full since he mobbed me). Three interesting observations ensued. First, when I put the feeder out next morning after another frigid night (having brought in the feeder to prevent freezing), he was so hungry he perched and fed as I carried the feeder. Second, he allowed a female, looking very unstable in the cold, to feed, but for only about 10 seconds, before chasing her away. This didn't appear to be the most promising courtship approach. Later, I heard a noise I had not heard before, a loud, high-pitched chirp from above, repeated intermittently, which turned out to be the male. I learned online that males make this sound with their tails when displaying to females. Keep the videos coming please!
Oh my gosh, I loved reading about your observations with the Anna's you have this winter. How incredible that the male stayed on the feeder as you were bringing it out. And I think you are right, he isn't really working on impressing the female much?! haha! He will have to work on that. Thank you for sharing what you have learned from your first hand experience and for taking the time to help them out.
I love my winter Anna's here in Oregon! During deep freezes I have feeders on constant rotation to keep them thawed, and the Anna's will come to my home office window and give me a scolding if the feeders are getting frosty. I've got Oregon grape, Yuletide Camellias, and winter daphne and jasmine in the garden to provide nectar sources year-round. And I can confirm that the Anna's grab the best nest sites well before the Rufous HBs arrive in spring!
🧡💚 💛🧡💜 Very Very Beautiful 💙💚💛🧡❤
Thank you very much
In the UK one of our smallest birds the Wren huddles together with other Wrens in winter to keep warm. Up to 44 of them have been found huddling in an old drystone wall together. They are adorable 💖
God Bless Them Both 🙏 ❤ 🙌 Beautiful video, Huge Thank You
You are so kind
I saw two Golden Crowned Kinglets in South East Michigan on Easter Sunday. Go to church... in the wild. It was hard to keep them in the view of my binoculars... always on the move.
They’re both truly amazing little birds. I got a chill just watching them! Thank you again, for sharing another super informative video!!
Love it!! I just met a golden crowned kinglet last year! They are so hang cute!!
As far as hummingbirds we only have ruby throated hummingbirds here.
Again an appreciated video thank you!
Wonderful video! Thank you so much for adding to my knowledge of both of these beautiful birds. Nanci in Northern Utah 0:02
Love this. Along with my crow friends I've had a male Anna's that has been hanging around my place the last couple years. Make sure to go and freshen his feeder if it freezes in the morning, and he sticks around to check me out real close. Heard him out butt chirping the other morning at a dainty green female that had stopped by my feeder on "his" turf. Hopefully they find a suitable spot. Trees, spider webs, and dandelion fuzz are also things I have in ample supply. 😅
Oh my gosh such an awesome video. Thank you Leslie
Thank you so much, Terri. :)
Love your videos. Keep them coming. I think both birds are amazing and I feed the birds in my yard year round. I always look forward to the hummingbirds returning and could watch them for hours. I like all the information you bring us because it reminds me to be grateful and not complain about daily life when I see these tiny creatures and hear their struggles.
I'm so thrilled that you enjoy the videos. Thank you :) I agree, both of these birds are amazing. Hard to say one is more than the other. I agree, it's hard to complain about petty things when these guys go through so many struggles. I'm grateful for birds.
They are both...bad a!! Little birds. Thanks for your knowledge and work.
You are very welcome
Oh how do you choose the winter warrior they both are in different ways. The Anna’s Hummingbird is fascinating story as it is adapting to live in the colder climate before our eyes 😊. I guess if you are feeding then keeping feeder from freezing is a must. Heated feeder might be a need
I totally agree!
We have Anna's hummingbirds in western Oregon. Most years, we get only a few days of real winter weather so they may not have the extreme challenges that require constant feeding. In January three years ago, I spotted on one that may have been feeding on something on the branches of a small tree. This afternoon, I got a photo of one sitting on a small tree, making its raspy challenge calls. It was at least half a mile away from any place that would have a feeder out, but the temperature was in the 50's F.
I do keep the the feeder loaded, and take it in on nights that might cause it to freeze. Not a winter habit, but I've seen one occasionally take a quick hit on a suet block.
What a wonderful adventure you took us on today!❤
& such beautiful living gems of our forests that we have to enjoy every day! ✨♥️✨
Not only is your voice soothing & smooth, you teach so much with such a small amount of time!❤
Thank you again Leslie!✨❤✨
My gosh what a sweet comment. Thank you :)
My hummers go away at Denver Winter
Either one should know that’s a “hard knock life.”💕Love videos like this.
Thanks Lesley!
Wow, I did not know all that. Thank you for so much information. Please keep it up.
We had an Anna's show up and stay for a few weeks two years ago in Northwest Indiana (obviously out of it's range). It was found at a suburban house constantly feeding at two heated feeders. And while the temps can vary day to day being so close to Lake Michigan, I do recall there was a lot to cold days/nights (with a few arctic blasts) the time it did hang out.
We also have anna’s and costa’s hummingbirds year round here in southern Utah as well, that map is a little outdated. I just went on a winter hike up Padre Canyon in southern Utah and there were anna’s and costa’s hummers EVERYWHERE. There were still a good amount of flowers blooming, and most people keep their feeders out now. I have also seen reports of them on iNaturalist overwintering in Northern Utah! Thanks for this fantastic video, I enjoyed it so much. Both birds are such incredible survivors it’s hard to pick a winner!
OMGosh - LOVE this video, especially with the Hermit Thrush in the background (around the 6:30 timestamp)..
They're amazing, those Anna's Hummingbirds. They don't have any down, right, to keep them warm? If true, I think Anna's Hummingbirds are the True Winter Survivors. Thank you for wonderful content all year long.