Hummingbirds in freezing temperatures in Las Vegas NV – how hummers survive the winter

                The lows were in the mid-twenties here in Las Vegas NV. The highs were in the high thirties, colder than the lows just the day before, when the lows had been in the forties, the highs in the sixties. To think I had complained about the cold then!

                When I went out to check on my hummingbird feeders before dawn, I found they were frozen. The north side feeder was completely frozen; the feeders under the patio roof were partially frozen. I brought them all in to defrost, then refilled them with fresh sweet water. I had them out before the break of dawn, hoping my resident hummers had survived the night. At least half an hour before the sun came over Frenchman’s Mountain, the little Anna’s hummer was chattering away. Soon I spotted her at her favorite feeder. Then I saw the males come into the feeder under the patio roof. All were hungry and glad for the food they needed to recharge their bodies after burning all their stored fuel during the night. Throughout the day I saw and heard hummers around my feeders.

This was taken only a half hour after sunrise. From the size of the bird and the length of tail compared to wing tips I have labeled it an juvenile male Costa's Hummingbird.

This was taken the afternoon of the same day. Looking at the size of the bird, and the longer tail I am calling it a male Anna's Hummingbird.

                I decided my best strategy was to bring the feeders in the house during the night so they wouldn’t freeze. I didn’t want to take them down until the last bird had fed in the evening. I found that wasn’t until almost a half hour after the sun set at 4:26 p.m., meaning I had to wait until almost true darkness settled in to go after the feeders and not disturb the last meal of the day.

                When night time temperatures finally rebounded to above freezing I rejoiced for two reasons. One, I didn’t have to dress so warm to walk the dogs and, two; I didn’t have to bring the hummingbird feeders in every night.

                One friend, who also has her feeder under a patio roof, found her feeder was slush but not frozen, so she simply brought it in to refill in the morning. Saturday morning I got a call. She told me that as she was taking the newly-filled feeder through the sliding-glass door, a hungry hummer hovered right in front of the feeder. She thought he might land on it as she held it, but instead he hovered around as she carried it out to the hook and hung it up. That must have been one really anxious hummingbird.

                I have also managed to attract a great number of other birds to my patio as I have added a thistle-seed sock. Not only do I have my House Finches feeding on it, I have an entire small flock of Lesser Goldfinches coming all day long. When the sack is full, I see as many as 10 finches feeding at the same time. While they are happily eating away on the sock, Mourning Doves, White-crowned Sparrows, House Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos eat away at the seed spilled on the patio and grass. In the late afternoon when feeding is at a high I may have eight species coming to my patio, including the two species of hummingbirds that winter over in the Las Vegas area.

The usual one Mourning Dove, a small flock of House Sparrows and a very handsome male House Finch

               

A mixed flock of finches, both House Finches and Lesser Goldfinches feed on the sock.

Notes about the differences in feeding habits of birds: Mourning Doves are strictly ground feeders and don’t much tolerate other Mourning Doves close by, Juncos and White-crowned Sparrows feed exclusively on the ground but are usually in groups. House Sparrows will feed on the sock but usually feed on the ground. House Finches readily feed both places. Lesser Goldfinches never go to the ground. Each has their own niche in the feeding habitat of my back patio here In Las Vegas NV.