This tiny Anna's Hummingbird decided not to pack up and migrate down to Palm Desert where it is warm for the Winter. Instead, it chose to stay on the cold, snowy mountain...
..so did two others, 1 male and 1 female. This photo was taken after about a 20 minute high speed chase scene between the males. They paused for less than 30 seconds before starting the chase all over again.
Defending one's territory is exhausting. No wonder they eat constantly. The average heartbeat in flight is 1,250 beats/minute and the wings beat at 200 times/second. They seem invisible most of the time.
The colorful iridescent patch under the throat is called a gorget meaning "a piece of armor protecting the throat". It seems a perfect name since their beaks look like medieval lances. Tiny knights ready for action.
I've never left a feeder up in the winter but I was told by a couple of experts that studies have shown that some hummers will stick around in harsh winter conditions whether or not there is a feeder available. Keeping a feeder out helps them survive since their food source is limited. They also go into a state of torpor lowering their heartbeat to 50 bpm and lessening their metabolic needs at night which saves energy.
If you keep a feeder going in the winter, you need to make sure the sugar/water solution is not frozen in the morning. You either thaw it out in the morning while the hummers hover waiting for their food or you could replace the frozen one with a second feeder that you have kept inside for the night. Another idea is to take the feeder in every night since they won't be eating in the dark as long as you remember to get it back outside at dawn. They resume eating early in the morning. The solution is quite easy to make. Just boil 1 cup of sugar in 4 cups of water without any added dye. Store the remainder in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Every morning I am relieved to see them return to eat at the feeder and resume their "knightly chases". For more helpful information about keeping a feeder going in the winter, visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's website.
