Hummingbirds on Long Island
I saw a hummingbird in the garden on Friday and then again on Saturday. Luckily, I had the camera handy and snapped a few pictures before it flew away.
From what I’ve read this is either a juvenile male or female ruby throated hummingbird. Ruby throated hummingbirds are the only kind we see here on Long Island, and at this time of year they are migrating south to Mexico.
Incredibly, to reach their final destination they fly right over the Gulf of Mexico, a trip that takes 18 to 20 hours of non-stop flight. By mid-September (now) there will be very few of these guys left on Long Island, so I must have seen one of the last to leave.
I shot these pictures in a panic (Quick, get the camera!) and was shooting through a window, hence the lack of clarity. Maybe, when it opens again next summer, I’ll visit the Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary and take some better pictures.
What type of flowers do they like .That way I canplant them,Ilove birds ,and butter flies
Comment by nelcore — January 9, 2010 @ 2:33 pm
Go to http://www.rubythroat.org/PlantsNativeTopTen.html
It’s a great hummingbird resource.
Comment by Garrett Herth — May 1, 2010 @ 11:06 pm
Hello. Am I correct in saying that only the male hummer has a ruby throated neck and not the female as you say above? I see female hummers all the time and they are not ruby throated. But the male hummers I see much more. I have two feeders and they visit every day.
Comment by Florence Gajeski — June 10, 2010 @ 10:05 pm
That is correct, Florence. Maybe the males are not so busy with nesting and that’s why you see them more.
Comment by Bill — June 11, 2010 @ 6:20 am
Got home Sunday afternoon and saw a hummingbird in thr back yard. I only got a glimse of him from behind but it looked like the one in the picture. I have been on Long Island for 23 years and that was the first time I saw one.
Comment by Eddie Pyke — September 3, 2012 @ 6:29 pm
I’ve lived on Long Island all my life and the first time I saw one I was in my 30’s.
Comment by Bill — September 6, 2012 @ 6:12 am
I have lived in my house in Lynbrook for nearly 50 years. Last Tuesday and again yesterday, I saw a hummingbird attracted to a pink 3 foot zinnia growing in my garden. He stayed for only a few moments. I have never seen a hummer in my yard before. I hope he comes back again!
Comment by Theresa Dietrich — September 21, 2012 @ 11:39 am
Very nice!. Keep a camera handy and maybe you can snap a picture when/if the bird comes back.
Comment by Bill — September 22, 2012 @ 5:55 am
We live in Smithtown, NY & recently purchased 2 hummingbird feeders. We just put them up not far from a full-bloom fuschia crepe myrtle. We have no idea if there are any hummers in our area, but we’re hoping. I realize that they probably should have been up in the spring, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Please advise, if you can.
Thank you, Maria
Comment by Maria Cellini — August 20, 2013 @ 9:03 pm
I’m not a hummingbird expert by any means, but I saw this hummingbird in my yard in mid-September. So, I don’t think you’ve put the feeders up too late. Just keep watching them. Good luck!
Comment by Bill — August 21, 2013 @ 4:23 am
I have seen in the past hummingbirds on my flowers. I just put a feeder on my top deck about a week ago and i saw a medium sized hummingbird this morning unfortunately he saw me also and disappeared. What a great surpize.
Comment by Barbara Voutsinas — August 24, 2013 @ 5:08 pm
Always a wonderful surprise to see a hummingbird! So rare, so beautiful.
Comment by Bill — August 25, 2013 @ 8:09 am
My hummingbird is still coming to the feeder. I was getting worried that she / he was still here but
I guess from your article it is ok. I love seeing her/ him!!!!
Comment by Carol — September 22, 2013 @ 12:14 pm
It’s okay to see hummingbirds at this time of year, Carol. They’re putting on weight before migration. Keep your eyes peeled!
Comment by Bill — September 22, 2013 @ 2:11 pm
I’m from England and saw my first one 2 weeks ago.I live in E.Setauket.Today I saw my 2nd and thanks to your other blogs I now now what species it is.The first one I saw was green this one today had more colour and was a Ruby throated.Enthralling to watch sorry my camera was inside.
Comment by Graham — May 19, 2014 @ 3:07 pm
That’s nice to hear, Graham. They’re beautiful birds and most people don’t get to see them enough. Happy bird watching… -Bill
Comment by Bill — May 21, 2014 @ 6:39 am
Yes we finally have one, or at least my wife has finally seen it. After spending the summer trying this feeder and that feeder and putting in six or seven different flowers the bird has now decided that our nector is good and safe and spends extended periods feeding and flitting about.
Comment by Bruce — August 4, 2014 @ 7:51 pm
We had a Ruby Throat Humming Bird in our yard for the last week. I put up a feeder two weeks ago and last week the Hummer began showing up around 5:00 pm. It would come around 3 times and it went up to a dead tree. Today we were looking but we did not see him. We live in Mattituck. We are sad he is gone. We hope he comes back next year!
Comment by Elena — September 12, 2014 @ 11:03 pm
It’s always exciting to see a hummingbird. If you put the feeder up every year the birds will keep coming back.
Comment by Bill — September 17, 2014 @ 7:13 am
I have hummingbird feeders in my garden and the birds came this summer. I live in Wading River. What kind of hummingbirds are they? When will they leave?
Comment by Ed Wasko — September 17, 2014 @ 4:39 pm
May 4th and no hummers yet the feeder is out but no flowers so maybe they are not attracted
Comment by Bruce — May 4, 2015 @ 5:04 pm
I think it’s too early for hummingbirds. When I’ve seen them it’s usually much later in the season. I’m not really sure when they start showing up here though. Keep you eyes peeled!
Comment by Bill — May 4, 2015 @ 9:22 pm
Saw two different hummingbirds yesterday for the first time at our new home in Smithtown. Have two feeders flanked by hanging baskets with red impatiens and petunias. Got very used to seeing the at our old home in Smithtown. This is when we normally begin seeing them.They will stick around until September.
Comment by Lou — May 6, 2015 @ 9:15 am
I’ve been getting reports like this. I guess they’re here now. I’m keeping my eyes peeled…
Comment by Bill — May 7, 2015 @ 5:44 am
Spotted my first hummer of the season at around 6:20am. Male, ruby throated, yellow band around the top of it’s neck. So happy they’re back!! We live near Sag Harbor.
Comment by Dawn — May 9, 2015 @ 6:33 am
we have quite a few hummingbirds in our backyard we have two feeders 1 near our honeysuckle bush and 1 in our tree we love them and live in Eastport
Comment by Dena — July 18, 2015 @ 7:39 pm
I have a hummingbird feeder which I clean & refill every other day. The only things that it attracts are yellow-jackets. should I give up or is it possible that I will see a humming bird…I live in mid Nassau County.
Comment by Janet Richardson — July 31, 2015 @ 11:48 am
I just saw a green hummingbird in yard. It was enjoying 3 bloomed hibiscus flowers. I saw one a month ago in butterfly bush. It is rare to see them here. But always a treat. I live in central nassau.
Comment by donna — September 20, 2015 @ 7:33 pm
I’ve had feeders up for years, and have never seen one this late , maybe we’ll have a mild winter ? I live on the east end it was 59 degrees this morning October 1st !
Comment by Alfie — October 1, 2015 @ 7:36 am
I’ve lived in Southampton for 25 years, and this was the first year I saw hummingbirds frequent my garden. The last week of September I was sitting at my patio table, watching a feeder I set up in August for them. Much to my surprise a hummingbird flew past the feeder and went for a red geranium on the table just 4 feet from me. She hovered about, seemingly disinterested in the geranium, and flew up to about 2 feet from my face, hovered for 1-2 seconds – looking right at me – and then quickly darted away! WOW! They are such magical, wonderful, amazing creatures! Good by until next year my new friend.
Comment by Glenn — October 28, 2015 @ 7:51 pm
I live in Centereach,Long Island and I have never seen a hummingbird yet. I’ve been trying for three years. No luck so far. Any advice from any one on how to attract them?
Comment by liz — April 11, 2016 @ 8:54 am
Hi Liz, I have no idea how to attract them. I’ve seen feeders made specifically for hummingbirds, but I don’t know if they attract the birds too. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help…
-Bill
Comment by Bill — April 12, 2016 @ 5:46 am
I saw a hummingbird in my backyard last Mont attracted to my petunias, from what I heard hummingbirds are attracted to red ?
Comment by Brian — May 9, 2016 @ 1:12 pm
Brian, a lot of hummingbird feeders I’ve seen are red, so maybe they are attracted to red. I really don’t know for sure though.
Comment by Bill — May 9, 2016 @ 8:05 pm
My husband and I saw a hummingbird in our backyard last evening, attracted to the red hibiscus. We live in New Hyde Park, and this is the first time in 24 years we have seen one. Awesome! I hope he/she comes back.
Comment by Pat R. — June 23, 2016 @ 11:32 am
Ive had many hummingbirds. All ruby throats. I just saw a black or very dark green one…anyone know?
Thank you!
Comment by Sunny Lewitt — July 26, 2016 @ 11:43 am
I just saw a Hummingbird in my backyard…couldn’t believe it. Last time I saw a Hummingbird I was in the mountains of Pereira, Colombia on a coffee farm. July 29, 2016
Comment by Michael Magee — July 29, 2016 @ 3:57 pm
Im 34 just saw my first hummingbird today. It was attracted to my Cana plants. I saved them inside all winter and then planted them everywhere. Last night my wife was saying how they take so much work and take so long to bloom such a short lasting flower. I feel like all my work just payed of with our hummingbird visit. I have many more just coming into bloom, and really hope to see one again soon.
Comment by Ed C. — August 13, 2016 @ 11:00 am
Im in East Setauket by the way. Left that out.
Comment by Ed C. — August 13, 2016 @ 11:01 am
We’ve had a satellite feeder here in Shelter Island for 3 years. We have 4 hummingbirds who are here all times of the day. We also have a glass tube feeder. I have been photographing them and even video taping with my phone. They are just beautiful! I have had them fly right up to me and past my head. Last year I taped this hummingbird as I got closer and closer to the feeder. He just enjoyed the nectar and let me get about 4 feet away from him. While I stood there a 2nd one came and I think they were mating. Too Cool ! They are pretty happy on our property.To me they are wonderful little creatures who seem to be having a great time everyday, as I am as well. Persistence pays off. Fresh nectar and clean feeders have brought them to us. Peace, Bill & Liz
Comment by Bill & Liz — August 31, 2016 @ 12:33 pm
Put out feeder yesterday saw hummingbird twice today in southold
Comment by Ilana friedman — September 4, 2016 @ 5:35 pm
Just saw RTHB feeding out of my feeder here in Miller Place Long Island on September 11th. Some beauty on a dark day.
Comment by David Perdie — September 11, 2016 @ 12:09 pm
We had hummingbirds several years ago. Although we had their feeders out, they stopped coming here for about 3 years. We were giving up hope. Then on Sept. 10th this year at around 7:15am, the RTHB was here! They started coming in the mornings and then low and behold, they started arriving about 5:00 in the afternoon. Today we have been really lucky. They have been here at various times. Yahoo!
I know it will be short lived as they will migrate, but it’s been worth it to see these little delicate birds in my yard in Sea Cliff.
Comment by Marilyn and Bryan A. — September 18, 2016 @ 3:41 pm
I’m in Southampton, NY and am a big Hummingbird fan.I saw one once a couple of years ago check out a hanging pot in our front porch and never again. I bought 2 feeders this year and put them out by 2 windows. Should I put them out farther away from the house? It’s April 7th so is it too early? Thanks to the experts!
Comment by Ray mara — April 7, 2017 @ 7:37 am