Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds Eat Mosquitoes
The most prevalent hummingbird in North America is the ruby-throated hummingbird. They are easily recognized by their striking emerald green head, wings, back, and tail. Males have a ruby-red neck patch, while females have a white throat patch. Plant their preferred flowers in your garden to entice these lovely birds. Although they frequently visit blooms that are purple, yellow, or blue, they tend to favor long, tubular flowers that are red or orange. They consume nectar from more than 30 different types of flowers, such as columbines, petunias, salvia, nasturtiums, bee balm (which has the advantage of being disregarded by rabbits and deer), phlox, and salvia.
Additionally, you can entice these hummingbirds by placing specially made feeders in your yard that are filled with crystal-clear sugar water. They consume tree sap as well. However, insects like mosquitoes, fruit flies, gnats, tiny bees, spiders, and tiny caterpillars may make up as much as 60% of their diet. They have been known to solely eat insects when spending the winter in Costa Rica and Mexico because they might not have access to flowering flowers.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are able to soar over open water for hundreds of kilometers without stopping. They can beat their wings up to 75 times per second! For their incredibly fast metabolism to be maintained, they must eat almost constantly. The population of mosquitoes can also be reduced by other migratory songbird species. The varieties we've mentioned above, nevertheless, are some of the most voracious mosquito eaters. Although regular songbird visits to your garden won't fully eliminate your mosquito problem, their presence should significantly reduce the number of mosquitoes. These vibrant, lovely guests will frequently serenade you, giving you a musical present as well.
