There are well over 300 species of Hummingbirds. Their range is from South America to Alaska, but none of the species can tolerate cold winters, so they must migrate. Only the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is found in the eastern part of the U.S. during summer months. Numerous other species can be found in the west including: Allen's, Anna's, Black-chinned, Blue-throated, Broad-billed, Costa's, Calliope, and Rufous. Hummingbirds are the smallest of all birds. They Make a humming sound that is more like an insect than a bird, as they dart around flowers, sideways, backwards and hovering like little helicopters. They move their wings so quickly that only a blur can be seen when they are in flight.

They may take months to migrate from one location to another in search of warm weather and blooming flowers, which provide them with the main part of their diet ­ nectar. Most species will also supplement their diet with small insects and spiders. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird has a long distance in which to migrate. They travel from the northeastern U.S. across the Gulf of Mexico to Southern Mexico and Central America. The Rufous Hummingbird migrates an even longer distance, from Southern Alaska to Mexico.

Because hummingbirds are constantly in search of flowers, they are found most frequently in open fields, gardens, the sunny edges of woodlands and along the edges of streams and creeks.

To attract hummingbirds to your garden, you must provide them with the kind of food upon which they feed. Their favorite flower colors are red, orange, pink and yellow. Some of their favorite species of flowers are:

All kinds of lilies

Canna lilies

Trumpet Vine

Morning Glories

Honeysuckle

Hollyhock

Larkspur

Columbine

Lupine

Impatiens

Bee balm

Perennial Phlox

Butterfly Bush

Azalea

Rose Mallow

Scarlet Bush

Scarlet Sage

Red Petunia

Many other species of flowers will also attract hummingbirds, including those that also attract butterflies. The only difference may be in the colors that the hummingbirds prefer ­ red, orange, pink and yellow. Raise as many species of these flowers as possible so that one kind or another is in bloom all summer. If only one species blooms for a few weeks, the hummingbirds will come to your location only during that period.

Besides the natural flowers, hummingbirds will also come to the special feeders designed just for that purpose. These feeders are not very expensive and can be found in most garden centers and nurseries. The various styles of feeders require a mixture of water, sugar and red food color to attract the hummingbirds. Some of the feeders do not even require the red food color because they have a red plastic device (usually a flower) as part of the design. Honey should not be used in place of sugar; it is more expensive and it promotes the growth of a fungus to the hummingbird's tongue.

The feeders can be hung a distance from the house and gradually moved closer, little by little until they are on your porch, patio, or other location closer to a window for better viewing.

One problem with these feeders is that they also attract ants, yellow jackets and other insects to them. To make life difficult for these insects, hang the feeder with a fishing line and coat the line and the feeder tube with vegetable oil, Vaseline, or mineral oil. Hummingbirds will avoid the feeders if they are covered with ants, wasps or other insects.

When there are lots of flowers in bloom near the feeders, the hummingbirds will give them preference over the artificial feeders. This is good for the hummingbirds because they get more nutrition from the nectar. The sugar water solution will provide energy but little nutritional value beyond that. Hummingbirds are very neat feeders, so you don't need to worry about droppings around your patio or porch.

     If there are just no hummingbirds in your area, you will not be able to attract them. Most locations, rural, suburban and urban will have them however, and once they discover your garden of tasty flowers in bloom all summer, and your clean and freshly maintained feeder, they will return frequently. Once the weather begins to get too cool, they will migrate south, but will return sometime in mid to late spring depending on where you live.