When do hummingbirds return to Kansas City? Here’s the perfect recipe to attract them
Hummingbirds are about to migrate north after spending the winter in Central America, and they will pass right through Kansas City.
The bird migrates to the Kansas City area in mid-April, according to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and the University of Missouri Extension.
One of the smallest birds on the planet, the 3.5-inch-long hummingbird gets its name from the rapid movement of their wings, which create a humming sound when you are near one.
The one you may see around the Kansas City area the most is the ruby-throated hummingbird. The bird is the most common hummingbird in Kansas and Missouri. It is spotted by its emerald green color with gray or white underparts, according to Cornell University.
Other hummingbirds spotted around this time in the Midwest are the Rufous, Anna’s, and Costa’s hummingbirds.
Whether you’re an expert birder or a novice nature-lover, it’s always a treat to spot a hummingbird. Here’s how you can get a hummingbird to show up at your house during their migration.
How can I attract hummingbirds to my yard?
Hummingbirds feed themselves every ten minutes since they use a lot of energy traveling. They flap their wings around 50 times per second and burn so much energy that they need to eat up to half their body weight in nectar and insects daily.
One way to attract them to your home is to provide food.
The tiny birds are attracted to bright colors — like red and orange. If you are looking into buying a feeder, the best kind have red coloring on the outside and grids or screens over feeding ports that help discourage bees, according to The University of Missouri.
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute says you mix one cup of sugar with four cups of water for hummingbird food. They also recommend changing the sugar water out every other day and cleaning the feeder every time.
It’s also recommended to keep your feeder in a semi-protected place to avoid rain, which can dilute the nectar. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks recommends avoiding direct sunlight, which can dilute sugar water.
If ants become a problem, the department says to cover the hanging wire with salad oil.
What plants are hummingbirds attracted to?
A lot. Both sides of Kansas City’s state line have several plants and flowers that draw in hummingbirds.
Here are some plants hummingbirds are attracted to, according to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks:
Petunia
Lady in Red Salvia
Traditional Red Salvia
Aquilegia
Digitalis
Phlox
Agastache
Cannas
Abelia
Mimosa
Rose of Sharon
Weigala
Honeysuckle Trumpet
Honeysuckle Cardinal
Climber
The Missouri Department of Conservation added these plants that hummingbirds are attracted to:
Cardinal flower
Jewelweed or touch-me-not
Royal catchfly
Fire pink
Wild bergamot
Trumpet creeper
Native honeysuckles
Red buckeye
Columbine
How can I help hummingbirds as they migrate?
In addition to providing food, you can also help hummingbirds by giving them a place to rest.
If you have a garden or yard, you can leave some small protruding twigs and branches on your trees and shrubbery while pruning.
If you don’t have a yard, you can still help hummingbirds take a break by hanging an inexpensive hummingbird perch. These small devices are made to fit hummingbirds’ tiny feet and can be hung from your feeder or another spot outside your home.
Can I find out where hummingbirds are spotted in Kansas City?
A community-run map by bird site Hummingbird Central tracks submissions from people when and where they spot a hummingbird in the United States. The map is updated hourly, according to the website.
Take a look at the map below to see where hummingbirds have been found in the country so far. The closest hummingbirds to Kansas City as of Monday afternoon were spotted in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The Wichita Eagle’s Lindsay Smith contributed to this report.
