In New Jersey, there is only one major hummingbirds species: the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. However, 7 species have been identified in state bird records.
Hummingbird species are classified as resident, seasonal, or rare in each state, according to avibase and the New Jersey Ornithological Society. Each group of hummingbirds in New Jersey includes the following species:
Hummingbirds New Jersey include the following species:
In New Jersey, no hummingbird species are classified as residents. Hummingbird feeders should be kept out all year because Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have been spotted all year.
Seasonal Hummingbird Species in New Jersey:
In New Jersey, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are a seasonal species of humming bird.
Hummingbirds of New Jersey: Rare/Accidental Species:
Accidental visitors to New Jersey include , Mexican Violetears, Rufous Hummingbirds, Calliope Hummingbirds, Black-chinned Hummingbirds, Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, and Allen’s Hummingbirds.
In New Jersey, the majority of these unintentional species have indeed been observed enough times.
Read on to find out all you need to learn about hummingbirds in New Jersey.
Check out this quick photo guide of male and female hummingbirds if you’re short on time.
Plants and flowers can be used to attract hummingbirds. There are also instructions on how to make your own sugar water.
In New Jersey, there are seven species of hummingbirds:
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Rufous Hummingbird
- Black-chinned Hummingbird
- Calliope Hummingbird
- Allen’s Hummingbird
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird
- Mexican Violetear
In New Jersey, there are seven species of hummingbirds:
1. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
New Jersey’s Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are a regular view in the summer, and they typically turn up in April, however mainly in May. The males usually turn up one or two weeks prior to the females.
Hummingbirds migrate in the fall between September as well as mid-October, however a few stay for the entire winter due to hummingbird feeders.
The male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds possess a shimmering red throat as well as a bright green back plus crown with a gray-white underside. Female Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have brownish crowns plus sides and are green on the back and white below.
- Length: 2.8-3.5 in (7-9 cm)
- Weight: 0.1-0.2 oz (2-6 g)
- Wingspan: 3.1-4.3 in (8-11 cm)
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only hummingbird that breeds in eastern North America. After that, they migrate south to Central America. A number of themmigrate over the Gulf of Mexico, while others migrate around the coast of Texas.
They begin coming in the far south in February as well as may not come in northern states as well as Canada for breeding until May. In August and September, they start migrating south.
Such short birds fly from one nectar source to another, catching insects in mid-flight or from spider webs. They come to a halt on a small twig now and then, however their legs are so small that they can only drag their feet along a branch.
In the summer, the best places to look for them are flowering gardens or woodland edges. They can also be found in cities, particularly near nectar feeders.
In their defence of flowers as well as feeders, male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds can be forceful. They don’t stay around long after mating, and by early August, they may have moved on.
Ruby-throated females make nests out of thistle or dandelion down held together with spider silk on thin branches. They lay 1-3 tiny eggs that are only 0.6 in in diameter (1.3 cm)
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2. Rufous Hummingbird
Although Rufous Hummingbirds aren’t frequent in New Jersey, some do migrate north in the winter. These start arriving in July and leave in April. A further reason to leave your hummingbird feeders out during the winter is to encourage more hummingbirds to visit. Male Rufous Hummingbirds have a bright orange back as well as belly, a white patch beneath the throat, and an sparkling red throat. Females have a whitish belly and are greenish-brown on the back as well as rusty on the sides.
- Length: 2.8-3.5 in (7-9 cm)
- Weight: 0.1-0.2 oz (2-5 g)
- Wingspan: 4.3 in (11 cm)
Rufous hummingbirds are one of the world’s longest-distance migrators, covering up to 4000 miles each way. They breed in northwest Alaska and migrate south for the winter to Mexico as well as the Gulf Coast.
In the spring, they migrate north along the Pacific Coast, as well as in the late summer and fall, they migrate north through the Rocky Mountains.
Rufous Hummingbirds eat insects such as gnats, midges, plus flies, as well as nectar from colourful tubular flowers. They use spider webs as well as soft plant down to hold their nest together high in the trees. They lay a clutch of 2-3 small white eggs, each measuring about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) in length.
During migration, they are forceful and chase away any other hummingbirds which come, including larger hummingbirds as well as resident hummingbirds. They don’t stay around for long during migration as well as will chase away most other hummingbirds if given the chance. They live in mountain meadows in the summer as well as woods and forests in the winter.
Learn how to entice hummingbirds with flowers and plants. Also included is information on how to make your own sugar water.
3. Black-chinned Hummingbird
Black-chinned Hummingbirds are a rare sighting in New Jersey during the winter months around Cape May.
On the back, they’re a dull metallic green with a grayish-white underside. Males have a black throat with a thin colorful purple base, while females have a pale throat as well as white tips on their tail feathers.
- Length: 3.5 in (9 cm)
- Weight: 0.1-0.2 oz (2.3-4.9 g)
- Wingspan: 4.3 in (11 cm)
Black-chinned Hummingbirds breed mainly inland, from British Columbia to Baja California, during the summer. After breeding, they may migrate to higher mountain areas with more flowers before wintering in western Mexico, southern California, and the Gulf Coast. Between March and September, the Black-chinned Hummingbird migrates.
They eat nectar, small insects, and spiders, and their tongues can lick 13-17 times per second when feeding on nectar. Plant down and spider silk are used to make Black-chinned Hummingbird nests, and they lay two tiny white eggs that are only 0.6 in long (1.3 cm).
Black-chinned Hummingbirds are frequently seen perching on tiny bare branches at the tops of dead trees, and they frequently return to a favourite perch. They can be found near canyons and rivers, as well as under shady oak trees.
4. Calliope Hummingbird
In New Jersey, Calliope Hummingbirds are unintentional hummingbirds that can be seen every few years in the winter, between October as well as March, in the areas of Point Pleasant, Cape May, and Laurence Harbour.
The Calliope Hummingbird, which is about the size of a ping pong ball, is the shortest bird in the United States, however it manages to fly more than 5000 miles each year, from Mexico to Canada and back. They also outshine their counterparts when it comes to defending their turf and even chasing Red-tailed Hawks.
Male Calliope Hummingbirds have gorgets that are bright magenta in colour, glossy green backs and flanks, and a dark tail. Females don’t have the iridescent throats that males do, and their underbelly is pinkish-white rather than white.
- Length: 3.1-3.5 in (8-9 cm)3
- Weight: 0.1-0.1 oz (2.3-3.4 g)
- Wingspan: 4.1-4.3 in (10.5-11 cm)
The spring migration of Calliope Hummingbirds takes them to the Rocky Mountains along the Pacific Coast, where they breed in California, Colorado, and up to the northwest states of British Columbia, Alberta, as well as Vancouver Island. They begin their migration in February and arrive as far north as Canada between mid-April and early May.
In late August and September, birds migrate from the Rocky Mountains to wintering grounds in southwestern Mexico, and more recently to the Gulf Coast.
They usually build their nests on evergreen trees, and they may reuse or build on top of an old one.
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5. Allen’s Hummingbird
Allen’s Hummingbirds are uncommon in New Jersey, having only been seen some times in the winter along the coast near Cape May, Tuckerton, and up to Tom’s River.
Allen’s Hummingbirds are difficult to distinguish from Rufous Hummingbirds in the narrow band of coastal forest and scrub that runs between California and Oregon.
Allen’s Hummingbirds have orange bellies, shimmering reddish-orange throats, orange tails, and eye patches, and orange bellies, tails, and eye patches on males. Males and females have long, straight bills and coppery-green backs, but females do not have the bright throat colouring.
- Length: 3.5 in (9 cm)
- Weight: 0.1-0.1 oz (2-4 g)
- Wingspan: 4.3 in (11 cm)
Allen’s and Rufous Hummingbirds differ in that Allen’s has narrower outer tail feathers than Rufous. They have up to three broods per year and make nests at no set height near shady streams.
Allen’s Hummingbirds spend the winter in Mexico and migrate up the Pacific Coast of California and Oregon as early as January, though they are most common between March and July. Some have remained in central Mexico and the Los Angeles area.
6. Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Broad-tailed Hummingbirds are an erroneous species in New Jersey, having not been seen since 2012. This occurred in Cape May.
Image Credit: Wikipedia
Broad-tailed Hummingbirds have a shiny green back, brownish wings, and white chest and belly, and they live at higher altitudes. Males have an iridescent rose throat, while females and juveniles have green spots on their throats and cheeks.
- Length: 3.1-3.5 in (8-9 cm)
- Weight: 0.1-0.2 oz (2.8-4.5 g)
Broad-tailed Hummingbirds breed in high meadows and open woodlands between 5,000 and 10,000 feet elevation in central Idaho, southern Montana, northern Wyoming, and south to California between late May and August.
Although most Broad-tailed Hummingbirds migrate south for the winter, some may stay on the Gulf Coast. Broad-tailed Hummingbirds migrate in April, late August, and early September.
As a result of the cold at higher altitudes, the Broad-tailed Hummingbird can slow their heart rate and lower their body temperature to enter a state of torpor. Hummingbirds feed on nectar from flowers, and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds feed on larkspur, red columbine, sage, and scarlet gilia, as well as hummingbird nectar feeders. They eat small insects to supplement their diet, and their young are also fed insects.
On evergreen or aspen branches, Broad-tailed Hummingbird nests are made with spider webs and gossamer under overhanging branches for added insulation during cold nights.
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7. Mexican Violetear
A number of non-breeding Mexican Violetears might migrate north into the United States, most commonly to Texas, however they have been seen as far north as New Jersey on rare occasions since 2005.
Mexican Violetears are medium-sized hummingbirds with violet patches on the sides of their heads and breasts and are metallic green in colour.
Image Credit: Wikipedia
Males and females are nearly identical, with the exception that males are slightly larger and brighter.
- Length: 3.8 – 4.7 in (9.7 – 12 cm)
- Weight: 0.17 – 0.2 oz (4.8 – 5.6 g)
Mexican Violetears can be found in the forests of Mexico, Central America, and Nicaragua, as well as in the mountains of Bolivia and Venezuela.
In New Jersey, the best nectar feeders to attract hummingbirds are
I believe that the more the merrier when it comes to hummingbirds, and because they can be territorial, placing a few hummingbird feeders around your yard is ideal. We’ve compiled a list of the best hummingbird feeders to help you attract hummingbirds to your yard.
- Perky-Pet Window Mount Hummingbird Feeder is the best window mounted hummingbird feeder.
- Count the wingbeats of the next hummingbird that visits this feeder!
- Best all-around feeder – First Nature Hummingbird Flower Feeder
- This feeder not only feeds a lot of hummingbirds at once, but it’s also so cheap that you’ll want to buy more to fill your yard with the buzz of hummers.
- The Grateful Gnome Hummingbird Feeder is the best decorative feeder.
- Not only does this Hand Blown Glass Feeder look great, but it also attracts a lot of hummers.
How to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Backyard in New Jersey
Here are some suggestions for attracting more hummingbirds to your yard:
- Increase the number of hummingbird feeders in your yard and spread them out to create more territories.
- Make sure the hummingbird nectar is cleaned and changed on a regular basis. You can purchase nectar or create your own, however avoid using any that contains red dye.
- Install a water feature like a stream, fountain, or birdbath. Make sure the water isn’t dirty or stagnant.
- Plant food-producing native plants like fuschias, salvias, lupin, trumpet creeper, columbine, foxgloves, as well as bee balms.
- Avoid using pesticides and herbicides, as they may harm birds.
- Provide hummingbirds with small perches made of thin branches devoid of leaves.
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