40 Hummingbirds Facts - How to Attract Hummingbirds

They're only a few inches long, but hummingbirds flap their wings so fast they create an actual humming sound that gives them their name. These little birds are stunning creatures who make the environment — and your garden — a much brighter place. Learn more about these incredible animals and find out how you can welcome them to your own yard with these tips, including a few from Geoff LeBaron of the National Audubon Society.

A hummer is not only a disconcertingly large personal vehicle seen on the road, but also a colloquial way birders use to refer to their hummingbird coteries. “I saw my hummers today” would be an appropriate way to describe your regular visitors, according to LeBaron.

LeBaron says hummingbirds choose their favorite locations based on geography, as well as a combination of natural nectar sources and well-placed feeders.

These smart birds can remember every flower and feeder they've visited, as well as how long it takes for a certain flower to refill.

In terms of migratory feats, hummers go the farthest of any bird in proportion to body length, according to LeBaron. For a 2.5-inch hummingbird, the few thousand miles traveled between breeding grounds and winter habitats is positively huge. The rufous hummingbird (pictured) has the longest migration of any hummingbird species. Their annual trek covers more than 3,000 miles from Alaska and Canada to southern Mexico.

LeBaron says some ruby-throated hummingbirds (pictured) fly 500 miles nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico during both spring and fall migrations. Others will stick to the coast and travel the longer route down the edge of Texas instead.

Meaning most are awake during the day and sleep at night. That being said, these special birds can migrate