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Just a Hummingbird feeder?

by Cindy
(California Desert Mountains)

Borrowing a little nectar

Borrowing a little nectar

WEll !!! This has been our SECOND surprise visitor to our humming bird feeder!

This morning.. after capturing some great shots of our little hummers.. so early in spring, and visiting with them all morning, I heard an unusual bird song out my patio door.

I was so surprised to see this GIANT BIRD sitting on the feeder, lapping up the nectar like the little Hummers!!

Of course it wasn't "Giant" at all, Maybe 6 or seven inches in length, but compared to the little Anna's, it looked pretty BIG on those little perches!

Don't quote me at all.. but I think it is either a Yellow Warbler, or a Northern Oriole. I am leaning towards an Oriole, because of the black spot under its chin and atop his forehead. And he sings like an Oriole.

He guarded that feeder all day long today. Chased some red-breasted house finches away from getting too close to it.

I have a few HB feeders out there, as well as some Scarlet Salvia's and some Fuchsias. So the little Hummers did fine.

We've also seen the Ladder-backed WOODPECKER on it!!!

I know the Orioles and the Warblers will eat berries and fruit.. but maybe because out here in the desert, we don't have much of that.. they are enjoying a taste of the nectar from the feeder!!

In any case.. its the first year, I have EVER seen a different bird on the HB feeders than the Hummers. I did see a Scotts Oriole here one day last Spring.

That was most exciting. Anyone else ever experience other birds drinking out of the HB feeders?

Please let me know!! I am LOVING backyard birding!! And all the visits from the migrating birds!!

Someone share with me!!

Cindy

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Just a Hummingbird feeder?

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Nov 04, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Bats on hummingbird feeder
by: Meg

We get bats on our hummingbird feeders late August and into October in southern Arizona. Photos and story here
http://mostlyphotos.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/bats-on-hummingbird-feeder/
Aug 22, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		hummingbird/finches/orioles
by: gee

Low Desert - just had my first finch at the hummingbird feeder - couldn't believe my eyes. In Pasadena had the hooded oriole one time - so pretty. A nice surprise.
Aug 17, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		The same bird
by: Cindy

That would be an Oriole. They are beautiful birds and they are fruit eaters.. so a little nectar to them, if they can get their tongue into the feeder and take a lick.. is probably like a little bit of heaven.

They know there is sweet juice in there!! I love it when the Orioles come. I have had three different types of Orioles come.

They are the Scotts Oriole, the Hooded Oriole and the Bullocks Oriole. Slightly different markings, with the exception of the Scotts who looks like the Grim reaper with a black hood and a yellow body!! Boy do they sing beautiful.

More like a humans whistling some beautiful tune. That differentiates them from many of the other birds that are known to steal a little nectar! Like the Woodpecker.. the finches.. the Verdins.. And oh yes.. I have seen the rats there.. and the squirrels.. either of which could be stealing your flowers off the feeder, so I'd try and hang them where they would be inaccessible to them.

Bats.. I don't think so.. but I am not entirely sure. Enjoy! Don't forget to change the nectar if its not gone by about four or five days!!

It can make them all sick! A home remedy of nectar is inexpensive. The recipe is on this site.
Thank you for commenting!

Cindy
High Desert Mountains, So Cal.
Aug 16, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		The same bird
by: Anonymous

We live in long beach, CA and I'm telling you that is the same yellow bird that was drinking out of our HB feeder just yesterday.
Jul 02, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		who is at my feeder?
by: Cindy

If your feeder is hanging off a tree limb, it is most likely a RAT or a SQUIRREL. I've seen both attempt my feeders. A rat or a squirrel would be the likely culprit since both are hoarders, and like to collect things.. especially the squirrel.
Best wishes
Jul 02, 2009
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starstarstarstar 		Who is at my feeder?
by: Ter

Something is pulling the little yellow flowers out of my feeders (to enlarge the holes?) every night. Is it bats?
Jun 29, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Grey bird at hummingbird feeder
by: Cindy, HIgh Desert mountains, CA

I get so excited when the Orioles come! Aside from being beautiful, they sing beautifully. I get the Scotts and the Hooded... so far. I haven't identified a Catbird in and around my yard yet. I know I have an Ash Throated Flycatcher that's really shy.. that keeps checking out the feeder. And a Says Phoebe.
I have a Mockingbird that comes to the porch and drinks from the bird bath., but I have never seen it at the hummingbird feeder. Let me know when you find out!! Could you get a picture??
Jun 29, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		unusual grey bird at our feeder
by: Jo

We've had the usual hummers and various kinds of orioles at our feeders for a couple of years, but this summer for the last few weeks we've seen a large grey bird that seems to be a catbird. It is gray with a black fuzzy cap. I can't seem to see the brown under the tail that the book says should be there, but don't know any other bird like this one. it reminds me of a mockingbird, but it isn't. Pretty sure it's a catbird. It hides in the redbud or lilac and swoops in to feed.
Jun 17, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Ravenous Finches
by: Anonymous

I have a whole FLOCK of finches who took over my hummingbird feeder. It makes me sad that I can't use the one with perches anymore, because the hummers are afraid of the bigger birds, and I cannot enjoy watching the hummers sit and drink. =(
I feed all sorts of birds, but I wanted my hummers to have the nectar!
May 25, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		I have one too!
by: Anonymous

Yes!
You are so right. It is a Hooded Oriole. I've since gotten a field guide to North American birds. Its a wonderful book. So much information.
They are fruit eaters as well. So they will steel a bit of Nectar occasionally!

I've since had a Ladder-backed Woodpecker's entire family eat from time to time, their fledglings, the Verdin..(tiny little bird), and the Scott's Oriole. Beautiful bird.

This year I have several different species of Hummingbirds too. Its really awesome to see. They're busy this summer!

I have feeders spread out. To help the little hummers see the incoming traffic this year! Goodness! They are just amazing to watch.
Thanks for the heads up on this pretty bird!
Cindy, High Desert Mtns, Calif.
May 25, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I Hve one too! In Riverside, CA
by: Anonymous

The big yellow bird is called a Hooded Oriole!! Does anyone know why they are eating hummingbird nectar??
May 12, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		The same bird at my hummingbird feeder
by: Northwest Indiana

I have the same bird at my hummingbird feeder. He sits on the feeder and drinks. I looked it up and it is a Northern Oriole. Beautiful bird, bigger than a house finch and the color is a gold on the breast with a black tail and black wings. The first time I've seen then here.
May 10, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		house finch
by: Anonymous

I have a pair of house finches who visit my hummingbird feeders daily. Haven't seen anything else besides the Baltimore Oriole on it.
May 04, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Re; Finches loving Hummbird food
by: Anonymous

I have House finches.. ALL over the place here. And I have never seen them at the feeder!! I've heard that they will visit them.I personally haven't seen them do it here.. in So. Cal, too!
They do come and tear up my patio furniture for nesting material.. as do the Cactus Wrens.. but I have not seen them at the feeder yet.
I was outside though with the little Hummers one day.. and saw a new bird (for me) at the feeders!! They are called the Verdin. They are smaller than Chickadees even.. I was so surprised to see another species.. almost as small as the little Hummingbirds, But they look nothing like them. They didn't seem to mind me moseying around my patio so I snapped a few pictures. A little white bird with a very lemon yellow head..with dark grayish black striped wings and tail. They were amazing to watch.. they tried every which way to figure that Hummer feeder out.. even hung upside down on the bottom of it.. wondering where the goodies were! Then they figured it out.. with beak pressed firmly in the flowers.. they were drinking away.. then BAM!! Like a little Jet from nowhere came one of the little Hummers.. and chased them away! She then, a female Rufous.. sat there ever so proudly.. guarding that feeder, for a bit. Even though I have three or four feeders.
Like you, prior to this.. I didn't know that the feeder would benefit other types of birds. I am very knew at this.. but loving my Bird Audubon!
I think I will submit a picture of the Verdin on the feeder.. and title it.. Move over Hummers!!Thank you for response!!
Cinfy
May 04, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Finches loving hummingbird food
by: Anonymous

Hello, ditto here - I found your post while googling what I thought was strange behavior - finches and hummers fighting it out in my yard over the hummingbird feeders. But in our case, if the male HB is around, he will pester the finches until they leave, pulling off cool fencing like maneuvers with his beak.
So, I'm relieved to learn our finches are not crazy!
We're in SoCal.
May 03, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Its an Orchard Oriole! Lisa
by: Cindy

Some call it a Bullocks Oriole.. but my Audubon says differently, with the same bird in pictures. Isn't it neat to see Birds with such striking color? It was a surprise to me too, being new to backyard bird watching. To see something so big on my feeder. In contrast to the little Hummers.. it was Giant! lol
Some other birds that go to the HB feeder aside from the woodpecker, around here anyway.. is also The Verdin. Its a tiny little bird about 4 to 4 1/2 inches long.. whiteish on the body with a very lemon yellow head cover.. and dark wings and tail. I have now added them to the pictures of different birds on my HB feeder. All of these birds are fruit eaters or drink from fruit.. and out here in the desert.. I can't think of anywhere they can get that. Must be some desert plant. So they are really enjoying the feeders. But Boy did one of the regular female Hummers come diving in at them to chase them away! Then she sat so proudly watching her feeder for a time!
Hope you get to see many NEW birds!!
Cindy
May 03, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I saw the same thing today!!
by: Lisa Hoover

I just saw the same type of bird that is in your picture eating from my hummingbird feeder. I've noticed this bird around my yard for the last week or so and it was so pretty but I'm new to bird feeding and didn't know what kind of bird it was. Then this morning I looked out the window and there he sat on my hummingbird feeder drinking away!!
Apr 11, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Thank you so much!
by: Cindy

Wow... the house finches? I've yet to see that. Them drinking from the HB feeder. I have them all over the place. Its not like
I am constant vigil of the feeders either though. Maybe so! Yes, they have wonderful feeders for the fruit eaters.. ha ha..(Orioles and such) But then I have way to many squirrels around the place.. and they can reap havoc on my gardens.
The one bird that has surprised me the most that I have seen on there is the ladder-backed woodpecker.. to which I think I will submit a picture an article about. Just the surprise of one being on there.
It would seem as if the sapsucker may be enticed by the smell of the nectar.. but the ladder-backed? They resemble each other a great deal. the yellow bellied sapsucker and the ladder-backed woodpecker. I am not a knowledgeable bird watcher.. but I am learning about my experiences. Could be that many woodpeckers would find the nectar enticing.
Thank you for the compliment..(the picture)
Cindy
Apr 11, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Great shot, Cindy!
by: Anonymous

The house finches LOVE my hummingbird feeders, and will drain them in short order. Orioles are pretty well known to come to feeders - there are feeders made just for orioles, but in my region (northern Louisiana), the orioles pass through pretty quickly.

I've seen my first hummer, but this early, they tend to busy themselves with the nest building, so I haven't hung the feeders out yet. I'm ready, though! I love summer!
Apr 07, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Alas.. the visitor is identified!!
by: Cindy

Thank you for the compliment on on the picture!! Since this beautiful little "Orchard Oriole", seems to be calling our place home for a while.. I've since gotten clearer shots of him.
He doesn't seem to chase off the hummers when they come, they'll even perch in the same tree.. a bit away.. and watch each other.
The little Hummers are fairly "Bold Little things" that have a pretty unique defense strategy, all of their own. They never seem worried.
None the less.. it is exciting to see what other birds will frequent the HB feeders. Orioles are so brilliantly colored, and have such a unique sound. One feels as if they are in the rain forest!!
That's it!! That's what happening to your nectar! If its disappearing fast and you see nothing!!
Keep your eyes on it. You may get a pleasant surprise.
Again, thank you for the compliment.
Apr 07, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		How Sweet!
by: Anonymous

AAWWwww!!
Well, my humming Bird feeder went empty REAL fast but I didn't see any around it!
Your story would explain how the nectar disappeared so fast!!
GREAT picture!!

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