Phil in the UK had some interesting info on birds being able to smell on his WBW post this past week. I think these song birds smell it when I've filled the hummingbird feeders. That may also be how the hummers know the feeders are full. It may not be visual at all. Most people strongly suggest the use of red for the feeders (and even the nectar, which I strongly disagree with because red dye is not natural! Nor is it needed) but in my experience, I have seen hummers feed from nectar feeders that are other colors, so I believe the olfactory sense is greater than most people have believed. I hope you enjoy the video...this kind of "jockeying for position" goes on every day here! :-)
Just to show you it isn't just the house finches, it's also the house sparrows, the verdins (who love fruit and of course go for the little feeders out front on a regular basis) and even....
the Gila Woodpeckers who get into the act! :-) Hope everyone has an awesome week!
38 comments:
the woodpecker is too cute but must cause a lot of spillage! i've had orioles and house finches visit mine (and dump a lot of sugar water, too.) :)
and, of course, squirrels!
Hello Marie, it is cool seeing the woodpecker at your hummingbird feeder..Cool photos! Have a happy weekend!
LOL! That's awesome! The woodpecker takes the cake!
Wow, the woodpecker is quite an acrobat. Enjoy your weekend!
Isn't that amazing! I've never seen it before, either! I suppose it tastes like dessert to the ones that live on bugs and seed!
Oh yes...we've had orioles and woodpeckers [and ants and bees] sipping the nectar. And I so agree with you that no red dye is needed.
Yep, The Bird D'Pot has always been open at noon Texas time zone since it began.
Thanks for sharing your link today!! Always appreciated.
I was thinking about our hummers just the other day. While I don't miss the hot temps we have while they're around, I do miss seeing them outside our kitchen window. We get loads of them at our house. They use our feeders, too, but ours seem to only like the ones that have the flat flowers/drinking holes on them. The one's that protrude... they usually ignore those. At least ours do. No clue why.
What busy and active feeders you have! I've heard there is snow in AZ .. I hope you and your hummers and song birds are staying warm. I am not sure I even know what a verdin is ... Must look that up.
Funny and beautiful photos.
haha, that´s cool. The woodpecker seem to have some trouble with it :)
I don't use red food dye bi do use red hummingbird feeders. I also believe that they smell the sweet water and that they remember where feeders are located. My hammers come back every year, often before I have put my feeders out, so they must have a good memory!!
Love the video. Who knew that woodpeckers would like some nectar! Great images!
The gila is a different bird for me. I at first thought it was a red bellied woodpecker. I really like seeing the hummers. No hummers around here as it just gets too cold.
Your pictures are awesome! I couldn't see the video.....my plug in has been blocked. sorry! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and are starting off the New Year with pleasure. We had a great time with our whole family here for Christmas. Our tree is down and I am reading books I got for Christmas. I can hardly tear myself away from reading! We have had a week of kind of mild temps and lots of sunshine...untill today....freezing rain this morning and lots of grey skies and rain all day. Hope your week is blessed!
Wonderful shots of the humming birds! and woodpecker!
artmusedog and carol
A woodpecker at a hummingbird feeder?! Now that is pretty neat! Loved watching the hummingbird as well.
By feeding on your colorless nectar I think your birds proved a point there Marie. Debbie made a valid observation too, that birds have memories and some of your birds will be ones that visited previously.
It is so interesting that woodpeckers visit for the nectar too!
A wannabe hummingbird!
They see. They smell.
They sing.
They sing Happy New Year.
That is a great shot of the woodpecker!
We've seen some other birds at our hummingbird feeders, but never a woodpecker. I enjoyed your photos and video.
It's not the red of the food that attracts them because we've never had red hummingbird food. They may smell it but they are also attracted the flower colors. And yes, they do have wonderful memories. I have read that hummers often visit hundreds of flowers each day and they remember where every flower they have ever visited is. Amazing!
We should be mindful the next time we call someone a birdbrain! I certainly can't remember everywhere I've picked up a hamburger in my life!
Wow ! Just gorgeous birds !!!
And your shots are excellent !
Have a nice week !
LOL..that woodpecker is too cute! We have a feeder down here and love our hummingbirds...I've see one other bird try to use it...but it never worked. I've never seen a flinch so far...
Aw! love this! Great photos - these birds are determined acrobats! xo Karen
Great shots of the bird feeder. I wish you a Happy New Year!
Mersad
Mersad Donko Photography
Fascinating to learn all this. I have always loved hummers and your photos are great.
Wonderful shots of the birds on the feeder.
A beautiful post for WBW!
Happy New Year to you!
A lovely variety of birds at your feeder. Great to see them all coming in for their turn.
I found it interesting that on the video the bigger birds had first turns over the Hummingbirds.
funny to see the woodpecker on the hummer feeder!
I've only once seen a humming bird (on a childhood holiday to California) but I've never forgotten it.
Love that woodpecker. I always have small birds, like Chickadees and Goldfinches, drinking water from the ant moat.
Comical pictures! Thanks for sharing!phyllis
Everybody wants in on the act!! Great shots!
A lot of birds like nectar. Around here they are big, though. And now they are gone for the winter!!!
God designed red tubular flowers for hummingbirds, but that certainly doesn't mean we should feed them poisonous red dyes, so I applaud your colorless sugar water. That's funny that the other birds like it, I love seeing the woodpecker at the feeder. I plant lots of runner beans every year with red flowers that the hummers really love.
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