Trivia: What is the smallest bird? The Bee Hummingbird found in Cuba is the smallest bird known to exist (2.24 inches long and weighing .056 ounces). Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world and only found in the western hemisphere from Alaska south to Tierra Del Fuego, Chile. They were called "joyas voladores" (flying jewels) by the early Spanish explorers. The estimated number of different kinds of Hummingbirds ranges from 300 to 343. Hummingbirds in your backyard make for some very exciting and interesting birdwatching. There are 2 things you can do to attract hummingbirds to your yard; plant flowers and put up feeders. Good hummingbird flowers have red or orange trumpet shaped blossoms, but hummingbirds will feed at almost any brightly colored bloom that produces a good bit of nectar. Good hummer flowers include; lantana, salvia, morning glory, and 4 O’clocks. A blooming mimosa tree is as good as it gets. Hummingbird feeders work great! Put up several scattered about your yard. If you put up just one a dominant bird will claim it and run the others away. Put up a couple of feeders at the first of June, add 3 more in July and increase to 10 in August if you want to attract lots of Hummingbirds. Fill feeders with a solution made from 4 parts water and 1 part sugar. Keep the feeder clean and change the solution if it gets cloudy. Soak the feeder in a mixture of vinegar and water to remove mold.
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