Listen Closely And You Might Be Able To Hear The Hummingbirds Singing In Your Yard

Does it ever feel like you learn something new almost every day? It's always exciting to find new facts about your favorite feathered friends, and discovering that hummingbirds actually sing might be one of the most interesting bird facts around! These tiny creatures are coveted among people who spend their time watching or bringing birds to their yards, and the benefits of attracting hummingbirds to your yard include pollination and pest service. But did you know that they also provide a birdsong that is very unique and surely special to hear? Anna's hummingbirds and Costa hummingbirds are the two species of these birds that are different for their songs, as most hummingbirds only use calls. Within these, it is only the males who sing, in order to help them find a mate.

Can you play favorites when it comes to bringing birds to your yard? It surely isn't frowned upon to want to encourage specific species to visit, and hummingbird's are certainly a popular choice for many avian fans. Their quick wings and bright colors make them exciting to watch, and their dietary choices make it easy to keep them fed. Knowing that certain species can sing, too, gives you even more reason to bring them to your yard.

Not every species can sing in the general sense of the word, but Anna's hummingbirds and Costa's hummingbirds make a series of sounds that produces a strange yet special bird song. Some species offer calls during certain times of day, like the Ruby Throated hummingbird which relays theirs at dawn, but these are small chirps, whirrs, and tweets. Singing is different and certainly something worth hearing. Calls are usually shorter and don't include as many varying sounds, while Anna's and Costa's males produce longer, more drawn out melodies (if you can call them that).

The pattern of their song is what sets it apart from standard bird call, and incorporates buzzing sounds, whistles that follow more of a tune, and "chipping," which they might either do once or repeat. Anna's males do this as a part of their courtship to females, and it accompanies a dance performed in midair to attract their attention. The effect is a cute serenade of chirps and whistles and buzzing that is faint for humans, but must work for female birds as the species hasn't gone extinct!

While Anna's hummingbirds are native to the Western Hemisphere, Costas can also be found in desert regions and are known to sing. Most hummingbird species don't make noises because their voice boxes are too small to facilitate vocalizations. If you live where these two singing species do, you might get to hear them during mating season.

If you're hoping to actually hear Anna's hummers sing their unusual song that sets them apart from other variations, it might be ideal to keep an eye during their mating seasons, which fall during winter and early summer. You're most likely to hear them singing their odd tune when trying to woo a female, so observe them closely for signs of aerial courtship and dive bombing, both of which are part of the process. The sound is tiny, but will definitely create a new memory with your feathered pals. You can attract hummingbirds like the Anna's and Costas by adding plant varieties like cinnamon fern to gardens. You can even DIY feeders out of recyclables, which can help keep your home eco-friendly, too!