Volume 42, Number 2,
February 1996:
Backyard Birds

Text-only version

ISSUE HOME PAGE

ABOUT THIS ISSUE
- about KSN
- about the author

IN THIS ISSUE
- introduction
- what do you need to go birding?
- some common backyard birds
- house finch
- American robin
- house wren
- European starling
- house sparrow
- black-capped chickadee
- northern cardinal
- ruby-throated hummingbird
- blue jay
- gray catbird
- purple martin
- downy woodpecker
- eastern bluebird
- Baltimore oriole
- American goldfinch
- the Kansas winter bird feeder survey
- acknowledgment
- owls

SLIDESHOW
View all images in this issue.

Backyard Birds
by Marvin Schwilling

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD
Ruby-throats are more than common in Kansas, they are plentiful. They are the smallest bird of this region and are among the best fliers of the bird world. They can hover, fly backward or forward or straight away, whatever they wish. The male has a green back and in some light, the throat patch looks black only to flash ruby red when the bird changes position. They have a long beak and feed on deep-throated flowers, such as honeysuckles, petunias, and trumpetvines. A flower bed of red salvia is a favorite nectaring source. They also feed on pollen and small insects.

The female builds one of the daintiest of nests on top of a downsloping branch, using lichens and spider webs. It is often located over water.

Next: Blue Jay