Nest in the Hummingbird Aviary

Here’s the easy way to see an active hummingbird nest: in the Hummingbird Aviary at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. At least, it is easy if you are in Arizona or will be coming through in the spring. The Museum could call its hummingbird exhibit “the Hummingbird Nursery” for these few spring months.

This was not the only active nest in the Hummingbird Aviary. There are other nests about, including a Costa’s Hummingbird nest near the entrance with at least one baby in it. With nests here and there in the Aviary, it is not always clear if a nest is active. The nest pictured below has a few droppings on the outside, which suggests that there may be chicks in it, hidden below the nest’s rim.

Anna’s Hummingbird nest

This Anna’s Hummingbird nest still had one chick in the nest last week. I did not see it exercising its wings when I was there – perhaps it was too young, perhaps it was the wrong time of the day. But I was lucky enough to catch one feeding session.

It is an amazing experience to be so close to an active nest in the Hummingbird Aviary. The mothers are alert but basically unafraid. Nests can be within several feet of the paths. Visitors can watch the mothers and the babies openly. It is delightful to see them in action.

This is an unparalleled opportunity to see hummingbird babies and mothers up very close. If you are a hummingbird fan, visit or take a look at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum website or Facebook page.

If you go to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, plan an extra time for the Hummingbird Aviary. It is close to the museum entrance, in the Pollination exhibit area. The Aviary has many benches, the pathways are accessible, and the exhibit is not huge, all things that make for great viewing. But there may be many other visitors, so be prepared to be patient. And while it may not always be possible to get clear photos (depending on distance to the nest, plants, and your camera), being in the Aviary is a wonderful experience.

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Hummingbirds at the Desert Botanical Garden

The hummingbirds are busy and plentiful at the beautiful Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona at this time of year. The Wildflower Loop Trail is the center of a lot of hummingbird action right now, but you can find the birds throughout the Garden. We have seen Anna’s, Costa’s and Black-chinned Hummingbirds. Scroll down for a quick look at a few of the hummingbirds at the Desert Botanical Garden, with a note as to where the bird was spotted.

Anna’s Hummingbird at Penstemon flower

This female was working the flower beds on the Wildflower Loop Trail. There are many Anna’s Hummingbirds at the Desert Botanical Garden in general. They are very active on the Wildflower Loop this spring.

Costa’s Hummingbird in an Ironwood tree

A male Costa’s … or males … can be seen (if you are lucky) and heard on the Wildflower Loop Trail. We have heard the male doing his courtship dives on several different days.

Black-chinned Hummingbird at an Ocotillo

A Black-chinned male was feeding from the Ocotillo by the Garden Shop on different days. He is very fast, though. Look up as you go through the main plaza. We also saw a male Black-chinned Hummingbird discretely feeding from a Chuparosa by the table at the Patio Cafe on the Ullman Terrace.

Anna’s Hummingbird at an Aloe

This male Anna’s Hummingbird flew into the Spring Plant Sale in early March 2014. He fed from this blooming Aloe with shoppers nearby.

Anna’s Hummingbird at a flower bed

This Anna’s was in the Wildflower Loop Trail, on one of the flower bed fences. There are many Anna’s in the area, including very young Anna’s Hummingbirds. Fast chases are going on and Anna’s male(s) are singing, so you may hear more than you see.

One of the best things about seeing hummingbirds at the Desert Botanical Garden is that the birds are in the flowers, in the bushes and trees. And some of the hummingbirds are used to people. A bird might be right next to you when you spot it.

You can see hummingbirds at the Desert Botanical Garden all year, but as the weather gets hotter, you may have better luck in the shady areas. As it gets later in the spring, look for aloes that are still blooming and Chuparosa.

The popular Chihuly Exhibit will be at the DGB through mid May 2014. The Spring Butterfly Exhibit is also open until May 11, 2014. Make sure to get tickets or reservations in advance. If you go early in the morning, the Chihuly works get lovely light, and the hummingbirds are very active. The Butterfly Exhibit opens later in the morning.

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Broad-billed Hummingbird

A male Broad-billed Hummingbird showed his iridescent green and blue feathers and his striking red bill at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum this week.

Broad-billed Hummingbird

For contrast, here’s a female Broad-billed Hummingbird … or maybe an immature Broad-billed … from July 2013. This hummingbird was in the eucalyptus tree at the pathway entrance to the Arboretum’s Demonstration Garden.

A Broad-billed Hummingbird male was also working the Mexican Honeysuckle in the Hummingbird Garden and along the path. It can be difficult to see the beautiful, iridescent colors on the Broad-billed Hummingbird.

In some light, the Broad-billed Hummingbird just looks very dark.

We have often seen a male Broad-billed Hummingbird in the heavy shade near the feeders and the bench in the Hummingbird Garden. You may also hear him making chittering sounds and chasing off other hummers in defense of his territory.

A male Costa’s Hummingbird was also feeding from the Hummingbird Garden flower beds on the day we were there.

If you make it out to the Arboretum soon, keep an eye on the blooming aloes on the path that slopes down from the entrance. We saw at least one Anna’s Hummingbird feeding from the flowers quite close to the path.

The flowers are looking fantastic at the Arboretum this early March and the birds, butterflies, and bees are very active.

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Costa’s Hummingbird

This male Costa’s Hummingbird was working the blooming desert flowers at Boyce Thompson Arboretum this week.

Costa’s Hummingbird

Costa’s Hummingbirds migrate through central Arizona but move on for the summer. Boyce Thompson Arboretum has blooming aloe stalks, penstemons and salvias now, and this Costa’s Hummingbird had many choices of flowers. He stayed around the Arboretum’s Demonstration Garden courtyard for several hours during mid afternoon. When the Costa’s Hummingbird did disappear, he soon returned. He is small and busy, but he made it relatively easy to find and see him, given a little time and binoculars.

There is also a hummingbird feeder in the Palo Verde tree at the edge of the courtyard. A few male Anna’s Hummingbirds were battling over that feeder, while several Anna’s females came and went. We did see the Costa’s Hummingbird use the feeder briefly, but he was mostly feeding from the many, many flowers in the immediate area.

There is plenty of hummingbird action down the path to the Hummingbird Garden and even among the plants set out for sale to visitors at the entrance.

It seems to be an early but gorgeous spring at the Arboretum. Red, pink, yellow, and purple flowers are in bloom, and birds and butterflies are busy working them.

Thanks to Arboretum staff for help and good information. Check out their website for many Spring activities. (Note: If you head out on a Saturday or Sunday this March, plan around the Renaissance Faire traffic.)

Anna’s Hummingbirds are back

Nesting season begins

Side view picture of a male Anna’s Hummingbird with dark red feathers on his head and throat. He is perching on a twig, leaning slightly forward, and looking up and to the side. — Male Anna’s Hummingbird

This Anna’s Hummingbird male claimed our central Arizona backyard and has been around all winter.

But he was usurped earlier this week … by an Anna’s Hummingbird female.

Side view picture of a female Anna's Hummingbird perched on a very thin and thorny twig. She is looking to the side. Her feathers are mostly green and light gray, with a patch of color on her throat. — Female Anna’s Hummingbird

She arrived in December but began fighting to claim the feeder recently. There are several other Anna’s Hummingbirds, both males and females, regularly visiting.

But she is now the one guarding the feeder.

And she has a reason: she is feeding baby hummingbirds in a nest very high up in our neighbor’s Juniper tree.

Her nest is in the same tree that housed the second nest cam nest in May 2013. And for those who followed that nest cam and the rescue, those baby hummingbirds were successfully raised by WildWing Rehabilitation. The young Anna’s Hummingbirds were released by WildWing near the Desert Botanic Garden in Phoenix in July 2013.

Thank you, WildWing, for your work and care. And thank you, everyone, for your encouragement and interest.

We will be getting back to regular posting, so check back in. Thanks!

Back to home or the hummingbird pictures on the blog.