EASY ID
Tell male lucifers apart from other hummingbirds by a curved bill and purple neck feathers.
Q Why is the lucifer hummingbird named after the devil?
Mike Froio ROME, NEW YORK
Kenn and Kimberly: At first glance it seems shocking. You might wonder what this little bird did to deserve such a name. But the British scientist William Swainson probably wasn't thinking of the devil when he named this bird in 1827. The word lucifer has had various meanings. For example, in ancient Rome, it was the name given to the planet Venus when it appeared in the morning sky. That was appropriate, because lucifer is Latin for "light-bearer" or "light-bringer." Swainson probably chose the name after seeing how light reflected from the brilliant purple throat of the male lucifer hummingbird.
Q This plant was labeled as dogwood. What is it actually? vincent Drexler CANAL FULTON, OHIO
Melinda: The plant is a type of dogwood. But it's not the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) you may have expected. Your shrub is most likely silky dogwood (Cornus amomum), a suckering shrub that grows 6 to 10 feet tall, with small white flowers and purplish stems. Take a closer look at the growth habit, stems and leaves to confirm your plant's identity. Compare these features to detailed descriptions on botanic garden or educational websites.
Q Is fresh watermelon juice a safe snack for hummingbirds? Sonja Batchelor PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June/July 2022-Ausgabe von Birds & Blooms.
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Sense or Nonsense? - Why some birds can taste and smell - but others can't
Does a porcelain berry taste like a blueberry to a gray catbird? Does a block of lard smell like frying bacon to a northern flicker? The short answer is no. While some avian species do have a well-adapted sense of taste or smell, they can't distinguish between flavors and odors the way humans can. They're not picking up every ingredient in the suet you put out, says José Ramírez-Garofalo, an ornithology researcher at Rutgers University in New Jersey and the director of Freshkills Biological Station in Staten Island, New York.
Maple Mania - Amazing facts about this fall foliage mainstay
Amazing facts about this fall foliage mainstay
Food-Focused and Fierce - Meet Canada jays and learn why they eat almost anything they can find
Even if you haven't heard of Canada jays, you've heard of their relatives. Members of the corvid family, they belong to the same group as American crows, blackbilled magpies, and jays including blue, Steller's and scrub. "Unlike many of the other jays, a Canada jay doesn't have a crest of any kind; it just has a rounded head," says Dale Gentry, director of conservation for Audubon Upper Mississippi River.In 2018, the Canada jay's name was changed from gray jay, but Dale thinks the former adjective was fitting. "Most of its body is shades of gray with some white," he says. "There are different subspecies that have different physical traits, but most of them have some lighter coloring on their foreheads, upper breasts and throats, each with a darker streak that starts at each eye and goes back."
IN GOOD COMPANY
BIRDS OF A FEATHER MAY FLOCK TOGETHER, but what about other collectives of critters-and what do you call them when they do?
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Learn how to cultivate an oasis of grassland flora in your backyard
ON THE MOVE
Birds approach the challenges of migration in surprising ways. Learn about how they walk, swim or take the scenic route during their travels.
Autumn Wonders
Fall colors offer befitting backdrops for these stunning reader photos
Sparrow Look-Alikes
Distinct sounds help separate these similar species
Embracing the Darkness
From black plants to moody decor, Gothic garden elements can offer a unique outlet to express your dark side
Red-Hot Plants
Scarlet-hued berries add a pop of color to any garden
