found stalking them. Imagine my delight when my husband and I moved West to Arizona last year where I discovered that there wasn’t just one hummer but as many as 17 different species of the tiny gems living in and around our new home. And they are more than just marvels of nature. Despite being some of the smallest birds in the world, they have a big impact as pollinators, indicators of climate change, and in balancing insect populations. While nectar is their primary food source, they also consume spiders and insects, especially during the breeding season when protein is essential for their young. When not eating, resting, or migrating, hummingbirds are often seen using their unique agility in a high- speed chase to fiercely defend their territory and protect their young during breeding and nesting seasons. Instead of flapping their wings in flight, these little acrobats can rotate 180 degrees in a figure-eight pattern up to 80 times per second, allowing them to fly backwards, hover in place, and quickly change direction with remarkable control. In both territorial defense and mating rituals, males can be seen diving and flashing a colorful gorget, a patch of iridescent feathers on their throats that shimmer spectacularly in sunlight. These incredible qualities of the hummingbird have earned them many nicknames, from flying jewels and sun gems to hummers and warriors.
Flying Gems Rubys in the East; Myriads in the West
By Dixie Dee Whited
My youth was spent mostly barefoot. All times of the day you’d find me running up and down the hills on our Virginia farm. I wasn’t picky about what I was chasing. Maybe it was a fluffy rabbit, one of our shy horses, or in search of the illusive flitting of a gleaming Ruby-throated Hummingbird. They had bright flashes of red that reminded me of the luscious wild strawberries that dotted our summer pastures. Virginia has lots of birds, but the little hummer was my favorite winged bird to capture—although I never did. Nor did I ever find the tiny creature’s down-filled nest. Just because I never caught one or found its nest, didn’t mean I lost interest. During my youth, I only met Virginia’s lone hummingbird species—the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. To find their range, check out www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruby- throated_Hummingbird/maps-range
Now decades and decades later, I no longer run after them. Now armed with a telephoto lens, I’m often
Hummingbird map, credit William Tipton
FLYING GEMS
COAST TO COAST MAGAZINE SPRING 2026 | 11
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