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Ruby-throated hummingbirds are Minnesota's smallest bird. People enjoy attracting them with both sugar water feeders and by planting flowers to attract them to their yards, according to Carrol Henderson at the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

“Some flowers have long been recognized as good nectar plants for hummingbirds, such as columbine, cardinal flower, fireweed and coral bells,” said Henderson, the DNR’s Nongame Wildlife Program supervisor.

The Nongame Wildlife Program is updating its list of the flower species and cultivars that attract hummingbirds – native or non-native. Each year there are new cultivars of garden flowers that prove attractive to hummingbirds, so the old list of hummingbird flowers that was published in the DNR's popular book "Landscaping for Wildlife" needs to be updated.

“Minnesotans can help,” Henderson said. “People who have seen hummingbirds feeding at flowers in their yard should note the name of the flower and the cultivar, if known.”

For example "Black-and-Blue Salvia" has proven to be a relatively new deep blue salvia that is extremely popular with hummingbirds.

Henderson is asking people to send a list of their favorite hummingbird flowers, based on their backyard observations, to the DNR at [email protected]. us. Information will be compiled from volunteer observers this summer and placed on the DNR Web site in time for next year's planting season.

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