Hummingbirds Spotted Sipping from Blue Lily of The Nile on Humboldt Hill

A video sent in by a reader this week shows hummingbirds visiting blue Lily of the Nile blooms on Humboldt Hill, a good excuse to look a little closer at the tiny, fast-moving neighbors many residents see daily but rarely get a good look at.

Two species make up most local sightings. Anna’s hummingbirds are year-round residents, present through every season including winter. Males are easy to spot by their iridescent rose-pink crown and throat, which can flash bright magenta depending on the light. The other common local species is Allen’s hummingbird, which nests along a narrow band of coastal habitat stretching from California into southern Oregon, making the North Coast prime territory. Both species, along with the migratory rufous hummingbird that passes through in spring and fall, are known for aggressively defending feeders and flowers.

The plant in the video, commonly called Lily of the Nile or Agapanthus, is actually native to South Africa and not a true lily, but its nectar-rich blue blooms are a well-known draw for hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.