These living jewels in our gardens give us the joy of watching them in their pursuit of life: drinking nectar from flowers or feeders, nabbing an insect in the air, chasing another hummingbird from their territory and using their flying acrobatics to impress their female counterparts.

They also bring the gift of efficient pollination by visiting hundreds of flowers daily to supply enough energy to support their metabolism. They devour insects for 80% of their diet.

Hummingbirds are small birds with long narrow beaks and fast wings that beat 60 to 80 times a second. They can fly forward or hover and excel at flying backward. Their tiny feet allow them to perch or scoot sideways but not to walk. This design eliminates drag in flight. Along with swifts, they belong to the order Apodiformes, meaning “footless.”

Hummingbirds measure about 5 centimeters and weigh about 2 to 20 grams, and their speed and agility are amazing. These talents may give them the confidence needed to survive in a world so much bigger and, for some, to migrate thousands of miles. The Ohlone tribe of Santa Clara Valley named Mount Umunhum for the word meaning “resting place of the hummingbird.”

The three species of hummingbirds that live or migrate through Marin are Anna’s hummingbirds, which are year-round residents on the West Coast; Allen’s hummingbirds, which arrive in early winter; and Rufous hummingbirds, which just pass through, spending summer in Alaska and winter in Mexico.

Anna’s hummingbirds are gray on the front and iridescent green on the back. The male hummingbirds have glittering magenta heads, while the female hummingbirds have only a few bright patches on their throats. The colors tease, appearing black, magenta or green depending on the angle viewed. The male Anna’s hummingbird is famous for his song, but he also produces a remarkable sound with his tail feathers.

Allen’s hummingbirds have rusty red flanks with green backs. They breed along the coast from Southern California to Oregon. They are closely related to the Rufous hummingbird and similar in appearance.

Rufous hummingbirds fly

3,900 miles for one of the longest known hummingbird migratory flights, from Alaska to Mexico. Other hummingbirds that either fly through or reside in California are the black-chinned, Calliope and Costa’s hummingbirds.

Male hummingbirds court female hummingbirds by soaring upward and then diving at high speed, which ends in a loud squeak produced by spreading their tail. The female hummingbirds are the sole nest builders and caregivers of the babies. She builds a cup-like nest woven with spiderwebs, lichens and other materials, and lays two eggs about the size of jellybeans. The babies are fed nectar, small insects and spiders.

To attract these birds to our gardens, we must provide habitat, food and water. This means growing colorful nectar-producing plants available all year long. Hummingbirds are attracted to red. Provide clean water and don’t use pesticides. Feeders can be used year-round but must be kept clean and free from ants and bees.

Here are some manzanitas that hummingbirds find irresistible: Arctostaphylos densiflora, which blooms in fall and winter, and the ground cover Arctostaphylos ‘Emerald Carpet,’ which blooms from winter into spring when few plants are in bloom. There are many choices for spring and summer blooming plants: western columbine, Aquilegia formosa; pitcher sage, Lepechinia fragrans; and honeysuckle vines Lonicera hispidula and orange spring bloomer Lonicera ciliosa.Many salvias bloom in spring and summer. Some that attract hummingbirds are Salvia clevelandii, Salvia spathacea, also known as the hummingbird sage, and Salvia ‘Amistad,’ which blooms into fall. The plant known as orange bunny ears, Cuphea ‘Strybing Sunset,’ blooms almost constantly. California fuchsia, Epilobium canum, is a summer and fall bloomer.

Some succulent blooms hummingbirds appreciate are fox tail agave, Agave attenuata; torch aloe, Aloe arborescens; live forever, Dudleya farinosa; and red hot poker, Kniphofia.

For more plants, go to marinmg.ucanr.edu/plants/pollinator_habitats">marinmg.ucanr.edu/plants/pollinator_habitats.

Sponsored by UC Cooperative Extension, the University of California Marin Master Gardeners provides science- and research-based information for Marin home gardeners. Email questions to helpdesk@marinmg.org. Attach photos for inquiries about plant pests or diseases. Please call 415-473-4910 to see when a master gardener will be at the office or drop off samples 24/7 in the sample box outside the office. To attend a gardening workshop or subscribe to Leaflet, a free quarterly e-newsletter, go to marinmg.ucanr.edu.