Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo Hummingbird Guide
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- No boiling, no dye
- The same sugar hummingbird flowers make
- One ingredient, nothing else: 100% pure cane sugar
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Overview
Connecticut's only zoo, Beardsley Zoo has been formally designated as part of the Pollinator Pathway network and operates seven butterfly and pollinator gardens throughout its grounds. The zoo has made a concerted commitment to native plant gardening, with plantings of milkweed, bee balm, cardinal flower, coneflower, and other natives that support butterflies, bees, and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. A 2023 M&T Bank grant funded additional pollinator gardens in the surrounding Bridgeport community.
Hummingbirds to Watch For
- • Ruby-throated
Most Common Hummingbird
The most commonly sighted hummingbird at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo is the Ruby-throated.
Best Time to Visit
Plan your visit during June, July, August for the highest chance of hummingbird sightings. Early morning and late afternoon are typically the most active feeding times.
Plants and Habitat
- • Cardinal flower (*Lobelia cardinalis*)
- • Wild bergamot / bee balm (*Monarda fistulosa* and *M. didyma*)
- • Purple coneflower (*Echinacea purpurea*)
- • Common milkweed (*Asclepias syriaca*) and butterfly weed (*A. tuberosa*)
- • Beardtongue (*Penstemon digitalis*)
- • Mountain mint (*Pycnanthemum*)
NectarBloom Tip
Ask zoo staff or the Education Department about the location of the butterfly/pollinator gardens closest to the main path — they are scattered across the grounds and the best hummingbird sightings tend to occur near the cardinal flower plantings in July and August.
Visitor Notes
Admission required. Open year-round. Personal photography welcome. ADA accessible on main zoo paths.
Reviews and Sightings
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