when i was in colorado with my grandparents they took the feeders in sometime in september to november they ahd too otherwise the hummingbirds would stay and die

tbryanok - no disrespect to your grands but thats a myth.

dcroutt - are you positive it is/was a rubythroat? More NE people see rufous in their yards in fall/winter than rubythroats. Rufous are tough little boogers and can take a lot of cold as long as they have sugar for energy.

I was wondering the same thing about it maybe being a rufous.

Sidk is right keeping a feeder our during the fall and winter. This will not cause the hummingbirds to stay. It is a myth. Their instinct is to migrate southward and they do regardless of feeders being out or a garden full of their favorite flowers. I do keep a couple of feeders out because of the rufus and other hummingbirds that are known to winter in the lower southern states. I have not seen one yet thought. Did see a rufous at Orange Beach, Al last Feb.

I have had 2 Anna's with me all fall and so far..today there was a 3rd! This is the first time I've ever had any overwinter..but our winters are quite mild here.

dcroutt - Am very interested to see an update on your little hummer...Likely it was not a rubythroat but a rufous. And although they can sometimes withstand a few days of freezing temps, chances are they don't survive too many prolonged freezes. Where are you located in CT? Do you have a feeder out?