Hummingbirds |
Facts About Hummingbirds That You May Not Have Read Before
There are many birds found on earth. Some birds are large in size while some birds are very small and cute in size. Hummingbirds or hummers are a group of birds named for the humming sound produced by the continuous flapping of their wings. Read on to know interesting facts about hummingbirds.
There Are More Than 330 Species Of Hummingbirds
These small and beautiful birds are native to the Americas from Canada and Alaska through Argentina, Chile as well as Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
More than 330 species of hummingbirds are found in North and South America. Common species of these birds are broad-tailed, calliope hummingbird, ruby-throated, black-chinned hummingbird, rufous and Anna's hummingbird.
Broad-tailed. This species of hummingbird is a broad-tailed hummingbird and mostly these birds live in hilly areas. This species can be seen in the west from Canada, America to Guatemala and Mexico.
Calliope Hummingbird. This species is the smallest bird of America. Calliope Hummingbird is the smallest bird of the United States with bright feathers, apart from this it is also found in Canada and Mexico.
Ruby Throated. This species of hummingbird migrates to northeastern America during summer and when winter arrives, they travel to Central America and Mexico.
Black-chinned Hummingbird. The smallest birds of this species are black, green and purple in color and migrate to Mexico along the west coast of the United States.
Rufous Hummingbird. Rufous hummingbird is the longest traveling species of hummingbird. This bird travels up to 3000 km from its nest. Rufous hummingbird is mostly found in the western parts of the United States from Alaska south to Mexico.
Anna's Humming Birds. They are known as medium-sized hummingbirds and have a long tongue, they drink the nectar of flowers with a long tongue. This bird is omnivorous, it eats insects in addition to the nectar of flowers in its diet.
The Scientific Name Of Hummingbird Is Trochilidae
The scientific name of hummingbird is Trochilidae. Hummingbirds have very good hearing ability. The eyesight of hummingbirds is also very sharp, due to which ultraviolet rays of light can also be seen, apart from this they can also see those colors which humans cannot see.
Hummingbirds Are Native To America
Hummingbirds These beautiful birds are native to America. These birds are mostly widely distributed and spread from the geographical areas of South-Central Alaska to Tierra del Fuego and the Caribbean.
Most populations of these birds can be found in tropical and subtropical regions, while some populations can be located in temperate regions. Hummingbirds prefer to live in areas where there are enough flowers for their needs.
In the United States, habitats such as dry scrub, near arctic pine forests, coastal lowlands, tropical rainforests, alpine tundra and desert oasis meet the requirement of these birds. Apart from this, the nesting habits of hummingbirds are widely distributed along temperate and tropical habitats.
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Hummingbirds Are Brightly Colored In Appearance
These birds are brown and red, blue, orange in color. The species of hummingbirds are brightly colored in appearance. But in these the female members are larger, the males are more vibrantly shaded with many adornments and it can be said that among the two sexes the males look comparatively more beautiful to look at.
Hummingbirds Feed Every 10 To 15 Minutes
Hummingbirds mostly eat their food in the morning and during the day but are sometimes seen hunting in lighted places during the night. Apart from the nectar of flowers, hummingbirds also eat small insects, ants, mosquitoes and wasps.
Hummingbirds feed frequently, these birds feed every 10 to 15 minutes, hovering over 1000 to 2000 flowers throughout the day. Hummingbirds drink the nectar of flowers by moving their tongue in and out about 13 times per second and their tongue is W-shaped.
Hummingbirds Hang Themselves Upside Down
Hummingbirds sometimes fall asleep and then go into a state of shelter, which is called torpor. In which the sleeping bird looks like a dead bird.
In this state, someone can even touch it, but there is no possibility of the hummingbird waking up. Then during the day when the weather is hot, these birds wake up and it takes them 20 minutes to 1 hour to wake up.
When hummingbirds go into a state of torpor, they hang themselves upside down. Hummingbirds first search for food after waking up from sleep and eat 25% more than their daily intake.
Hummingbirds Weigh 3 To 4 Grams
Most species of hummingbirds are found in South Africa and the smallest hummingbird of these beautiful bird species is only 2 inches long and weighs less than 2 grams. Hummingbirds are beautiful in appearance, bright and have a thin beak. These small birds weigh 3 to 4 grams.
Hummingbirds Have Very Small Legs
Hummingbirds have very small legs, due to which they are used for sitting. You will be surprised to know that hummingbirds cannot walk or jump due to their small legs. Hummingbirds also have a sharp memory and it can be said that hummingbirds are one of the intelligent birds.
Hummingbirds Have A Large Brain
These small birds have a large brain, which weighs up to 2.4% of the total body weight of the bird. Hummingbirds also recognize flowers that have been seen before, apart from this, it also finds out when these flowers will be filled with juice again.
Communication In Hummingbirds Is Mostly Vocal And Visual
Communication in hummingbird species is mostly vocal and visual. In fact, hummingbird vocalizations show a considerable range and are usually species-specific.
Both sexes, males and females, of these species display special voice patterns, which can range from a high pitch in some species to a sweet tone in others.
Hummingbirds Beat Their Wings At A Speed Of 80 Times Per Second
Anna hummingbirds are the fastest flying hummingbird species. Anna hummingbirds can fly at an average speed of about 55 miles per hour.
The speed of a hummingbird flying in one direction is 25 to 30 miles per hour and apart from this it can dive in the air at a speed of 50 miles per hour. Hummingbirds beat their wings at a fast speed of 80 times per second.
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Hummingbirds Travel About 500 Miles In One Go
Hummingbirds These birds are the smallest migratory birds but they do not live in flocks like other birds. Hummingbirds mostly travel long distances alone and can travel about 500 miles at a time.
Hummingbirds are the only birds among birds that can fly upside down. Apart from this, hummingbirds can fly right-left and forward-backward like helicopters.
When Hummingbirds Fly, Their Heart Beats 1260 Times Per Second
When hummingbirds fly in the air, their heart beats 1260 times per second. When this bird is at rest, its heart beats 250 times per second which is more than a human.
Hummingbirds do not flap their wings but they move in the shape of 8. Hummingbirds move their wings so fast that it produces a humming sound.
Hummingbirds Can Fly In Different Directions And In The Opposite Direction
Hummingbirds control the wind and it can stop suddenly in the air. Hummingbirds can fly in different directions and in the opposite direction. These birds travel regardless of the time during their migration, even in the summer season.
There are some species of hummingbirds that stay in their place all year round. Many hummingbirds can survive without migration. For example, some species of Anna's hummingbird no longer migrate. It lives year-round on the northwest coast of the US and parts of Canada.
Hummingbirds Come Together Only For The Purpose Of Mating And Later Go Their Separate Ways
The hummingbird breeding season begins when there is high availability of nectar. In fact, these beautiful birds come together only for the purpose of mating and later go their separate ways.
Nest building is considered to be the sole responsibility of the female bird. Females build either a cup-shaped, or dome-shaped nest on branches or bushes, or trees.
Hummingbirds mostly breed between March and July. In these birds, the female lays two eggs. The incubation period of these birds varies from 14 to 23 days, depending on factors such as ambient temperature or the species involved.
Hummingbird Eggs Are Very Small In Size
Hummingbirds are very small in size, due to which the size of their eggs is also very small. Their eggs are as big as a pea and weigh up to 0.4 grams. Their chicks stay in the nest for 3 weeks, after which they leave the nest.
Hummingbirds Are Endangered Species
There are no exact details about the total population of hummingbirds. But currently a total of 330 species of hummingbirds have been identified and recorded which are found all over the world.
Let us also tell you that according to the IUCN Red List, the conservation status of hummingbirds is listed as endangered species.
Hummingbird Lives For 3 To 5 Years
The average lifespan of a hummingbird is about 3-5 years. But these beautiful birds are becoming endangered and along with this their lifespan is also decreasing.
Hummingbirds Are Quite Aggressive
These beautiful bird species are known to display gentle and friendly nature. But these birds are quite aggressive and can lose their temper when provoked.
Hummingbirds Facts For Kids
1. What is special about hummingbirds?
Hummingbirds are also known as hummingbirds. Hummingbirds or hummers are a group of birds named for the humming sound produced by the constant flapping of their wings.
2. How do hummingbirds look?
Hummingbirds are brown and red, blue, orange in appearance. Hummingbirds are brightly colored in appearance. Although the female members are larger, the males are more vibrantly shaded with many adornments.
3. How big is a hummingbird?
The smallest hummingbird of their species is only 2 inches long and weighs less than 2 grams. Hummingbirds are bright in appearance and have a thin beak. They weigh around 3 to 4 grams.
4. How big is a hummingbird egg?
Hummingbirds are very small in size, due to which the size of their eggs is also very small. Their eggs are the size of a pea, weighing up to 0.4 grams.
5. How do hummingbirds build their nests?
Nests are considered to be the sole responsibility of the female bird. The female builds a cup-shaped, or dome-shaped nest either on branches or bushes, or trees.
6. How do hummingbirds fly?
Hummingbirds mostly travel long distances alone. Hummingbirds travel about 500 miles at a time. Hummingbirds are the only birds among birds that can fly upside down. Hummingbirds can fly right-left and forward-backward like helicopters.
7. In which country is the hummingbird found?
Hummingbirds are native to the Americas from Canada and Alaska through Argentina, Chile, as well as Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
8. How long does a hummingbird live?
The average lifespan of a hummingbird is about 3-5 years. But these birds are becoming endangered and their lifespan is decreasing.
9. How many species of hummingbirds are there?
There are more than 330 species of hummingbirds in North and South America. Common species are the broad-tailed, calliope hummingbird, ruby-throated, black-chinned hummingbird, rufous, and Anna's hummingbird.
10. What do hummingbirds eat?
Hummingbirds feed mostly in the morning and during the day but sometimes hunt in lighted places during the night. Apart from nectar from flowers, they also eat small insects, ants, mosquitoes, and wasps.