Thursday, September 12, 2013

Hummingbirds.........

We are lucky enough to get Hummingbirds in our garden.  However they are now migrating south for the winter, so I thought I would share some interesting facts with you :

The smallest living bird, the Bee Hummingbird, weighs a mere 2 grams.

The male hummingbird is more colorful than the female. But the female birds are larger in size.

The heart rate of a hummingbird can vary from 250 to 1,200 beats per minute. But at night, during torpor, it can lower this from 50 to 180 beats per minute.

The maximum flight speed of a hummingbird is 30 miles per hour. But it can reach speeds up to 60 miles per hour during a dive.

Interestingly, the hummingbird flies upright, unlike other birds who fly flat.

The hummingbird can see and hear better than humans, but their sense of smell is non existent. Their taste buds are not that great either. They can only make out what is sweet and what is not.

They are able to see ultraviolet lights.

To satisfy its tremendous hunger, the hummingbird may visit up to a thousand flowers every day.

While it is feeding, this bird can lick up to 15 times per second.

These little birds are very territorial by nature. They can be quite aggressive with other males, or even insects if need be.

Although the hummingbird is the smallest in size, its brain is 4.2% of its body weight, making it the largest proportion among all birds.

The metabolism of this small bird is around a hundred times that of an elephant.

These birds are quite lonesome. They live or migrate alone. In fact, the only time they bond is while reproduction.

The hummingbird has a good memory. They remember all the flowers and places that they have visited, so much so that they return to it the next year too.

Most hummingbirds die in the first year of birth, but overall their average lifespan is 5 years, with the maximum being 12 years.

The hummingbird is probably the only bird whose predator is an insect. Praying mantis feed on them.

Hummingbirds have the most number of feathers per square inch, as compared to any other bird.

They are attracted to the color red. Hence, they are mostly seen feeding on flowers in the shade of crimson.

The largest types of species of hummingbirds are found in Ecuador.
Also check out this pdf file for more great facts.

2 comments:

Buttons Thoughts said...

Oh I did not know they were lonesome this makes me sad but admire their strength. Thanks Gill. B

One Family said...

Loved the interesting facts! We have had a few hummingbirds in our yard this summer and I enjoyed watching them so much. One or two would always come around when I was outside watering all the flowers. Their favorite flower was my huge fuschia bush planted in the ground.

{{{SIGH}}}

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