Hummingbird Fun Facts

Here’s is a list of Hummingbird fun facts that we have gathered for you to enjoy!

(For a download a PDF of our Fun Facts Click Here)

1. Hummingbirds are only found in the Western Hemisphere
2. Only 12 of the 325 hummingbird species visit the United States
3. 11 of the 12 US hummingbirds are found on the West Coast and pockets of the Southwest
4. The Ruby-throated hummingbird is typically the only one found on the East Coast
5. Rufous hummingbirds are occasional winter vagrants on the East Coast
6. The hummingbird’s brilliant Gorget’s coloring is from the feathers arranging a pattern that give off an iridescent look and color
7. Hummingbirds have excellent eyesight and hearing, but no sense of smell
8. Hummingbirds lick the nectar with their specialty shaped tongues. They do not suck up the nectar
9. Hummingbirds cannot walk, they only use their legs to perch
10. The smallest hummingbird is the Bee hummingbird found in Cuba. It is less than 2” long and weighs less than 2 grams. It is also the world’s smallest living bird.
11. In the US the smallest humming bird is the Calliope hummingbird. Less than 4” in length and less than 4 grams in weight
12. Proportionally hummingbirds have the largest brain of all birds, their brains make up 4.2% of their total body weight
13. Hummingbirds are very smart and will come back to the same feeder or flower every year
14. 25% to 30% of a hummingbird’s weight is their flight muscles
15. Hummingbirds have the fewest feathers among all bird species averaging between 1000 to 1500 total feathers
16. A hummingbird will consume 50% of its body weight in nectar every day
17. To conserve energy hummingbirds at rest will enter into a torpor state which allows them to burn only 1/15 of their typical energy needs
18. Except for vagrants our US hummingbirds migrate to Mexico and Central America every fall and come back every spring
19. The Rufous hummingbird has the longest flight averaging around 3,000 miles. The Ruby-throated hummingbird must fly across the Gulf of Mexico in one flight averaging 500 miles
20. Hummingbirds can fly at 30 MPH. They can dive at 60 MPH
21. Hummingbirds can hover, fly backwards, and even fly upside down
22. Their wings beat between 50 to 200 flaps per sec, their heart rate is 1200 beats per minute, and they take around 250 breaths per minute
23. They are territorial birds and will aggressively protect the territory around their feeders
24. Hummingbirds do not mate for life
25. Hummingbirds are known to cross breed creating hybrid species
26. The female builds the nest and raises the brood
27. The nest will be small cup nest built in a tree or bush
28. A group of hummingbirds is called a “charm”
29. Hummingbirds have been known to live over a decade

Here’s a nice guide for beginning birdwatchers from the HomeAdvisor blog. Click Here

 

The answer to the question: "How to make hummingbird and oriole nectar?"