Hummingbirds are one of the most popular birds in the world, yet we are so ignorant about them. In this article, we will be sharing some really amazing hummingbird facts.
These hummingbird facts will help you in appreciating this bird even more.
20 Amazing Hummingbird Facts Everyone Should Know!
Can hummingbirds fly backward?What is the weight of hummingbirds? What is the size of hummingbirds? Can hummingbirds really think?
If you want to know the answers to these questions and more hummingbirds facts. Read this article we are going to reveal all amazing hummingbird facts.
Hummingbirds Quote
1. Hummingbird Species:
There are 360 hummingbirds species discovered till now. These are new world birds so their new species discovered every year.
These are having very interesting names like Olive-spotted hummingbird, White-bellied Hummingbird, Green-fronted hummingbird, Garnet-throated hummingbird, Violet-chested hummingbird, etc.
Hummingbirds live in the United States of America. The origin of hummingbirds is in South America. Hummingbirds’ biological family name is Trochilidae. They are further divided into two sub-families named Hermit Hummingbirds and Typical Hummingbirds.
2. Weight Of Hummingbirds:
As described above, there are 360 hummingbirds species. Hummingbirds are in all sorts of shapes, colors, and sizes. There is a difference between the weight of hummingbirds before migration and in normal conditions. The average weight of hummingbird is approximately 4g, while before migration it raised to 8g.
Hummingbird is also known as the smallest bird because the bee hummingbird is the smallest of all. Its weight is about less than 2g. On the other hand, giant hummingbirds are ten times of bee hummingbird in weight. Giant hummingbird weight is about 20g.
3. Fact About Hummingbirds Nest:
Female hummingbirds always build the nest for laying eggs.Male hummingbirds do not provide any support in building a nest or providing food.
If you are going to find a hummingbirds nest then do not do it. This will be a waste of time and effort. Hummingbirds nest is very tiny in size and very hard to locate. They blend their nest into their surroundings.
Hummingbirds want to protect their nest from the rain so they make sure that top of the nest is covered. If you are looking from the top then it will remain invisible.
Hummingbirds Nest Fact
Nest of a hummingbird is made up of sprigs and leaves. Hummingbirds cover their nest with the fiber of plants. They also use spider web to cover all sides of the nest to make it strong. Their nest is reusable due to its strength.
Hummingbirds do not use any birdhouse.Buying birdhouses for hummingbirds is not a good idea.
Hummingbirds are tiny birds and have a very high beat of wings. They can flap their wings up to 80 times per second. Yes, you got it right 80 times per second.
Giant hummingbirds have the lowest beat which is 15 times per second. On a normal flight hummingbirds can flap their wings 53 times per second.
5. The Heart Rate Of Hummingbird:
Hummingbirds have a very high heart rate. The human ear is unable to hear that heartbeat because it is too low for the human ear. Hummingbirds’ heart rate is recordedmaximum at 1260 beats per minute. Which means 20 beats per second.
Facts About The Heart Rate of Hummingbirds
Obviously heartbeats vary from specie to specie. The minimum heartbeat of hummingbirds recorded at 250 beats per minute.
6. Hummingbird Facts – Lifespan:
Normally Hummingbirds do not live for very long. Their average lifespan is 3-5 Years. The recorded maximum life span of a hummingbird is 14 Years.
7. Hummingbirds Eating Capacity And Digesting Speed:
Hummingbirds need something to consume every time because of their fast metabolism. They always feel hungry and keep searching for food. Mostly their diet is consists of nectar, insects, and spiders.
Hummingbirds cannot sleep in a normal way. They are always in a hibernation state which means they do not go in a deeper sleep. Their hibernation is known as torpor.
Due to their extra fast metabolism, they can convert nectar into energy within 20 minutes. They are having almost 97% efficiency to convert nectar into energy.
Hummingbird Digesting Efficiency
Hummingbirds having the capacity to lick 10 to 15 times in a second at the time of eating.
8. Hummingbird Migration Facts:
Hummingbirds are migrating birds. They migrate with the change in weather. They like to live in warm weather. There are only eight species who do not migrate with the change in weather.
In winter they migrate to Central America and in spring they migrate to northern America before breeding. They migrate according to the sun in the sky.
Hummingbirds do not migrate in flocks like other birds. They migrate individually but on the same day every year. There is a specie of hummingbirds named Rufous hummingbirds. They have the longest migration of 6000 KM between the state of Alaska and Mexico.
Hummingbirds Migration Fact
9. Hummingbird Sense Of Smell And Vision:
Hummingbirds have a very strong sense of sight. They can distinguish between colors. They like to get nectar from orange and red flowers.
Bird feeders of orange and red colors can also be used to attract hummingbirds.
They have no sense of smell.They cannot choose plants or flowers due to their fragrance.
10. Hummingbird Size Facts:
According to the size, hummingbirds are the smallest birds. Average hummingbirds species are of 3-5 inch length.
The smallest specie of hummingbirds is bee hummingbirds. The length of Bee hummingbird is 2 inches. Giant hummingbird is the largest hummingbirds’ specie with 9 inches length.
11. Can Hummingbird Fly Backward? Best Feature
You may have seen a lot of birds flying. This question must arise in your mind can any bird fly backward? So the answer is yes. This is one of the best hummingbirds facts.
Hummingbirds are the only birds who have the ability to fly backward. Studies reveal, it takes no extra energy of hummingbird to fly backward.
Can Hummingbirds Fly Backward
12. Hummingbird Facts – Memory:
Hummingbirds have a very sharp memory. Studies have proved that hummingbirds have a larger hippocampus as compared to other birds.Hummingbirds have a larger appetite and they visit many flowers a day.
It is concluded in the study that hummingbirds remember each flower they visited. They do not revisit those flowers until the refilling cycle is complete.
Hummingbirds can locate each flower according to its nectar ability and quality of nectar.
13. Can Hummingbird Think?
Hummingbird is very popular in researchers due to his extraordinary thinking abilities. The brain size of a hummingbird is 4.2% of its body.
There was research conducted in which some artificial flowers were placed. Their refill pattern was different from each other. Some were refilled after 10 minutes and others after 20 minutes.
You will not believe that they can differ between 10 and 20 minutes. They revisit after 10 minutes to only those flower which have 10 minutes refill interval.
That Study proved that hummingbirds have thinking ability and their mind has recall as well.
Hummingbirds Thinking Ability
14. Is Hummingbird Mate For Life?
Hummingbird does not mate for life. Male hummingbirds do not stay with females to feed their babies.
Female hummingbirds build nest and care for her babies. While male hummingbirds attract other females hummingbirds to their territory.
Hummingbirds are not considered as romantic because they leave females hummingbirds alone.
15. Hummingbird Dive Speed:
Hummingbirds are very fast birds in the birds’ world. Normally hummingbirds can fly with a speed of 30 miles per hour.
We cannot say, it is the maximum but recorded speed in a dive of hummingbirds is 60 miles per hour.
16. The Poor Fact of Hummingbird Feet:
Like all other birds, hummingbirds have feet. Hummingbird cannot walk with his feet like other birds. Hummingbird can only use his feet for scratching purposes.
No doubt hummingbirds’ feet is the least impressive thing. While having all other abilities I don’t think that hummingbirds had ever missed his feet.
17. Hummingbird Facts About Beak:
Hummingbirds have no doubt a very large beak. Their beak varies from species to species.
The minimum beak size of hummingbirds is 8mm and the maximum beak size of hummingbirds is 119m.Hummingbirds use their beak to lick nectar from flowers.
Facts about Hummingbirds Beak
Hummingbirds use their long beak for hunting purposes. They also fight with each other with their beaks.
18. Which Gender Of Hummingbird Select Mate?
Male hummingbirds have their territory. The territory is the area occupied by male hummingbirds. Male hummingbirds do not allow other male hummingbirds to enter. A female hummingbird is the one who chooses the mate.
A female hummingbird visits the territory of male humming. If a male hummingbird somehow manages to convince her then a female hummingbird stays there. Otherwise, a female hummingbird leaves that territory and visits another territory.
19. Hummingbird Eggs:
Female hummingbirds lay two eggs at a time. The color of the hummingbird egg is white. Their eggs are very tiny like coffee beans.
Eggs hatching vary from specie to species. Average time for eggs hatching of hummingbird between 11 – 17 days.
Hummingbirds Egg Size
Facts of Baby Hummingbird
In an article on Hummingbird facts, we cannot ignore the amazing facts about the beautiful babies of hummingbirds.
Baby hummingbirds are very small. The weight of the baby hummingbird is almost 0.62grams. Normally Baby hummingbirds start flying when they become 20 days old.
The early diet of baby hummingbirds is protein-rich. The protein-rich diet helps them in growing faster. Female hummingbirds have to carry food for them. Female hummingbird gets small insects and spiders which are protein-rich for their baby hummingbird.
Hummingbirds are very interesting birds. They are very enriched in the context of facts. Hummingbirds are small in size but a lot bigger in their features.
Flying backward is the best feature all of hummingbirds facts. Their dive speed and digesting speed are also very impressive.
Hummingbirds nest are also unique as compared to other birds because these are very strong and very hard to find.
Share in a comment which fact you like the most from all of hummingbirds facts.
I am a Blogger by profession. I have done a bachelor's in business administration. Birds are soul-comforting creatures, and I love to hear birds chirping, especially in the morning.
I am a Blogger by profession. I have done a bachelor's in business administration. Birds are soul-comforting creatures, and I love to hear birds chirping, especially in the morning.
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