DID YOU KNOW?:
Even though Hummingbirds are the smallest bird and have physically the smallest brain they are one of the smartest birds. Hummingbirds use spiderwebs as a glue binding there tiny nests together. Whenever possible Hummingbirds will build their nest as close to a Hawk nest as possible. Hummingbirds can maneuver up, down and backwards hawks can’t and Hummingbirds are quicker. Hummingbirds also know whatever would eat a Hummingbird or her eggs the Hawk would love to eat for dinner. Pretty smart.
1. They are the smallest migrating bird. They don’t migrate in flocks like other species, and they typically travel alone for up to 500 miles at a time.
2. Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backwards.
3. Hummingbirds have a bizarre way of conserving energy. Usually at night, during periods of cold and sometimes when they’re perched at a feeder, hummingbirds can enter a deep, sleep-like state known as torpor, when all body functions slow dramatically.
4. Hummingbirds have no sense of smell. While they can’t sniff out feeders, they do have good color vision. Some birds like the Ruby-throated Hummingbird prefer orange or red flowers. Despite this, red dye should not be used in nectar as it could harm the birds. Instead, plant naturally red or orange flowers or use feeders that have red coloring in their structure.
5. The average weight of a hummingbird is less than a nickel.
6. Their tiny legs are only used for perching and moving sideways while perched. They can’t walk or hop.
7. Hummingbirds drink the nectar found in feeders by moving their tongue in and out about 13 times per second. They can consume up to double their body weight in a day.
8. The average number of eggs laid by female hummingbirds is only two. These eggs have been found in nests smaller than a half dollar and compare in size to a TicTac. Some species, like the Black-chinned Hummingbird make their nests with plant down, spider silk, and other natural resources that can expand as their babies grow after hatching.
9. A flock of hummingbirds can be referred to as a bouquet, a glittering, a hover, a shimmer, or a tune.
10. There are over 330 species of hummingbirds in North and South America.
