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Hummingbird Facts Hummingbirds are fascinating little creatures. Here are some fun and interesting fact about these entertaining little birds. 2.
Hummingbirds don't suck nectar through their beaks, they drink nectar
using their tongues. Their
tongues are shaped like a "W" and they use
their tongues to drink up nectar from flowers and feeders. They
can
lap10-15 times
per second while feeding.
3. Compared to other birds, hummingbirds have very long
beaks for their size.
4.
Hummingbirds have a very high heart rate, about 1,260 times per minute
and about 250 times per minute
when they are at
rest.
5.
Hummingbirds have a very high metabolism rate.
6.
Hummingbirds hear and see better than other birds, even people.
7.
Hummingbirds can see ultraviolet light. This enables them to
identify different types of flowers and plants.
8.
Hummingbirds do not have a sense of smell, but they have very good
eyesight.
9. The
bright color on hummingbirds comes from iridescent feathers.
10.
Hummingbirds are very smart. They remember all the flowers they
have been to and how long it will be before they can return
to the flower for nectar.
11.
Hummingbirds do not walk or hop, their feet are weak , they do
however use their feet to move side to side when they perch.
12.
Hummingbirds are about 8 centimeters long from the tip of the beak to
the end of the tail.
13. They weigh
from 2 to 20 grams. A nickel, in comparison weighs about 4.5 grams.
14. 30 percent
of a hummingbirds body weight is flight muscles.
15. The females
are bigger than the males.
16. Hummingbird
males and females don't mate for life.
17. Males don't
help with the young and only the females make and take care of the
nests.
18. Hummingbird
babies are very small when they are born, and will stay in the nest for
up to three weeks.
19. Females
hummingbirds usually lay
two eggs. They are the smallest eggs of all the birds.
The eggs measure less than 1/2
inch long.
20. Most
hummingbirds will live up to five years.
21. Hummingbirds are
aggressive, despite their small size they will chase off crows, jays
and hawks that invade their
territory.
22.
Hummingbirds beat their wings about seventy times per second, and can
beat them about two hundred times a
second when they dive.
23.
Hummingbirds can fly forward, backward, hover
and fly upside down.
24. They can
fly 30 mph and in a dive 60 mph.
25.
Hummingbirds can move their wings in a complete circle.
26. Some
hummingbirds who migrate, travel over 2000 miles during a years time to
migrate.
28.
Hummingbirds eat seven times in an hour for short periods at a time.
29.
Hummingbirds may visit over one thousand flowers a day for food and
they do eat small insects for protein
in their diet.
30.
Hummingbirds slip into a hibernate like state when they sleep, this is
called "Torpor",
they do this to save energy.
31. They are
the 2nd largest family of birds.
32. There are
about three hundred types of hummingbirds and most can be found in
South America, fifteen are found in the United
States.
33. The "bee
hummingbird" is the tinyest hummingbird and weighs less than two
grams. The biggest is the "giant
hummingbird", which can weigh
up to twenty-three grams.
34. There are
white hummingbirds, these hummingbirds do not have color on their
feathers.
35.
Hummingbirds have a favorite color which is red, they like flowers that
are tubular, shaped like a trumpet.
36.
Hummingbirds do not sing, they make a chirping sound.
37.
Hummingbirds are great pollinators, they carry pollen from one plant to
another while feeding.
38. There are a
lot of plants that depend on the hummingbirds to pollinate.
39. The
hummingbirds name, came from the sound their wings make when they
fly through the air.
40. If you find
a banded hummingbird you can report it to 1-800-327-BAND, make sure you
have the band
number when you do.
To learn more interesting hummingbird facts visit: http://www.wild-bird-watching.com/Hummingbird-Facts.html. Content and photos may not be copied or used without express written permission. Copyright 2010 |
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