A fly or a bird? No, it's a hummingbird! A tiny, tiny, and adorable little bird indeed. There are 338 known species of hummingbirds, all belonging to the Trochilidae family. All hummingbird species are found in the wild in the Americas, although not all are native to our country. Most live in the tropical regions of Central and South America. Some can even be seen as far north as Alaska, but they don't live there year-round. The beauty and agility of hummingbirds are truly awe-inspiring. Today, we'll explore what makes these cute, furry friends so fascinating.
1. The hummingbird is one of the smallest bird species in the world.
Most hummingbird species don't exceed 3 to 5 inches in length! One in particular is both the smallest hummingbird and the smallest bird in the world. It's called the bee hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae), and it can grow to just 5 cm (2 inches) in length. Bee hummingbirds are native to Cuba and weigh less than 2 grams.
2. They have to eat eight times an hour.
Hummingbirds' diet typically consists of nectar and small insects. Nectar is a sweet liquid composed of fructose, sucrose, and glucose, found in many flowers. Hummingbirds cannot subsist solely on nectar, as this sweet liquid lacks other nutrients. These birds also feed on insects to balance their diet. Neither food source can replenish the energy hummingbirds expend during flight, so they must be fed constantly!
3. They don't like cold weather.
As we mentioned earlier, most hummingbirds are migratory. These animals typically migrate to the tropics during the winter months, with northern species heading south and those typically found south of the tropics heading north. However, there are also hummingbird species that can be seen in winter. For example, the rufous hummingbird is known to occasionally winter in North America.
4. This is the only species of bird in the world that can fly backwards.
Hummingbirds likely got their name from the sound they make when rapidly flapping their wings. Therefore, hummingbird flight has been studied for a long time. Thanks to modern technology, we now have a much clearer picture of how hummingbirds actually fly and what distinguishes them from others. For example, high-speed cameras and wind tunnels have captured smaller species flapping their wings more than 80 times per second. In fact, some hummingbird species can reach speeds of up to 34 mph (54 km/h)! And of course, they can fly backwards—how cool is that?
5. Their nests can be smaller than a walnut shell.
Most of us have seen many bird nests in our lives, but have you ever seen a hummingbird's nest? The answer is probably no, as these birds typically build their nests deep in bushes or among small branches. These nests are typically made of moss, spider webs, and other delicate materials. They can even be as small as half a walnut.
6. Hummingbirds have many natural enemies.
Even considering their incredible agility, it's no surprise that such a small bird has become the target of large predators. The smaller the creature, the larger its predators. Hummingbirds are most often preyed upon by creatures such as reptiles, lizards, and snakes, as well as insects. Yes, beetles. Some large species of praying mantis are capable of catching hummingbirds out of the air. Even some spiders have been known to catch hummingbirds in their webs.
7. The weight of hummingbird eggs is 10% of the body weight of their mother.
Yes, you heard that right. Imagine giving birth to a creature that weighs one-tenth of your body weight… Although they are large compared to their mother's body, they are the smallest bird eggs in the world. On average, a hummingbird egg can be less than 1.27 cm in size.
8. Hummingbirds hibernate at night to avoid starvation.
Hummingbirds have a very fast metabolism, meaning any food they eat is processed and consumed so quickly that they feel the need to eat almost constantly. In fact, they eat about half their body weight to maintain high energy levels during the day! If hummingbirds slept normally, they would starve to death. To survive the night, they enter a deep sleep state that slows their entire body. Their heart rate drops from over 1,000 beats per minute to less than 100, and their temperature drops from 40°C to 18°C. While this dramatic change allows them to survive the night, they lose 10% of their body weight in the process!
9. Despite the fact that they are small, they are very aggressive.
Chances are, when you look at a hummingbird, you stop and think, "What an aggressive bird, I better be careful!" You don't think so. The reason we humans aren't afraid of hummingbirds is because of their size. They're too small to be considered a threat. But these beautiful birds are known for aggressively defending their territory, often engaging in fights with much larger birds like crows, jays, and even hawks!
10. Hummingbirds were very important to the Aztecs.
Many Aztec citizens wore amulets made from hummingbird bones or feathers. These types of talismans were believed to give the wearer increased vigor, energy, and an advantage in battle.