Fun Facts About Hummingbirds! Nature W/O For Ahlstromomy
Mar 17 '03 (Updated Mar 24 '04)
The Bottom Line Writer's Corner let us explore our creative side.
40 FUN FACTS
Hummingbirds are one of my favorite birds and when I joined this w/o and found out that they are also ahlstromomy’s favorite, well, I decided to find out more about them.
I should have looked long ago, they are very interesting! I always think of elves, fairies and mysterious lands when I see hummers. They are just a bit magical.
Here are some neat facts I found hunting around on the internet. I hope they are able to take ahlstromomy’s mind off her pain for a short while. Get Well Soon, Ahlstromomy.
1. There are seventeen species of hummingbirds in North America.
2. Hummingbirds flap their wings 50 to 200 times per second. Generally the faster time is in courtship.
3. They can fly up, down, right, left, backwards, upside down and even loop-de-loops! Amazing!
4. They have tiny little feet that are only good for perching, scratching or preening. This means if they wish to move, even a few inches, they must fly.
5. Hummers can starve to death in about an hour. Oh Dear!
6. They eat every 10 minutes throughout the day.
7. Even though they are tiny birds, they consume up to 50% of their body weight in a day. Little pigs aren’t they? LOL!
8. Their main diet is sugar which they get from plant nectar or from kind-hearted people with feeders.
9. They also eat bugs for protein.
10. Hummingbirds have grooves on the sides of their tongues. This is to help catch insects.
11. Their tongues can take up to 13 licks a second.
12. Hummers have very good memories and will even be able to remember where they found food from the previous year.
13. Visual displays are how they communicate with each other.
14. These tiny little birds establish territories and will fight to keep others away. The males fight to keep a constant food source and the females to build a nest and feed her babies.
15. They use their bills and claws to fight but do not usually harm each other during a fight
16. Hummingbirds will sometimes attack larger birds even hawks or crows! I wonder if they win.
17. Do hummingbirds sing? Not really, but they do chirp and make deep-throated guttural sounds.
18. They are sun worshipers and love to take sunbaths. They do this by facing the sun and fluffing out their feathers.
19. They take baths by using a cupped leaf, a birdbath, puddle or even sprinklers.
20. A hummingbird’s feathers are iridescence. Actually only a third of the feather is iridescence.
21. Hummers can fly up to 25-30 mph! I think that is really fast.
22. Their wings flutter in a figure 8 motion while flying.
23. They are only found on the American continent.
24. The Bee Hummingbird is the smallest bird in the world and only measure in at around 2 inches.
25. The Giant Hummingbird is the largest. Gee, that’s an original name.
26. A hummingbird called the Reddish Hermit weighs the same as a fly. That is pretty small.
27. Early Spanish explorers called them Flying Jewels. I think that fits them very well.
28. Ok get this…Hummers are the only bird that has an insect that will eat it. Praying mantis's think they are yummy!
29. Hummer’s average lifespan is 3-6years. The record is 12 years.
30. They lay two eggs that are about ½ inch long. That is tiny!
31. The eggs hatch in 13-22 days depending on the species.
32. Will hummers nest in bird houses? No.
33. They make their nests from plant fibers, plant down, moss and spider webs.
34. The nests are about the size of half a walnut shell.
35. With no feather the average hummer is about the size of a bumblebee.
36. Hummers migrate generally south for winter and north for summer.
37. Some hummingbirds migrate up to 2000 miles from their summer home in Canada to their winter home in Central America.
38. A few are only found in one or two states.
39. Why do we call them hummingbirds? They get this name from the sound their wings make when flying.
40. The iridescent feathers found at the throat of many hummers are called gorgets.
Here are the other participants in this Nature Write-Off. Please take a look at their wonderful reviews. If ya want to join, please e-mail klueger, who is ahlstromomy hubby and our host. Thanks & Smiles, Char
Andymcf
Jo.com wrote about a great CD Wind & Mountain-Deuter
Jetbluefan1 provides a look at the Central Park Wildlife Center
Granniemose wrote the most wonderful story about a hike called The Path
Kamel622 A great children's book review on Leo The Lop
Kamel622 provides us with another wonderful glimpse at a children's book Little Mouse on the Prarie
Artbyjude A whimsical poem titled Squirrel
Amysmum
Popsrocks wrote a brilliant piece on Lake Taghkanic
Popsrocks offers Another masterpiece on St. John
donnie013
Lorace Another fabulous essay from a great author Puget Sound
2buzy A delightful review on her home the San Juan Islands
Jcrismon A review on what sounds to be one of the best museumsThe Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Susie34668 a review of a lovely park Key Vista Nature Park
LisaJ
Frostiepikkle
Diverpam
Ed_grover provides a wonderful look at the magazine National Wildlife
Ed has graced us with yet another wonderful review on the Sierra Club Magazine
Brianandalsmom
Mom2daniel has posted a review on a wonderful park Homassa Springs St. Park
Char.mike provides a look at Fun Facts About Hummingbirds.
Thorbjore
A terrific story that will take you away Lets
Corpgent allows us to visit the Beijing Zoo with him.
Ifif1938 the most magnificent review on Alaska
Suzer
Glomarrone A superb piece on the Montreal Botanical Garden
Klueger My first entry for the w/o is on Free Willy
My second entry is about the video Hummingbirds up close
My Third entry is on the kids T.V. show Stanley
klueger's profile page
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Member: Char (pronounced Shar)
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