The Humming bird is a back yard favorite for North American bird watchers. Here's what you need to know about the Humming bird.
Characteristics of the Humming Bird
The best way to identify the species of a humming bird is to use the location as a clue. There are 16 species of humming birds in North America. It has a ruby throat, is territorial and will fight other birds. It is a small bird with a lifespan of four years; in fact the male humming bird is the smallest living warm-blooded animal, while the female is slightly bigger to allow it to lay eggs. They measure approximately 3 3/4 inches long and can fly in all directions, including upside down; this makes them really fun to watch. They can even hover in one spot for long periods of time by balancing their forward and backward motion. Their wings flap an average of 50 times per second and are known to flap as many as 200 times.
Feeding
The humming bird diet consists of insects, pollen, flower nectar, and tree sap. Additionally, they rely on bird feeders. They need to eat approximately every 10 minutes to make up for the fact that their hearts beat extremely fast and they have a high body temperature. Because of the dependency for food, they have great instincts and can remember the location of a food source year after year. They have a keen sense of sight and sound, but their sense of taste is not as strong.
Humming Birds Migrate
The North American humming bird migrates in the winter. They return to warmer places each year when the temperature drops. Mexico is a popular winter destination for the humming bird; but don'tworry, they return to the Northern states each spring. Again, their memory and instincts serve them well, as they can easily find their home from the previous year.
The Humming Bird Nest
The mother humming bird carefully and secretly weaves her nest over a period of 3-5 days. She starts with silk from a spider's web and weaves in leaves until she has the prefect, safe home for her eggs. The nests are as small as a golf ball.
Sounds of the Humming Bird
The humming bird is not a loud bird. It makes little chirps, chatters and other vocal sounds. Oddly enough, the humming bird does not hum; rather the humming is actually created from the sound of their rapidly beating wings.
