Fun Facts About The Hummingbird

In early June I was walking through the clubhouse of Ocean Hills, when I noticed a group of people gathered at the window, looking at something outside.  It was a hummingbird nest, about three inches in diameter, built on a strong leaf of a bush.  Mom was in the nest, guarding her little eggs.  I was fascinated at this tiny bird building a beautiful nest, and had to read more about this amazing bird.  Here are a few interesting facts I found out about the hummingbird.

1.  There are more than 325 hummingbird species in the world.  Only eight species regularly breed in the U.S., though up to two dozen species may visit the country or be reported as regular vagrants.  The rest of the hummingbirds are primarily tropical species and do not regularly migrate.

The hummingbird's brilliant throat color is not caused by feather pigmentation, but rather by iridescence in the arrangement of the feathers.

3.  The smallest species in North America is the Calliope Hummingbird, just three inches in size.

4.  Hummingbirds have 1,000-1,500 feathers, the fewest feathers of any bird species.  This keeps them light weight.

5.  The average ruby throated hummingbird weighs 3 grams.  A nickel weighs 4.5 grams.

6.  25%-30% of a hummingbirds weight is in its pectoral muscles.  This creates a broad chest which is responsible for flight.  Flight speeds on average are 30 mph, but in a dive, can reach 60mph.

7.  The hummingbird has the smallest eggs of any bird, 1/2 inch long.  That's the size of a jelly bean.

8.  A hummingbirds' wings beat 50-200 flaps per second.  Their heart rate is 1,200 beats per minute.  They take 250 breaths per minute.

9.  The Rufus Hummingbird has the longest migration, 3,000 miles, from Alaska and Canada, to Mexico.  The Ruby Throated Hummingbird flies 500 miles nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico, in both spring and fall.

10.  Many species of hummingbird breed together and create hybrid species.

11.  Hummingbirds are extremely aggressive, despite their size.

Hummingbirds truly are a fascinating bird.  They're a perfect example that "Size isn't everything.."