In this video you will discover why the hummingbird’s talent for fight is so very important. You will also discover information about the coordination of the hummingbird and why the hummingbird’s ability to hover is so vitally important. Much more was well,so sit back and enjoy the video as you discover a wide variety of information about hummingbirds.
Category: Hummingbirds
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Why Hummingbird Flight is Unique
For as long as I can remember, I have always been fascinated by hummingbirds and throughout my life I have so many fond memories of watching the hummingbirds with my family, particularly my mom, while sitting on the back porch of my parents’ home. The hummingbird’s unique aerial displays and amazing flight maneuvers have always captivated my attention, and so writing this post brings to mind many found memories of observing these things with my mom. Once I began my journey to discover as much knowledge about hummingbirds as possible, I wanted to know as much as possible about the unique nature of hummingbird flight. This post will provide you some insight into what makes the flight of hummingbirds so unique and therefore fascinating.
The hummingbird is the only species bird which possesses the ability to fly forwards, backwards, up, down, sideways, or sit in sheer space. A hummingbird has the ability to sit in sheer space because of its unique ability to rotate its wings in a full circle, which is something that no other species of bird can do. A hummingbird’s wings will beat 22-78 times per second while the bird is in flight.
The hummingbird also possesses the ability to flight backwards. The hummingbird is able to do so by spreading their tail and then doing a backwards somersault. The pectoral or flight muscles account for a whopping 1/4 of the hummingbird’s its total body weight. By comparison a human’s pectoral muscles account for 5 percent of our total body weight.
Another thing that absolutely fascinates me about the nature of hummingbird flight is the hummingbird’s ability to hover. Whenever hovering, the hummingbird will move their wings forward and backwards in a repeated figure eight. Hummingbirds are known for their ability to hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings 15–80 times per second (depending on the species). Capable of sustained hovering, hummingbirds also have the ability to fly backward, being the only group of birds able to do so.
If you should ever witness a hummingbird fly upside down for a short distance do not be surprised because the hummingbird has the ability to do so. This maneuver is known as a trick rollover and hummingbirds will use it whenever they are trying to evade being attacked by another bird.
As you can see, the flight ability of the hummingbird is also unique in a number of ways which helps to make this subject quite fascinating. I hope that you too will also have a greater appreciation for the unique nature of hummingbird flight.
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Why Band Hummingbirds?
Have you ever wondered how researchers are able to gather needed information about hummingbirds? Well, if so then this post is just what you have been searching for. In this post you will discover what information is gathered through hummingbird banding efforts.
The use of a small metal band on the hummingbird’s leg helps tell researchers about the population sizes and geographical location of migrating hummingbirds. The various hummingbird species are identified, aged and the sex of the bird will be identified. The information collected will give researchers necessary information needed about the level breeding activity, where migration stops occur along the way and patterns of species occurrence and their abundance.
So as you can see from this post, hummingbird banding efforts provide researchers with much very valuable information. Without this information researchers would have a far more difficult time trying to study these birds and thus try and help ensure the hummingbird’s survival.
Yes, I know that hummingbird migration occurs in both the spring and fall each year, but I like many people believe that some of the best hummingbird watching can occur during fall migration. Since the arrival of fall is not too far away, I am eagerly awaiting the opportunity to watch the migrating hummingbirds. This post will explain the reasons why I believe that fall migration is a better opportunity for hummingbird watching.
Fall is a great time to attract hummingbirds. The first reason that I prefer the fall migration over spring migration is because the hummingbirds seem to pass through in more concentrated numbers. Also, during the fall, the hummingbirds will be taking their time in search of a good winter feeding territory. As a result, the hummingbirds are more likely to settle for a week or two at a feeding station. Please keep in mind that it is important that hummingbird feeders remain up even through late fall in order to help ensure that migrating birds can feed during their long migratory journey.
It would seem that where you live would largely determine whether or not you most prefer the spring or fall migration of the hummingbirds. I am just expressing my own opinion on why I enjoy the fall migration the best. What is your opinion and why? Let me hear what it is you have to say on the subject.
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About Hummingbird Territories
Today’s post is one which makes me think of my mom, because she would have enjoyed discovering that male and female hummingbirds maintain individual territories, how they select them and so much more. I cannot help but believe that you will also enjoy making these discoveries yourself as well.
Male and females do not live together. The male and female will only be together during the actual act of mating. The male and female each have their own territory or area where they live and will therefore defend. In this post you will learn how hummingbirds select their territory and more.
A hummingbird will select their territory based on the abundance of food, nectar, and water. These things must be available to help ensure the hummingbirds survival. The male hummingbirds’ territory is approximately ¼ an acre in size. Unfortunately, I was unable to find any specifics on the size of the female’s territory. The territory of the female is the area where the nesting site is built and therefore the female will fiercely defend it.
The Female hummingbird will check the strength of a prospective nest site by clinging to it or repeatedly landing on it. It is only after the site passes this test that the female will begin to construct the nest. The nest will be built on the underside of a palm leaf, on the side of a vertical plant stem, on a small branch, on top of a cactus or many other different locations are used and different species have different preferences. Hummingbirds usually build on branches, but the hermit hummingbirds build nests that hang from vegetation or from a vertical plant stem, root, or rock.