Categories
Hummingbirds

A Few Surprising Hummingbird Facts

Most typical species of North American hummingbirds only weigh only approximately 1/10 of an ounce! To help you understand just how very little that weight actually is, according to hummingbird expert Laura Erickson, you could mail nine or ten hummingbirds for the cost of a single postage stamp!

There are some sixteen different species of hummingbirds which are known to breed regularly in the United States. In addition, another 6 or so different species that are found in Mexico or the Caribbean have been seen in the United States.

Hummingbirds consume between 3 and 7.5 calories per day. While that may not sound like much, but it truly is when compared with a human being, who would have to intake 155,000 calories per day to equal that of the hummingbird.

Categories
Hummingbird Pictures

Broad-Billed Hummingbird Photo and Facts

A Broad Billed Hummingbird is sitting on a tree branch
A Broad Billed Hummingbird is sitting on a tree branch

This photo comes from the website freedigitalphotos.net and was taken by photographer Liz Noffsinger. I wish to acknowledge this and be sure to offer proper credit.

The Broad-Billed Hummingbird likes to sit on a high perch for longer periods of time as compared to other species of hummingbirds.

Agave, Ocotillo, Prickly Pear, and Penstemons are some of the favorite nectar producing plants of the Broad-Billed Hummingbird.

During courtship and aggressive encounters, the male Broad-billed Hummingbird will perform what is known as a pendulum display, starting by hovering about a foot from the female and then flying in repeated arcs, like a pendulum. This display will be followed by a high-pitched zinging sound. Other than this brief description, little additional information is believed to be known about this species maneuvers during courtship. This may be because this bird chooses not to preform such displays whenever humans are present or they choose secluded areas in which to preform their courtship displays.

Categories
Dear Mom Hummingbirds

Does the Hummingbird Have a Liver?

Does a hummingbird have a liver? If so, what is its purpose? These are the kinds of unique and different questions that my mom would have wanted answered if she were still alive today. So, for my mom and all others with an unusual sense of curiosity, this post will answer these questions.

Yes, a hummingbird does indeed have a liver. This is where fats are stored within the hummingbird’s body for quick release. These fats help provide the hummingbird with energy during their migratory journey as well as helping to aide in the hummingbird’s day- to-day survival.

Categories
Hummingbird Videos Hummingbirds

Nature Hummingbirds-Majic in the Air Part 1-6

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.

Categories
Dear Mom Hummingbird Food

How Much Sugar is In Nectar?

While I have always known that the hummingbird is highly intelligent, I recently found out something concerning the intelligence of the hummingbird which came as a great surprise to me and it may surprise you also.

Believe it or not, hummingbirds actually possess the ability the ability to know how much sugar is in nectar. The hummingbird will reject nectar that contains less then 10% sugar. A hummingbird prefers the sugar content to be about 25%. This is one reason that hummingbirds enjoy homemade nectar solution, because it is very close to the nectar concentration of many flowers which attract hummingbirds.

This post is one which I know my mom would have enjoyed because it combines her love of hummingbirds with discovering unusual facts or information. I hope all of you who read this will also enjoy it.