Author: Hummingbird

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Hummingbird Food

Ways to Help Ensure Hummingbird Safety

Anyone who loves hummingbirds would agree that they don’t want to intentionally harm the birds that we so love and enjoy. This can happen quite by accident. The information contained here may help ensure that you don’t unintentionally harm these birds.
 
Pesticides should never be used in a hummingbird garden! The hummingbird can ingest the pesticide while feeding on insects and spiders. While you may think you are doing you plants a favor by using the pesticides this is a very bad idea, because the protein that is provided by the insects and spiders found on these plants is vital to the hummingbird’s diet. If these pesticides get ingested by the hummingbird it could make them sick of even kill them. It is important to remember that hummingbirds are extremely tiny and therefore even a small amount of pesticide can be deadly!
 
There is a great debate as to whether or not red food coloring is unhealthy for hummingbirds. I don’t know the definitive answer regarding this issue, but I will tell you for certain that the use of red dye is unnecessary if your feeder has red on it somewhere, either on the feeder its self or by attaching a red ribbon to the feeder. Yes, you can buy pre-made nectar solution that contains dye, but why do so. This is far more expensive then making your own nectar solution and making your own nectar solution is quite easy to do. This is what the makers of Perky-Pet hummingbird feeders had to say as a reason many people may believe that red dye may be harmful to hummingbirds. “Some liquid red dyes contain propylene glycol, a refined alcohol that is sometimes used as antifreeze. That is why Perky-Pet uses dry, USDA approved dyes and discourages the addition of untested red dyes by our customers to color nectar.”
 
Making homemade nectar solution is quite simple. The recipe for making your own homemade nectar solution is listed below:
 
To make your own nectar solution, use 1 part white granulated cane sugar to 4 parts water.
 
If you choose to make your own homemade nectar solution, you need to bring this solution to a boil for 1 1/2 minutes and then let it cool down. You now have a mixture much more similar to that of the flower nectar.
 
The decision of whether or not to use red dye in your hummingbird nectar is entirely up to each individual. I, personally, don’t believe it necessary, because I have repeatedly seen hummingbirds come to feeders without any dye in the nectar solution.
 
Honey should not be used to feed hummingbirds because it attracts bees and favors the growth of a black fungus that causes a fatal liver and tongue disease in hummingbirds.
 
This last tip may surprise you, just as it did me. Electric fences can be a real safety issue for the hummingbirds. Let me explain. May electric fences have red insulators that will attract the hummingbirds because they think the insulators are flowers and as a result the hummingbird will mistakenly fly into the fence. The best way to insure that this doesn’t occur is to paint the insulators either black or white.
 
Hummingbirds are one of nature’s most beautiful creatures. These birds face enough challenges to their survival, so let’s each do our part to try and insure that no harm comes to them. If you follow the tips listed here, you will be taking action to insure that no harm intentionally comes to these amazing birds. 
 

Magnificent Hummingbird Facts

  • This species of hummingbird was formerly known as the Refulgent Hummingbird or Rivoli’s Hummingbird until the mid-1980s. At that time, it then became commonly known as the Magnificent Hummingbird, which is thought to be due to its spectacular plumage.
  •  This bird was named after M. Massena, the Duke of Rivoli, in 1829 by French naturalist, Rene P. Lesson, because of its royal appearance.
  •  This species of hummingbird is one of the largest hummingbirds in the United States. Depending on what sources you consult, this bird is sometimes considered to be the largest of our North American hummingbirds.
  •  This species of hummingbird was added to our fauna by Henry W. Henshaw in 1875, when he found the first specimen at Camp Grant, Arizona in the 18th century.
  •  The flight of this hummingbird is somewhat different from that of other hummingbirds. The Magnificent Hummingbird is a large, heavily bodied bird, and its flight, though swift, is somewhat slower in proportion to its size than that of the smaller species. Its wing strokes are less rapid, and it indulges in occasional periods of sailing on set wings, much after the manner of a swift.
  •  Not much has been published on the food sources of Rivoli’s Hummingbird. They are believed to like honeysuckle and are especially fond of the blossoms of the mescal. The mescal is generally infested by numerous small insects, which these birds will feed. 
  •  There is no immediate conservation concern for this particular species of hummingbird. There is some concern that habitat destruction may be a problem in Mexico and Central America, but the specific effects of this potential problem have been documented at the present time.
 

What’s in a Name?

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Did you know that not every species of hummingbird has the word hummingbird in their name? It’s true. Some of the names of these birds don’t even begin to sound like a type of hummingbird but they are nevertheless. Examples of this include the following: Jacobins, Sabrewings and Woodnymphs.
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Dear Mom

Basic Characteristics of Hummingbird Behavior

Hummingbirds have certain common characteristics. This post will examine each of these specific characteristics. These characteristics are what help make the hummingbird such a unique and fascinating part of the avian world. If you are like my mom, you have probably often wondered why it is that hummingbirds behave in the ways that they do. It is my sincere hope to offer you some insight into this matter.
 
Flight: a hummingbird can fly right, left, up, down, backwards, and even upside down. The flight power of a hummingbird is obtained from both the downward and upward stroke of their wings. This is not true of other species of birds, who only obtain their flight power from the downward stroke of their wings.     
 
The wings: a hummingbird’s wings are flexible at the shoulder, but inflexible at the wrist.   When hovering, hummingbirds hold their bodies upright and flap their wings horizontally in a shallow figure-8. As the wings swing back they tilt flat for a moment before the wings are drawn.
 
It is virtually impossible for the human eye to perceive when a hummingbird flaps its wings. They do so at a rate of 50 or so beats per second, thus all the human eye will see is a blur. The Magnificent Hummingbird is sometimes an exception, because it sometimes flaps its wings slow enough to allow individual wing beats to be perceived.
 
The feet: a hummingbird’s feet are used for only one purpose—they enable the hummingbird to perch. No matter what distance a hummingbird must travel, even just two inches, they must fly. When lifting off from a perch, they do so without pushing off and they rise solely through their own power. They obtain this power by flapping their wings at almost full speed before lifting off. They fly at a very high rate of speed and have the ability to stop suddenly and quickly and still make a soft landing. Hummingbirds are extremely light and therefore they do not build up much momentum.
 
Feeding: a hummingbird must feed every 10 minutes or so all throughout the day, and they can consume 2/3 of their body weight in a single day. They have a fast breathing rate, a fast heartbeat, and a high body temperature. Sugar is a major source of nutrition in a hummingbird’s diet. This is found in the nectar of flowers and also in tree sap. To build muscles, hummingbirds also require protein, so they eat insects and pollen. Their tongue has grooves on the side, which are used to catch insects in the air, from leaves, or from spider webs. 
 
The bill: is long and tapered, which enables it to probe deep within the center of tubular flowers for nectar. When seeking nectar, the hummingbird will take about 13 licks a second.
 
Memory: hummingbirds are known to have a good sense of memory and can remember food sources from previous years. As they feed and move from flower to flower, the hummingbird will accidentally collect pollen and this helps to ensure that the flowers will continue to reproduce.
 
The display: hummingbirds communicate with each other through the use of visual displays. Both male and female hummingbirds sometimes do shuttle-flights, which are rapid back and forth movements in front of another bird. During the shuttle flight, the tail and gorget may displayed. 
 
Only the male hummingbird performs a dive display. During the dive, buzzing, whistling, or popping sounds might be made using the wing feathers or vocal cords. The dive is done in a U-shaped pattern.
 
Courtship: the shuttle-flight is a part of the courtship ritual. The male hummingbird, after finding a ready female, flies in front of her in short, rapid arcs. The dance field may be about ten inches wide.
 
Some species of hummingbirds, mostly those that are found south of the border, the males gather in communities, which are known as leks. The male hummingbirds all sing together to try to entice females to come into the neighborhood for mating.
 
Territory: the male and female each establish their own territory. The female’s territory is where the nest will be built and where the young will be feed. The male’s territory is   a way for the male to protect a reliable food source. The male does not take any responsibility for the building of the nest or for the care and feeding of the young. If a female hummingbird enters a male hummingbird’s territory, he will perform aerial displays to keep her away. The mating of hummingbirds takes place on neutral ground.
 
Fight: They will fight for nectar, insects, and to guard and defend their territory. Hummingbirds will use their bills and claws as weapons. Sometimes, the birds may even collide with one another.
 
Rarely, will a hummingbird be injured during a fight, because their instincts tell them not to risk injuring their bills. Amazingly enough, hummingbirds fight less whenever food is scarce.
 
Hummingbirds do not attack humans, but they have been known to get within inches of someone’s face. When this occurs, this can be frightening. 
 
The “song”: consist of a number of unmusical calls made by the hummingbird. These can be deep guttural noises or high pitched chirps. The “song” is used by the male to established and protect a territory. If their territory is invaded, many hummers will emit a loud chatter as a way to drive away the intruder.  
 
Grooming: a hummingbird uses their bills and claws to groom its self. Using oil from a gland near their tail, the hummingbird will groom their wings, abdomen, tail feathers and back. They also groom their head and neck with their feet, by using the front three claws like a comb. When they want to groom their beak or neck, the hummingbird will do so by rubbing them against a twig.
 
Bathing: Hummingbirds will take a bath on a leaf or in a shallow pool of water. They dip their chins and bellies into the water. Sometimes, in an effort to get water droplets on its back, a bathing hummer will throw its head back to make this happen. After bathing the bird will preen and dry its feathers. They are known to play in the fine mist of sprinklers.
 
Sleep: yes, hummingbirds do sleep. They do so at night by entering into a state known as torpor, which is a state similar to hibernation. Hummingbirds must enter this state to ensure that they won’t actually starve to death before down. Torpor is a type of deep sleep where an animal lowers its hart and metabolic rate. While in this state, a hummingbird lowers its metabolic rate by as much as 95%. A torpid hummingbird consumes up to 50% less energy than when awake. The lowered metabolic rate also causes a cooled body temperature. A hummingbird’s night time body temperature is maintained at a level which is barely sufficient to maintain life. This level is known as their set point and it is far below the normal daytime body temperature of 104°F or 40°C known for other birds of similar size. 
 
I hope that you have enjoyed reading this post on the basic characteristics of hummingbird behavior. May you now have a much greater understanding of why these birds behave as they do. Happy hummingbird watching everyone!
 
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Hummingbird Food

Hummingbirds Come In All Sizes

There are well over 300 different species of hummingbirds. Depending on the source you consult, some experts say that there are between 330 and 340 species of hummingbirds. Regardless of the exact number of species, there are a great number of varieties of hummingbirds. The smallest is the bee hummingbird which is found in Cuba. The largest hummingbird is the giant hummingbird, which only weighs 21 to 23 grams. So much for being a giant! According to hummingbird expert Laura Erickson, you could mail nine or ten hummingbirds with a single stamp! This should help give you some idea just how extremely tiny hummingbirds are.
 
A hummingbird’s bill also comes in many different sizes and shapes too. The bill of the hummingbird is long and slender to make it easier for the hummingbird to collect nectar from flowers. The bill also provides protection for the hummingbird’s tongue which allows each type of hummingbird to feed from the specific flowers that are designed to fit them best. Nectar is the primary food source of the hummingbird, and about 90 percent of their diet consists of nectar from flowers. The hummingbird’s diet is also aided by their eating insects. The insects are captured through a technique known as “hawking”, which is when the hummingbird catches the insects by flying and diving to capture the insect out of the air.
 
The tongue of the hummingbird is quite unique. It is shaped like a “W” and it helps the birds absorb the nectar that they are ingesting. The tip of the tongue is said to be bushy in nature and has even been compared to being like Velcro or sandpaper. This helps the hummingbirds trap insects and also assist them when they are probing within a flower in order to obtain nectar.