Author: Hummingbird

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Hummingbirds

What Hummingbird Species Are Found In Florida?

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If you live in Florida, there are three species of hummingbirds that can be found there.  The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the most common hummingbird species to be found there, but in the winter you may also see the Black-chinned and Rufous Hummingbirds.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is extremely tiny.  It measures about three inches long and weighs less then a penny or approximately 1/4 of an ounce.

The males will arrive in Florida in March and the females will generally arrive about a week after the males.  The females will begin nesting in Florida in April and it is quite common for their nest to be located over water.  The hummingbird’s nest is extremely tiny or only about the size of a walnut.  The mother hummingbird will incubate the eggs for 20 days before the eggs hatch, after this occurs the young only remain in the nest for four weeks and then they leave the nest and are on their own.

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Dear Mom Hummingbirds

A Few Surprising Facts About Hummingbirds

I have been fascinated about hummingbirds for quite sometime now and have actively been writing about them for more then two years now.  Much to my astonishment, even with all the information I have learned about the hummingbird within that time, my education on this subject is still always on going.

This post will share a few surprising facts or bits of trivia on the subject of hummingbirds.  As I read this information,  my mind turned to thoughts of my mom because she would have enjoyed hearing about it, and I thought others might as well so that is what prompted today’s post.

Here is a surprising fact about the diet of baby hummingbirds.  While they remain in the nest, their diet consist of only insects which they are feed by the mother.  Did you know this?  I did not.  This got me to thinking, “how does a young hummingbird (one that has just left the nest and is now on its own) know to add nectar as a part of its diet?”  The only way I can explain this is that it is something that the young birds know instinctively.

A hummingbird’s diet is composed of both nectar and insects.  The nectar provides the hummingbird the energy needed for flying and the insects are the hummingbird’s source of protein.

One more fascinating hummingbird fact to share with you. Not all species of hummingbirds migrate and of those that do not all species migrate at the same time.  The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the first to begin the migratory journey, because this species is the most sensitive to cooler temperatures.

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Hummingbirds

A Hummingbird’s Heart Rate vs a Human’s

Hummingbirds seem to move with such incredible speed.  This got me to wondering just how does a hummingbird’s heart rate compare with that of a human’s?  This post will offer an answer to this matter.

Just as I suspected, the heart rate of a hummingbird is indeed super fast.  Just how fast may astound you.  The heart rate of a hummingbird is 1,260 times per minute.

Comparatively, the human heart beats super slowly.    While at rest, the normal human heart beats between 60-100 times per minute.  In humans, as we age our resting heart rate will increase.  Children between the ages of 6-15 years of age usually have a resting heart rate of  70-100 beats per minute.  If someone is a well trained athlete, their heart rate may be as low as 40-60 beats per minute.

It is hard for me to imagine that it is possible for the hummingbird to actually survive the fact that its heart rate is so amazingly fast.  It is just one of the many examples of what the hummingbird does with great speed.

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Hummingbird Food

Why is the Encore Azalea Unique?

Azaleas plants are actually an evergreen shrub that flowers.  Azaleas are actually poisonous to humans.  Did you know these facts?    Azaleas can come in a wide range of colors including purple, pink, and rarer species come in shades of red or even blue.

Azaleas usually only bloom once a season, usually late in the spring.  In 1997, a new and unique species of Azalea was released called the Encore Azalea.  What makes this particular species of Azalea unique is that it flowers three times a year.  This is a great feature because you will be able to enjoy its beautiful blooms longer and it will help keep the hummingbirds around your yard longer.

When do you plant Azaleas?  This can be done at any point during the warm season, even if they are in bloom, and doing so will not stunt its growth or harm flower production.  In general, Azaleas are easy to care for, but there are some things that you need to keep in mind whenever you plant them.

The amount of sun required will depend on the variety of Azaleas you select.  Some will grow in full sun while others will require far less sun. Azaleas should be grown in raised beds. The soil must be kept moist but not overly so.  It is important to use mulch, peat moss and other organic materials in generous amounts. These plants grow well in acid conditions. A root stimulator should be added and it is necessary to keep them well mulched. Lastly, an important reminder, Azaleas should be fertilized after they have boomed.

Best of luck using Azaleas to attract hummingbirds to your yard.  Try using the Encore Azalea and your blooms will last even longer and it will be another plant on which the hummingbirds can feed.

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Hummingbirds

Cuban Emerald Hummingbird

The name of the Cuban Emerald Hummingbird fascinates me and even brings to mind my mom who loved hummingbirds and  had various types of jewelery, including emeralds.  This particular hummingbird can be said to be one of the various jewels of the hummingbird word.  Here is some fascinating information about this species.

The Cuban Emerald Hummingbird lives in the woodlands and can be found in the Northern Bahamas, Cuba, and although quite rare it is even known to be a vagrant of southern Florida.

One thing that is unique about both sexes of the Cuban Emerald Hummingbird, both sexes are known to have a white spot behind their eyes.

Here is what you should look for if you are ever fortunate enough to spot a male or female Cuban Emerald Hummingbird.  The information is intended to assist you in your identification of the species.

The male Cuban Emerald Hummingbird is green in color, which is probably obvious from its name, has a blackish colored tail and white under tailcoverts, the lower mandible is mostly pinkish in color and their tail is forked.

The female Cuban Emerald Hummingbird is said to be green to bronze-green above and dusty violet on the tail.

My mom love things of beauty and brilliance, so I am certain that she would have appreciated the Cuban Emerald Hummingbird as a true jewel of nature.  While it is extremely unlikely that she would have ever had the opportunity to view one firsthand, I feel certain she would have loved discovering about this hummingbird species and I hope that you will also.