The Long-tailed Hermit Hummingbird

  • Post author By
  • Post date
The Long-tailed Hermit Hummingbird has both a long curved bill and a long white tail. It also has a dark bronzy-brown crown (head) and body with a lighter chest and underside. The female of this species has a smaller wingspan than the male.
 
This hummingbird species is typically found in the lowland edges of tropical forests, especially along streams, from Mexico through Central America and into northern South America.
 
The nest of the Long-tailed Hermit Hummingbird may be found hanging palm leaf. Also, male Long-tailed Hermit Hummingbirds will group together for "communal singing" in "leks." For those of you who may not be aware, a “lek” is when a bunch of male hummingbirds, as many as 100, will get together and sing for the females. If a female appears to be interested in a particular male then he will dance for her. If the female likes the dance preformed by the male then they will mate. 
 

The Fearless Hummingbird

  • Post author By
  • Post date

The hummingbird’s fearless nature probably comes from the fact that it can outmaneuver almost any pray, unless it is taken by surprise. No other bird has more flying ability then  the hummingbird.  The hummingbird has the ability to fly up, down, sideways, backwards, even upside down! This is because most of its wing is made of hand bones instead of arm bones like other birds. Hummingbirds also have muscles that power both the up and down stroke instead of just the down stroke as in other birds. They can beat their wings up to 200 times per second.

Hummingbirds are such good fliers that most of them never walk more then a few inches at one time.  This is because the hummingbird has very  poorly developed feet.  

Categories
Dear Mom

Hummingbird Quote

The following comes from the a site called Famous Quotes.  The quote really spoke to my heart and gave me a reminder that life is too short to only look at the past and that I need to focus on the here and now and not just  the future.  With the hectic and busy lives we all lead, I’m sure others could also use the reminder as well.  Hope you enjoy the quote.

Hummingbird shows us how to re-visit the past for the purpose of releasing it instead of being caught in a permanently backward flight pattern. It also helps us to see that if we step aside we may see our life differently. Hummingbird teaches us to transcend time, to recognize that what has happened in the past and what might happen in the future is not nearly as important as what we are experiencing now. It teaches us to hover in the moment, to appreciate its sweetness.

Constance Barrett Sohodski Quotes

Categories
Hummingbird Feeders

In Cold Climates Remove Perches

  • Post author By
  • Post date

According to the Kern River Preserve in in southern California, if you live in a very cold climate it is recommend that the perches be removed from your hummingbird feeders in the winter.  Doing so will help ensure that hummingbirds keep their metabolism up while feeding in the cold temperatures. It is possible for a hummingbird to get too cold and die while perched in the winter.

The site unfortunately does not define the phase "a very cold climate." I will have to leave that determination individually up to those of you who live wherever the temperatures are extremely cold.  My personal advice would be to use your best personal judgement on the matter, after all no one who is a hummingbird enthusiast would wish to do any harm to these amazing birds.  

The Crimson Topaz Hummingbird

  • Post author By
  • Post date

The Crimson Topaz Hummingbird is the largest hummingbird of Brazil and in the Andes only the Gaint Hummingbird is larger.  The Crimson Topaz Hummingbird is difficult to view and photogtaph because this hummingbird is usually found 150 above the ground in the rainforest.

The male of this species has highly distinctive tail feathers because they cross halfway down. The male’s throat patch is golden-yellow in color and the bird has an iridescent red underside.