The hummingbirds, are considered the smallest birds known in the world, in fact, due to their tiny size, in some places they are also known by the name of "fly birds". These little animals are unique, not only because of their size, but also because of the unique colors that are only found in their feathers.
Hummingbird Characteristics
These Types of birds small in size have special characteristics that make them unique. They are animals that do not go unnoticed and once you begin to discover and learn more about it, you do not want to stop, because they are fascinating. Today we are going to learn a little more about the characteristics that make these little ones so special.
If you have ever been able to closely observe a hummingbird flying, you will have noticed that they have an exceptionally accelerated metabolism, they are positioned just behind the insects, this means that, within the bird species, Hummingbirds have the fastest metabolism in the world.
Perhaps you also noticed that hummingbirds are the only birds on the planet that can fly backwards. This is especially due to the shape of their flight, since it not only depends on the flapping of the wings, but is also based on the way in which these birds can rotate their wings, this makes them have a unique flight. that no other bird possesses.
In this same way, hummingbirds are capable of being able to move vertically or horizontally while remaining within their own axis, something that many think that only hummingbirds can do. Flying insects. This happens, since hummingbirds are able to turn and invert their wings, which means that they have such exceptional flight capabilities.
According to anatomical studies of these animals, it has been discovered that 30% of the weight of these animals is concentrated in the muscles found in their chest area. Extremely essential muscles so that they can perform those flights and flapping wings so fast.
hummingbird size
Well, we have already mentioned it before, hummingbirds are considered the smallest birds in the world, so their size is quite small. Despite being so small, there is a great variety of species of it, since it is believed that at least 340 species are known in total, ranging from the southern part of Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. This means that these animals are an exclusive species of the entire American continent.
The smallest species of hummingbird was found in Cuba, this specimen was only 5 centimeters long, the average size of all specimens of the same species. Now, the largest species known so far, has managed to measure up to 25 centimeters. With these data, we can see the reason why they are currently the smallest birds in the world.
his plumage
Hummingbird feathers are special, as they have shades of colors that have never been observed in any other species of ajes. Hummingbirds have bright colors, quite strong, which makes them look like little phosphorescent dots.
If we talk about the range of colors that these little flyers can have, we can find from the most vibrant red, strong and electrifying blues, striking yellows, exuberant greens and emerald hues. If we observe them carefully, we can notice that the colors of their plumage generally seem to be metallic and litmus colors, so the reflection of sunlight usually makes them much more striking colors.
Its characteristic beak
In addition to their colors, another of the most striking features of hummingbirds is their beak. These are long and very thin. Some of the hummingbird species have beaks that are extremely long, reaching a size equal to that of their body, in addition to this, they have a slightly curved shape making them appear to be slightly twisted upwards.
The tongue of hummingbirds is forked, that is, the end of it is divided in two, just like that of snakes. In general, hummingbirds must have a food consumption of almost double their weight, this due to the energy they spend during their flight, therefore, the forked tongue is totally beneficial when it comes to feeding. The number of times a hummingbird can retract its tongue to absorb the nectar it consumes is 15 times per second.
hummingbird feeding
Many people wonderwhat do hummingbirds eat? These animals have a diet almost entirely based on the nectar they can obtain from flowers, this is very similar to the diet of bees. The beak of these animals helps to make it much easier to absorb the nectar that is located within the heart of the flowers, in addition to this, the shape of their tongues exponentially benefits the fact that they can have a diet quick but complete
The nectar of the flowers is more than enough food for the nutrition of hummingbirds, since they provide the necessary nutrients so that these little ones can live without any problem, in addition to that, the nectar itself provides them with the right amount of calories that they will need in order to stay as active as they are.
Something that we must always keep in mind is that, thanks to the type of food that hummingbirds have, there is greater progress in the pollination of the flowers on which they feed. This is one of the reasons why these small animals are so important in our ecosystem, because wherever they go, they will be pollinating our land.
However, hummingbirds may have a slightly different diet than we all think, since they can even consume and feed on small insects without any inconvenience. Although the main consumption of these animals is nectar, they complete their diet with some insects, in this way, they complete the nutrition that could be lacking, although, if they only feed on nectar, they could also live without any problem.
What is the habitat of hummingbirds?
Just as the diversity of a species is great, so is the variability of its habitat. Hummingbirds can live in almost any type of environment, as long as they have flowers to feed on. These animals can be found in almost all the countries of the American continent, however, their largest populations are in Chile, Argentina, Alaska and Ecuador.
In the Ecuadorian country is where there is a greater number of species and specimens of hummingbirds, which is why Ecuador is considered to be the land of hummingbirds.
These exotic-looking animals prefer to live in tropical climates which have a slightly more temperate temperature, however, they have proven capable of surviving in almost any type of climate.
Specimens have been seen in deserts, mountains, prairies and even some specimens have been found within those climates whose temperatures are extremely low. This shows us how strong and adaptable they are despite having such a tiny size.
Hummingbirds came to conquer so many lands due to their constant migrations due to the search for better places to feed and live. They are fast when flying, so they can travel great distances in the same day, so it is not difficult to imagine how easy it was for them to colonize an entire continent such as the American one.
Hummingbird lifestyle
The issue of their life time is delicate, since many claim to have a specific and exact time while others differ that it could be changing depending on their way of life.
What we are all clear about is that these little ones, in addition to having an accelerated flight, also have a metabolism with the same characteristic. Therefore, many studies carried out on the various species of hummingbirds show that they do not manage to exceed one year of life. However, there are some exceptions. There have been records of some specimens that, after exceeding a year of life, manage to live between 5 and 10 years without any problem, but this is not common, in fact it is a rarity. Very few specimens have such a long life expectancy.
It is believed that no hummingbird that lives naturally could live for 10 years, those that could achieve such a feat would be those that are living in protected places and in a kind of captivity.
hummingbirds character
Although these are naturally calm and docile animals, they can be aggressive and very upset if they feel threatened and they do not have the presence of another specimen of their species.
When hummingbirds need to defend themselves, they use their elongated and thin beaks to attack their opponent, these will become a kind of needle that could pierce and hurt the body of whatever makes them feel vulnerable. In addition to this, these animals feel a great aversion to those who play with their food. Hummingbirds are very territorial in this regard, so they protect their food even if it means putting their lives at risk.
How do hummingbirds sleep?
The size of these animals benefits their survival. In general, hummingbirds are experts in camouflage, due to their small size and greenish tones in their plumage, they can perch on a tree branch with some leaves and camouflage themselves almost perfectly.
A curious fact about these animals is that, when sleeping, they have a very peculiar way of doing it and that we thought we could only see in another flying species in particular. If you are lucky enough to see a sleeping hummingbird, you will notice that they perch on the branch just like bats, that is, they hang a little below.
hummingbird migration
In general, we can see these animals searching for food alone, however, when migrating, they prefer to do so with a large number of specimens of the same species. This is because, being so small, they are vulnerable, so, by migrating in large numbers, they can manage to protect each other.
The Fight and Flight of the Hummingbird
The only way these animals can move is through flight, which is why they fly during war and when love reaches them. By this we mean that these animals will fly while defending themselves, fighting for their food and even when fighting to survive, in addition to that, the males also fly with the intention of courting their partner.
A clear example that we can give is that of the red-headed hummingbird, which, at the time of courtship, rises to a height of approximately 30 meters and then drops down, while falling, it extends the plumage of its tail the which creates a kind of sound due to the passage of air between the feathers. Once low enough, repeat this same movement as many times as necessary to surprise your potential partner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvA8KK10mbI
Depending on the species, the males tend to make beautiful displays not only of the flight they perform, but also of the eccentricity of the colors of their feathers. Some species extend their tails, which show a range of different colors that are really striking and beautiful, while others use the same colors to play with the light and create different shades on their plumage.
How do hummingbirds live during the winter?
These small animals are not as fragile as their appearance leads us to believe, in fact, they are so resistant that they have managed to evolve in such a way that now they are able to handle the cold in a certain way. Some people refer to these birds as "harder than a diamond."
According to research conducted by ecologist Adam Hadley, hummingbirds manage to enter a kind of "energy saving mode" when the cold winter seasons arrive, a way of life known as "torpor". Hummingbirds enter a state of semi hibernation at night, it is at this time that their body, which normally has an approximate temperature of 41º centigrade, happens to have an amazing temperature of only 9º centigrade.
During this state of torpor, the heart rate of these animals also decreases. An example that we can give is that of the blue-throated hummingbird, which has a heart rate of 1.260 beats per minute, however, it drops to just 50 or 180 beats when it is in its torpor state.
Even when it may be 2º Celsius, hummingbirds do not stop feeding, these, during the day, keep in constant movement in search of flowers that they can feed on or small insects that they can ingest as food.
Currently, there is clear evidence that shows that hummingbirds have begun to migrate to the north of the planet, this is because, thanks to global warming, these areas now have more temperate climates that attract them more to live in a calm way. A large number of species have been seen within the Vancouver, British Columbia areas. In these places, hummingbirds find a greater number of vegetations and feeders that are perfectly accessible to them, so that food is much more assured than in other places.
Are hummingbirds in danger of extinction?
If we talk about the bird or the species as such, no, the hummingbird is not in danger of extinction, however, its habitat is. Because of this, the hummingbird is in serious threat, because if its habitat disappears, the species will too.
What the human being does not seem to realize is that, the more natural land is taken for the expansion of human territories, the more we are affecting the natural ecosystem and therefore, we are putting at risk a large number of species, among them, obviously hummingbirds are found.
Being pollinators and having a diet based on the nectar of flowers, it is very important to maintain adequate conservation of these important resources, because, as long as they remain abundant, hummingbirds will be able to have a better survival, otherwise, It will affect their lives.
In addition to this, we must take into account that these beautiful birds make their nests using various natural materials, whether they are vegetables or resources provided by other animals. The nests of these little ones have a shape similar to that of a calyx. However, it has been shown that those hummingbirds that live in areas with much more tropical climates usually create a much more conical nest, in addition to that, they are built under the vegetation that provides security and protection from the rains that you tend to fall into those types of climates.
In addition to that, global warming, which is becoming much stronger, is a serious problem for this miniature bird species, because the mimes are not able to stay for too long in habitats with extremely cold climates. cold or hot, so they run the risk of beginning to decrease in quantity until reaching the critical point of extinction.
Curiosities you should know about hummingbirds
Very well, taking into account that, within this entire article we have been mentioning some of the most outstanding curiosities of these animals, we are going to group some of them and other new ones to make a small list with all these curious facts that make this species only. Let's get started!
- El Hummingbird It is officially the smallest bird on planet Earth.
- Hummingbirds are the only flying animals in the world, capable of being able to fly backwards and to the sides without the need for any other displacement than the desired one, that is, they remain in perfect balance. In fact, the only thing they need to move from his body to perform these movements, are his wings.
- Hummingbirds are the second species of birds with the largest number of specimens in the world.
- These animals lack the sense of smell, so they only use their eyes to locate themselves and find their mates or food. They are guided only by the striking colors that the flowers have, in this way they reach their food.
- When they migrate, hummingbirds can travel up to a distance of 800 kilometers, something totally fascinating for such a small flying species, however, their speed is what helps them on this journey.
- The speed with which these animals can flap their wings is extremely high and very impressive, since they can perform between 100 and 200 flaps per second. Yes, this amount is correct and 100% verified by the scientists who study the species.
- According to studies that have been carried out on hummingbirds that live in the wild, at least 50% of them die before reaching their first year of life, this is due to weather conditions that are getting worse and worse since they have a large number of predators.
- Some of the hummingbird species can come into contact with at least 1.000 flowers per day.
- These animals spend a large part of their lives feeding, they can eat between 8 and 10 times in an hour, adding that, in the whole day they can eat up to 240 times.
- They have the fastest metabolism of any animal in the entire world. Reason why they feed so many times in the same day.
- Until now, there are no real documentations where a hummingbird can be seen being captive inside a cage or perched calmly on the hand of a human being.
- Hummingbirds' feet are only used for perching on trees. These animals do not know how to walk or run, so the only way they can move is through flight.
