"Basic Facts About Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are small, colorful birds with iridescent feathers. Their name comes from the fact that they flap their wings so fast (about 80 times per second) that they make a humming noise. Hummingbirds can fly right, left, up, down, backwards, and even upside down. They are also able to hover by flapping their wings in a figure-8 pattern. They have a specialized long and tapered bill that is used to obtain nectar from the center of long, tubular flowers. The hummingbird’s feet are used for perching only, and are not used for hopping or walking.

Diet

Hummingbirds primarily eat flower nectar, tree sap, insects and pollen.

The hummingbird’s fast breathing rate, fast heartbeat and high body temperature require that they eat often. They also require an enormous amount of food each day. Hummingbirds have a long tongue which they use to lick their food at a rate of up to 13 licks per second.

Population

It is difficult to estimate population numbers since there are many different species spanning a large geographic area.

Range

Hummingbirds are found only in the Western Hemisphere, from southeastern Alaska to southern Chile, although most live in the tropics. There are more than 300 species of hummingbirds, 12 of which summer in North America and winter in tropical areas.

Behavior

Like other birds, hummingbirds communicate via visual displays. Hummingbirds are very territorial and have been observed chasing each other and even larger birds such as hawks away from their territories.

Reproduction

Gestation: 13-22 days.

Clutch size: Between 1-3 eggs.

The young start to fly in 18 to 30 days.

Threats

Historically hummingbirds were killed for their feathers, today they face different but equally devastating threats.

Habitat loss and destruction are the hummingbird’s main threats. As hummingbirds are often specially adapted to each unique habitat, each species of hummingbird currently listed as vulnerable or endangered on the IUCN red list are all threatened due to habitat destruction and loss.

The earth's changing temperatures due to climate change are affecting hummingbird migratory patterns, causing different species to be spotted in locations well outside their normal range, where it may be harder for them to find food.

Reasons For Hope

Hummingbirds in the U.S. and around the world have the benefit of being garden and backyard favorites. Many people put out hummingbird feeders or grow flowers that attract hummingbirds in the warmer months that allow these birds to refuel during their long migratory journeys. What's in sight is often in mind, and many fans of hummingbirds are doing what they can to keep every backyard, park and garden a friendly place for these beautiful birds."

From: defenders.org/hummingbirds/basic-facts

Near Manizales, Colombia.

Located on the Oregon Coast in Summer, this male Anna's Hummingbird defended his territory against all comers....even those much larger than himself.

A pretty male comes every 5 minutes all day long.....such a pleasure to watch them

spent 3 hours 15 minutes waiting for my little angels to come to the feeder =D

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - female/immature

Sat still on the feeder for his/her portrait (I think it is a female, but I am no bird expert)

for recipes, stories, and more photos: howtoeatacupcake.blogspot.com

by Doug Santo

Hummingbird

Back from June.

Action at the feeders today...

Madera Canyon

Arizona

usa

Little hummer guarding the feeder. These little ones can be aggressive when they want.

Anna's Hummingbird, San Diego

Amazilia rutila

amazilia canela

San Rafael de Alajuela

Historia Natural

Reproducción

Su nido consiste en una copa hecha de partes suaves de semillas y pedazos de helechos leñosos, cubierto con líquenes de color grisáceo y unido con telarañas. Está ubicado entre 1 y 5 m. de altura, en un arbusto o en un árbol en los bordes del bosque o el sotobosque.

Se reproducen de diciembre a mayo o junio.

Alimentación

Visitan flores de árboles (ej. Genipa, Inga, Bombacopsis, Tabebuia), arbustos (Helicteris) y epífitas (Combretum).

Comportamiento

Defienden territorios de alimentación alrededor de especies de plantas con flores.

Ambos sexos son agresivos. Los machos cantan solitarios o en grupos pequeños, dispersos en los matorrales densos a lo largo de corrientes de agua y en los bordes de los bosques.

Habitat y Distribución

Habitat

Viven en el dosel y los bordes de los bosques deciduos, bosques secundarios viejos, sabanas arbustivas y bosques de galería.

Distribución

Es una especie residente común en las bajuras y piedemontes del norte de la vertiente del Pacífico, y se extienden hacia el sur hasta las cercanías de Orotina y el río Tárcoles. Asciende hasta los 500 m. de elevación o más en las laderas de las montañas adyacentes, y hasta los 1000 m. al oeste del Valle Central, donde es regular hasta Grecia y esporádico hasta San José. Es accidental en la vertiente del Caribe (Valle del Reventazón, Estación Biológica La Selva).

Distribución fuera de Costa Rica

Se encuentra desde el oeste de México hasta Costa Rica.

Distribución de Area de conservación

GuanacastePacifico CentralTempisqueArenalCordillera Volcanica Central

Descripción

Descripción científica

Mide 9.5 cm. y pesa 4.8 grs. Es de tamaño mediano; es el único colibrí costarricense con la región inferior canela uniforme y la cola rufa.

El adulto es verde bronceado por encima y las coberteras supracaudales muestran el borde rufo. Las timoneras son rufo castaño con el borde bronce en la punta, y toda la región inferior es rufa canela uniforme (en promedio es más clara en las hembras), con la garganta más clara. El pico del macho es rojo con la punta negra, y el de la hembra tiene la maxila negra en gran parte, con rojo solo en la base y el culmen. Las patas son fuscas.

Los ejemplares juveniles presentan el borde rufo en las plumas de la cara, la coronilla y la rabadilla. A menudo son más pálidos por debajo. La maxila es negra.

Información taxonómica

Reino: Animalia

Filo: Chordata

Clase: Aves

Orden: Apodiformes

Familia: Trochilidae

Género: Amazilia

In the 100's of Hummingbirds I have photographed I have never gotten and image with this happening. Too unique to pass up

This is a Female Broad-bill Hummingbird.

Filming a hummingbird is like eating potato chips. You can't stop

This image doesn't do justice to his brilliant ruby throat. I'm going to have to work on improving my exposure of him.

Continuous activity around the feeder this summer. These tiny birds do not like to share.

These little guys will be leaving us soon so have to take as many shots as I can while they're still here.

Wenas Campground, Yakima Co., WA

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird drinking from weigela last summer. Clarence-Rockland, Ontario.

Back home again - the Hummingbird visiting in bright sunlight.

I would have liked to have had some at even higher shutter speed but they come and go so quickly.

The purple behind her is our Rhodedendrum bush.

image description

Photos cannot be used or taken without permission.

Blue diamond.

Whee! We just returned from an Aperture Academy workshop in Costa Rica. Not surprisingly, one focus was to photograph hummingbirds. You might say I was in hummingbird heaven.

This was taken in Bosque de Paz, or Forest of Peace, which is a large private biological reserve. It is located on on the Continental Divide between Costa Rica's National Poas Volcano Park and National Juan Castro Blanco Water Park. There are many feeders just outside the lodge, so all we had to do was step outside to have hummingbirds whizzing around us.

Of course, the feeders made the photography a bit challenging, trying to get shots without the feeder in the frame. Every once in a while, I got lucky.

This is a male Violet Sabrewing. He was the largest of the many hummingbirds here, but amongst the hardest to capture. I have only cropped this from the left and right sides - vertically, this is full frame!

Ruby Throated Hummingbird - Green Spring Gardens

Front Porch Feeder

Irvine, CA

30 JAN 2016