- Hummingbirds beat their wings about 78 times per second. During a display dive, their wings can beat up to 200 times per second.
- They take about 250 breaths per minute.
- Their hearts beat about 1,260 times per minute.
- Their tongues can reach out over 2-3" and can easil;y be seen in a clear test tube.
- They have 1,500 feathers
- During migration they must fly 500 miles nonstop over the Gulf of Mexico to reach their wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America. To make the trip, they must eat enough so they weight 1 1/2 times their usual weight.
- They can fly at speeds of 60 miles per hour and can fly forwards, backwards, up, down, sideways, and even upside down briefly, but they can't walk.
- They consume half their body weight (1/8 lb.) in food every day. That would be like an average kid eating about 40 to 50 pounds of food a day.
- Average life span is 3-5 years. Maximum 12 years.
Hummingbirds are extremely loyal to feeding sites. A hummingbird that feeds in your yard one year will return to that feeder the next. As the male Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is so territorial, one key is to offer lots of feeders. No matter what kind of feeders you decide to use, remember two Golden Rules: Keep the feeder clean and the nectar fresh. Hummers keep their distance from fermented nectar.
Want to watch a live streaming nest cam which shows a hummer building her nest? -- go to:
http://www.livestream.com/hummingbirdsociety
TheFamilyStore.net offers a wonderful collection of hummer products from nectar and feeders to hummingbird-themed products. Go to:
http://www.thefamilystore.net/Hummingbirds.htm
