All of us in our lives have observed the beauty of hummingbirds, we have been enthralled with this small but beautiful bird. In this post we are going to show you all the information about the hummingbird, so that you can learn more about they. That is why I invite you to continue reading.
Hummingbird Information
We have all been amazed at some point by the elegance and beauty of these beautiful birds. It is in this post where we are going to teach you everything related to it. We will explain everything about their behavior, anatomy, their types, their diet, their habitat, their reproduction and among many other important facts.
What is a hummingbird?
It’s a type of tropical birds which are also known as hummingbird, quindes or even "bird - fly". These beautiful tropical birds belong to the trochilid family (Trochilinae). They are very small birds with a range of colors that are very prominent and characteristic of their species.
Some of the particularities or features of these birds, we find their particular size. Which are small by normal standards, they are considered the smallest birds in the world. Also another outstanding feature is their way of flying, they are very peculiar since the speed they use for it are considered the fastest. They can flap their little wings up to 200 times per second.
This ability will allow these small birds to remain static in the air. As if they were floating, they also have the ability to fly backwards. Without causing any problem, therefore, these small birds have a fine and delicate ability when flying. This is one of the most outstanding and outstanding characteristics of these birds. Throughout this article you will find many of the most outstanding features that characterize these small tropical birds.
Features
As already explained, this type of birds present a great variety of very outstanding peculiarities. Among these peculiarities and characteristics we can find; size and weight, how much measures, how much it weighs and how to fly.
Size and weight
These small birds or also known as trochilids make up the bird family. Which is composed of more than 320 species of hummingbirds. These characteristics such as the size, the shape of their small bodies and their great variety of colors. This great diversity between these species is due to these same characteristics, size, color and shape, this is what makes them unique. They have no comparison with other birds.
The plumage of these splendid birds is of a wide range of colors, bright and striking. Most of these small birds have a base plumage. Which are fundamentally green or even light gray, with some brushstrokes of the metallic type. This is what gives it that touch of elegance and mystery and is what sets it apart from other small birds.
But these characteristics vary according to the sex of the hummingbird. In males they are characterized by having a very striking spot or patch, that is, bright, on the throat of these small birds. In addition to this spot, we can find another of a bluish-violet color that passes under the eye and continues its journey backwards. The feathers of this spot usually rise when the bird is excited.
On the other hand, in females these spots, which are very unique in males, are usually smaller. Both the spots on the throat and the ear are usually a little smaller, which is why the characteristics that differentiate between the two sexes are very few. The sexual dimorphism, with this we refer to the characteristics that will differentiate between the male and the female, is very little.
That is why, to the scientists, who are the ones who study these birds. They find it difficult since it is . difficult to differentiate or even identify the specimens of each sexo. It is so complicated that a small sample is usually taken for DNA analysis. In order to identify the sex of these small and unique birds. The study of these birds is very complex due to various factors.
We can highlight that these small birds have a forked or round tail. Very large for the full size of its small body. However, as I explained to you before, among these 320 hummingbird species, we found one species that has a very unique tail. This species is the Topaza Bella, these small birds can be found in the northeast of South America, which has a cross-shaped tail.
Then we find another of the species known as Sappho sparganura, which can be found in Bolivia, Argentina and Peru. These are characterized by having a forked tail. There are other variations, but these are the most important and most outstanding to identify among the species. As for their beaks, they tend to be black and very thin, there is a hummingbird that has a longer beak.
This species is known as the sword-billed hummingbird, the beak of this small bird is approximately 10 cm long. Hummingbirds have a forked tongue inside their beaks. This has a tube-like shape that it uses very effectively and allows it to obtain through it the nectar from the flowers that it needs to feed itself.
how they fly
EAt some point in our lives we have seen these beautiful birds. Its wings when they are flying are hardly noticeable, we cannot observe it due to the speed of its flapping. The most outstanding characteristics of these birds are their splendid and amazing way of flying. This is what is most noticeable when observing it.
Hummingbirds can beat their wings an average of 80 to 200 times per second, this is what allows the bird to remain “floating”. This ability is what will allow hummingbirds to remain static or suspended in the air without having to move forward, all style is due to their unique way of flying. This way of flying cannot be perceived by the human eye due to the great speed that these little ones flap their wings, only brief glimpses can be observed.
All the Hummingbird wings move in such a way that they cannot be perceived by us. This ability will allow him to fly as if he were adopting the way of flying from a helicopter. By this we mean that it can fly, up, down, forward and even backwards. It achieves this without causing any change in its way of flying, all due to the force and speed with which its wings beat. However, this is the standard classification.
Since there is a species that is known for its great ability to flap its wings above what is "normal" for this species. This hummingbird is known as Calypte Anna (Ana), this species can flap its wings more than 400 times. With a speed of the length of its small body per second. It is due to this singular characteristic that it tends to be appreciated as the fastest vertebrate that exists.
As for its little legs, they are thin, short and very fragile. That is why many of the people who have studied them consider that due to their fragility they cannot walk with them. This is why, perhaps, they have strength in their little wings. However, several species have been seen walking for very short periods of time.
Another important characteristic in these tropical birds is their metabolism, which is considered to be very fast. An example of this is the beating of their little hearts. This characteristic is present in the species known as blue throat or as they are known by their scientific name, which is Lamporis clemenciae. The hearts of this species can beat 1200 times per minute, which makes their metabolism extremely fast.
how much do they weigh
Hummingbirds are classified into several species, therefore their weight and size can vary. Although there is an average which can vary between 1,5 g to 12 g. This, as was said, has to be in accordance with its classification or species.
How much
The hummingbird is known to be the smallest bird in the world. The size depends and varies, as well as its weight, on the species or family to which it belongs, having an average that goes from 5 cm (2 inches), which is the smallest, up to 25 cm (10 inches). the largest of them.
Types of Hummingbird
There is a great variety of species in what is the trochilid family. These will have 124 genera and about 320 species of hummingbird. This small tropical and exotic bird is known by a wide variety of names. Among them we can find; fly bird, quindes, hummingbird, quindes, among other names of native origin. Some of the most popular are:
- Los Colibries coruscans (Gould, 1846) – Brilliant Hummingbird.
- El Colibri delphinae (Lesson, 1839) – Brown Hummingbird.
- Colibri thalassinus (Swainson, 1827) – Violet-eared or Blue-eared Hummingbird.
- Colibri serrirostris (Vieillot, 1816) – Purple-eared Hummingbird.
- The Colibri cyanotus (Bourcier, 1843) – Verdemar Hummingbird.
- Lophornis adorabilis – White-crested Coquette.
- Chalcostigma herrani – Herran's Hummingbird.
Time of life
Hummingbirds have an average life expectancy of between 4 and 5 years. This will depend a lot on the species to which it belongs. There are species that have managed to reach the age of 12 years, which can vary according to the species to which they belong.
This species is very vulnerable and very fragile, which is why many do not reach a year of life. Since their incubation period is very difficult, complicated and fragile, there is also the time when they have to leave the nest. It is in this last situation that they are most susceptible to falling into the hands of their predators.
Those specimens that are found living in gardens or parks are easy prey for the cats that abound in these places and even for those people who do not respect and wish to keep small exotic birds caged.
Behavior
The behavior of these small exotic birds is very exclusive, since they live alone or in places. It is very rare to find more than two of these small exotic birds, since they are very irritable, they tend to see discord between them, therefore, they are not found together. Nor do they like to be close to other types of birds, they are considered nomads. They tend to be aggressive if they are disturbed, especially the old specimens that attack without compassion in mid-flight.
Generally speaking, these birds are known to be very sedentary. They are territorial, since they mark their territory and do not let other specimens enter it. If it happens, there can be a fight between them to the death. They tend to be very suspicious of any sound or movement, which is why they are very difficult to study.
Where they live
These small exotic birds live in those tropical and subtropical regions, but can also be located in temperate regions. Between these regions are South and North America. According to the hummingbird information we have collected, These are native to Central America, they can be found from Alaska to the center and north of the South American continent.
For this, it canThey can be found in certain subtropical zones such as Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile. The natural habitat of these small exotic birds is not only found in places with the plains, since they have the ability to climb up to 5.000 meters high, therefore, they can be found in placescough.
What does the hummingbird eat
The feeding of these small exotic birds according to the hummingbird information we have collected, It is basically made up of the nectar that the flowers have. This is a natural substance, which is composed entirely of sugar, its metabolism is very high, as explained above. Because of this they need to feed on the sugar in the nectar of flowers. In this way they obtain the necessary energy that they need and that their small bodies demand.
As an important fact, these small exotic tropical birds are attracted to those flowers that have a striking color. As are the orange and red colors, but this does not mean that they reject the other colors. Hummingbirds will not only feed on the sugar provided by the nectar of flowers, but they will also need to eat protein.
They will obtain these proteins through the ingestion of small insects, such as ants, wasps, bees, among others. This protein intake is only going to be a quarter of what these little tropical birds consume. On rare occasions hummingbirds have been seen feeding on tree sap, the latter being uncommon but not impossible. This mostly happens when a woodpecker leaves a gap in that tree, which then begins to secrete sap, which the hummingbirds will take advantage of to feed.
how it reproduces
Hummingbirds reproduce during their mating season. The males are considered excellent procreators, scientists say that they can even mate with up to a dozen of them. females. But only in that is what they contribute, in return it is the females who are in charge of hatching the eggs and feed their young.
These small tropical birds make their nests suspended in the branches, with feathers and cobwebs. Which give them the shape with their tongue and even stepping on them. During the incubation of the eggs, they tend to be very aggressive and territorial. The females lay two eggs a day apart and then proceed to brood them for 12 to 16 days.
The Babies They remain in their nest for 14 days, while their mother feeds them nectar from flowers. After lasting 4 weeks in the nest, they proceed to leave it and try to get their own food. But they return to their nest at night looking for safety. It is at the eighth week that they decide to leave the nest to make their home.
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