Flaps its wings |
Have you ever head a hummingbird? If you have, you know why it's called a hummingbird. A hummingbird flaps its wings up to 80 times per second. See how many times you can wave your hand in a second to get and idea of how fast their wings really move. The wings move so fast it makes a buzzing or humming sound. They are the only bird that can fly sideways, backwards, or hover like a helicopter. next |
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Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world. They measure about four inches in length and have a wingspan of five inches. That's about as long as your hand including the fingers. They eat tiny insects and suck nectar from flowers. They visit over 1,000 flowers daily to get the food they need. next |
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This is a male ruby throated humming- bird Hummingbirds need to eat all of the time since they use up a lot of energy. The nectar in the flower supplies the birds with water, sugar, vitamins and minerals. Their beak is long and slender. Their tongues are shaped like a long, thin tube. They use their tongues the same way we use a straw. next |
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This hummingbird has competition and must wait for the butterfly to leave since it is not big enough to eat it. Hummingbirds will eat small insects. You can get an idea about the size of this hummingbird compared to the size of a butterfly. next |
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Look at the breast feathers on this hummingbird. Its feathers look like they are glowing. The feathers are iridescent. That means they change color in the light. There are over 300 different kinds of hummingbirds. Most of the hummingbirds have brilliant blue, green or purple iridescent feathers. Be sure to look for the bright colors on other hummingbirds. next |
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Did you know that hummingbirds use the sticky webs of spiders to hold their nests together. They have small nests that are not much bigger than a walnut. Hummingbirds don't really need large nests since they are so small and light. Did you know that hummingbirds weigh less than a pencil? next |
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Hummingbirds lay the smallest eggs in the world. They always lay two eggs and each one is about the size of your little fingernail. After being laid the mother must incubate the eggs for 16 days before they hatch. The female humming- bird makes the nest, incubates the eggs and feeds her young. The male does not stay after mating with the female. next |
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When babies are born, they are smaller than a bumble bee. In just a few weeks they are almost as big as their mother. In about f our weeks they are ready to leave the nest. They are fed by their mother until six weeks old. Babies are born blind and featherless. They live for about five years. next |
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Here you can see a mother bird feeding her ever-hungry babies. She stores the nectar or insects in her body. Then she pushes her beak deep into the baby's throat and pumps the food into their throats. Hummingbirds lay their eggs between March and July. next |
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Links to more information about hummingbirds.
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CD-ROM's, and videos.
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