All About Hummingbirds

Fun Facts

A hummingbird’s wings beat between 50 and 200 flaps per second
An average hummingbird’s heart beats more than 1,200 beats per minute
Hummingbirds take an average of 250 breaths per minute, even while at rest
They have no sense of smell but have very keen eyesight
Hummingbirds lay the smallest eggs of all birds, measuring less than 1/2 inch

Anatomy

Hummingbirds are the world’s smallest species of birds. An average hummingbird is no more than 3 inches tall and weighs less than a nickel! However, they have several distinct features that will help you to identify which birds are living in your area. CROWNWINGBILLTHROATCHINCHESTFLANKFOOTBACKPRIMARY FEATHERSRUMPTAIL3 INCHES

Species

There are more than 300 hummingbird species in the world. The majority of species are found in Central and South America. In the United States, eight species regularly breed and up to two dozen species visit. Below are some of the common species found in the United States.
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Ruby-Throated

• Long, thin bill

• Iridescent, bright red throat

• White upper chest

• Greenish gray sides and back

Costa's Hummingbird

Costa's

• Bright purple throat and sides of face

• Green sides and back

• White and gray chest and belly

Rufous Hummingbird

Rufous

• Red and gold iridescent throat

• Green forehead

• Reddish-tan face and flanks

• Bright orange back and belly

Anna's Hummingbird

Anna's

• Stout body with a short straight bill

• Iridescent pink crown and throat

• Green and grey back and belly

Allen's Hummingbird

Allen's

• Tiny, compact hummingbird

• Scarlet throat

• Bronze or green crown and back

• Reddish-tan on sides of face and flanks

Calliope Hummingbird

Calliope

• Tiny hummingbird

• Green upperparts

• Rosy red and white streaked throat

Black-Chinned Hummingbird

Black-Chinned

• Small, slender hummingbird

• Fairly straight bill

• Black Throat

• Metallic green flanks

Migration

Hummingbird Migration
A hummingbird's maximum forward flight speed is 30 mph, though they can reach up to 60 mph in a dive.
The map shows the southern winter and northern summer migration patterns of Allen’s, Ruby-throated, Rufous, Costa’s, Black-chinned, and Calliope hummingbirds.
Hummingbirds lead non-communal lives and neither live nor migrate in flocks.
The Rufous hummingbird has the longest migration of any hummingbird species, flying more than 3,000 miles from Alaska to Mexico.

Diet

Hummingbirds get the energy they need primarily from flower nectar and hummingbird feeders.
For protein and other nutrients, they also eat soft-bodied insects and spiders.
When nectar is scarce, hummingbirds will also feed on tree sap. While it is not as sugary as nectar, it provides enough nourishment to keep them going!
Hummingbirds get most of their water from nectar and do not usually drink from other sources. However, they often use water sources for preening and bathing.
Attraction

Attraction

While simply hanging a hummingbird feeder can be enough to catch their attention, you can do more to invite them into your yard! Hummingbirds, like most other animals, require 3 main elements for their habitat: food, water, and shelter. Doing the things below can help to make your backyard a happy hummingbird habitat.
Clean feeders at least once a week to prevent spoilage
Trees provide shelter and a place to rest
Add a water mister to your bird bath
Plant native plants on a continuous bloom schedule to ensure visits all season

Flowers

Hummingbirds feed on nectar-rich flowers. Planting native flowers is an easy way to make your yard a perfect hummingbird habitat. While hummingbirds love the color red, the most important factor is that the flowers must produce plenty of nectar. Choose tubular flowers, like the ones below, to attract hummingbirds to your garden.
Flowers
(1) Impatiens (2) Bleeding Hearts (3) Columbine (4) Viburnum (5) Salvia (6) Cannas (7) Honeysuckle (8) Petunias
(1) Diamond Wine Top-Fill Feeder (2) Handheld & Tabletop Feeder (3) Big Gulp Glass Feeder

Types of Feeders

There are many types of hummingbird feeders to suit any hummingbird habitat.
Depending on the sugar concentration, a single hummingbird can consume anywhere from 5 to 14 times its body weight in nectar per day!
Hummingbirds can feed 10-15 times per hour, drinking about 1/100th of an ounce each time.
Fill your feeder with a sugar water solution with a ratio of 4 cups of water to 1 cup of granular white sugar. Do not add honey, molasses, raw sugar, or other sweeteners.
Shop For Feeders

Threats

Habitat Loss

Urbanization, agriculture, deforestation, and development in tropical areas threatens the survival of dozens of hummingbird species. Because these birds are so small and territorially sensitive, even minor development can have a tragic impact on rare species of hummingbirds. You can help by making a hummer habitat in your own backyard!

Pesticides

Not only do pesticides and insecticides eliminate the insects that are an essential food source for hummingbirds, but the concentration of chemicals in the environment can severely impact these tiny birds. Avoid using pesticides near your feeders or plants that attract hummingbirds.

Cats

Outdoor pets are a major threat to hummingbirds. Because hummingbirds feed repeatedly at the same food sources, a cat can lie in ambush; one swipe of a paw can kill a hummingbird. Keep cats inside and avoid placing feeders within their reach.

Window Collisions

Window collisions are common and often deadly for hummingbirds. Be sure to place your feeder at least 10 feet from windows and use paint, decals, or screens to break up the reflections on clean windows!

Bad Feeders

Dirty hummingbird feeders can harbor toxic mold that kills hummingbirds, and feeders that leak excessively can attract bees and wasps that will attack hummingbirds. Be sure to clean your feeder every 2-3 days, or more often if placed in direct sunlight or in especially hot weather.

How can you help the

Hummingbirds

There are many things you can do to help hummingbirds with their migration, habitat, and health. Now that you understand how hummingbirds are threatened and have some ideas on how to address the threats, there is still more you can do to help with the conservation of these beautiful flying jewels.

Be a Member of a Hummingbird Organization

Hummingbird organizations provide hummingbird-focused education and conservation through workshops, festivals, newsletters and much more. These organizations rely heavily on individual/family memberships and corporate sponsorships to be able to spread the word about hummingbird habitats and hummingbird teachings.For more information on hummingbird organizations, visit www.hummingbirdsociety.org, www.hummonnet.org, and www.abcbirds.org.

Support Hummingbird Education

It’s important to aid the institutions working diligently to research hummingbird health, diseases, and conservation. Some active projects at the UC Davis Hummingbird Health and Conservation Program include conservation genetics, population health status and diseases, and identifying threats to hummingbird populations. For more information on the UC Davis Hummingbird Health and Conservation Program, visit hummingbirds.vetmed.ucdavis.epu.

Get Involved with Citizen Science

Citizen science is collaboration between scientists and volunteers for the purpose of collecting and analyzing data. In the hummingbird community, citizen science can determine any changes in migratory patterns or identify avian diseases. ProjectFeederWatch is an excellent way to log the bird activity in your backyard and in turn, provide scientists with much needed bird data. For more information on ProjectFeederWatch, visit www.feederwatch.org.