The Original Hummers
by JoAnne Zeterberg on June 1, 2007 in Things To Do |
Say the word “hummer” to most people these days and the first thing that springs to mind is a tricked-out, über-trendy SUV. On the trails of the Sonoran Desert, however, “hummer” refers to one of the most amazing families of birds you’ll find anywhere. How amazing, you ask? Just check out these hummingbird facts:
- The hummingbird family includes the world’s smallest birds. The species that live in the Sonoran Desert range in length from 2 ½ to 5 inches and range in weight from 2 to 10 grams.
- The males of the species sport iridescent feathers in vibrant colors like crimson, rose, green, purple, bronze and cinnamon.
- Hummingbirds’ hearts are larger in proportion to their body size than those of any other warm-blooded animal. They also have the most rapid heart rate for a bird: up to 500 beats per minute while resting and 1,260 beats per minute during flight.
- Powerful flight muscles allow hummers to fly in any direction, including backwards, and to hover in one place for long periods of time. During a dive, a hummingbird can reach speeds of more than 60 miles per hour.
- Hummingbirds have the most rapid wing beats of any bird species – up to 80 beats per second.
- About the only thing nature’s hummers have in common with their automotive counterparts is their frequent need to refuel. Hummingbirds consume up to 70 percent of their body weight in food (nectar and small, soft-bodied insects) per day and 4 to 8 times their body weight in water.
- Hummingbird nests, which are not much larger than a jigger glass, are typically made of fibrous plant down or seeds and mosses, bound together and to a branch with spider webbing. Depending on the species, nests may be lined with hair or feathers and decorated with leaves, bark strips or lichens for camouflage.
- There are over 300 species of hummingbirds. They live exclusively in the Western Hemisphere, from Alaska to the tip of South America.
So, next time you’re out hiking in the desert (or even just relaxing in your own back yard) keep an eye out for nature’s original hummers – they may not be über-trendy but they’re amazing to watch.
Related Posts:
