Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds are the smallest of all birds, measuring between 2.5-8 inches.
There are between 330 and 352 species of hummingbirds in the New World, most
of which are found in the tropics. There are no hummingbirds in the Eastern
Hemisphere.
There are 112 species of hummingbirds in all of the North America, with 26
species observed north of Mexico. 17 of these have bred in the United States and Canada, 12
have been observed in California.
The Ruby-Throated hummingbird is the only hummingbird that breeds east of the
Mississippi River.
Ruby-Throated hummingbirds are so lightweight that you could mail 8 of them for
the price of a 41-cent stamp.
It would take 150 average-sized male hummingbirds to equal 1 pound.
This
tiny flyer weighs about as much as a U.S. penny, yet manages to complete a non-stop flight
over the Gulf of Mexico during migration - a distance of some 500+ miles.
Hummingbirds beat their wings at a rate of 40-80 per second and fly 30 miles per hour.
Hummingbirds are the only species of birds that can truly fly backwards and upside
down. Their wings move in a figure-eight pattern, allowing them to hover and fly in
all directions.
The heart rate for a hummingbird is between 500 and 1260 beats per minute during
the day and drops to below 50 during the night.
Females
build their nest and rear young without any help from the males.
While hummingbirds enjoy nectar from feeders and flowers, a large part of their diet
is also made up of insects.
To survive, hummingbirds must drink almost twice their weight in nectar every
day.
Most hummingbirds fly south for the winter. Many hummingbird species may be
seen during the winter season. Leave at least one feeder out in the winter and you
may play host to one.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions for the festival, please contact us at Woodford Hummingbird Festival.