The Amazing Hummingbird

Hummingbirds are one of the most fascinating of all birds. For a start, they are tiny, most of them here in the US measuring between three and four inches. Yet, in spite of their tiny size, they are aggressive. Quarrelsome with each other, they don’t hesitate to tangle with much larger birds. They are able to escape most of their enemies because of their speed (up to 60 mph) and their superior maneuverability.

That wonderful maneuvering capability is due to a special feature of their wings. The wings of most birds have powered downstrokes. In hummers, both upstrokes and downstrokes are powered. They can fly backward, forward, sideways, hover like a helicopter, and even fly upside-down briefly. However, their legs and feet are so weak they can barely walk.

Hummingbirds’ wings beat approximately 78 times per second, and can beat up to 200 times per second during a display dive. Their hearts beat about 1260 times a minute, and they breathe about 250 times a minute. They will consume up to 1/2 of their body weight each day. And, during migration, they will fly 500 miles nonstop over the Gulf of Mexico to reach their wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America. To make such a trip possible, they will eat enough so they weigh 1.5 times their normal weight.

A complicated courtship is conducted in the air, and the male disappears completely once the mating is over, leaving the female to finish all the household chores by herself. She will build a beautifully delicate cup-shaped nest, approximately one inch deep and one inch diameter, and will happily use nesting material you offer to help. She will lay just two or three pea-sized eggs, incubate them, and care completely for the nestlings, feeding them as much as five times in an hour. Flower nectar, and the sugar water found at feeders, provide hummingbirds with the energy needed for the job of getting their primary nourishment: soft-bodied insects and spiders.

So, how can you attract these feathered charmers into your yard? Primarily, with flowers – especially brilliant ones. But, by all means, provide them with nectar feeders, nesting materials, and water misters to fly through. Keep the feeders filled with syrup, using the following recipe:

• One part ordinary white sugar to four parts water
• Boil the water first, then measure, so the proportions will be correct

You may store unused syrup in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. The syrup can spoil quickly in the heat, particularly if the feeder is in the sun, and hummingbirds will keep their distance from fermented nectar. Throw out any unconsumed syrup, clean and refill, after three to four days when the temperature is around 80 deg. F, as often as every two days if it goes over 90 deg. F. If they don’t empty the feeder in that amount of time, don’t fill it all the way. At least once a month, soak the feeder for an hour in a solution of ¼ cup bleach to one gallon of water, clean with a bottle brush and rinse thoroughly before refilling.

Keep the feeders clean and the nectar fresh, offer nesting materials to provide a natural replacement for hard-to-find materials, and have water nearby. Hummingbirds are extremely loyal to feeding sites and will return each year, providing a splendid show for your enjoyment.

By: Blueskies

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Susan Woodward inherited her love of birds from her grandfather, whose hobby was photographing and banding birds. She has enjoyed feeding and watching the birds in her own backyard for decades. She is the owner of It’s a Bird’s World, an online store featuring bird feeders, bird houses, bird baths and accessories. To view hummingbird feeders and products, visit www.ItsaBirdsWorld.com/hummingbirds.