Maverick Elton, Backyard Naturalist (by Maverick)

Interesting Facts About Hummingbirds

  • Hummingbirds are the only birds that can hover in one spot and fly backwards and fly sideways.
  • Their wings beat up to 80 times a second and they can fly as fast as 65 mph.
  • They are as long as a baseball card.
  • They love to fight.
  • Their wings make a humming sound.
  • They make squeaky noises but do not sing.
  • Their nest is made from spider webs and plant parts. It is less than an inch across.
  • They love the color red. So if you want hummingbirds you should have a red feeder. If you wear red they will check you out and if you hold a red flower in your hand they might try to drink from it.
  • Your feeder should be one part sugar to four parts water. You should change the feeder water once every three days so it doesn’t get mold.
  • They have a very long forked tongue and they can lap up nectar 13 times a second.
  • These pictures are of Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds, these are the only kinds of hummingbirds in this area.
  • In Central and South America there are more than 300 kinds of hummingbirds.
  • The male Ruby-Throated Hummingbird’s throat looks black unless it is in the sun, then it looks orange-red. The female has a white throat.

I like the hummingbirds. It is fun to watch them chase each other.

Do you have hummingbird questions?

This is a female. My Pop-Pop took this picture at his house.

    I used these books:
    Why Don’t Woodpeckers Get Headaches: And Other Answers to Bird Questions You Know You Want to Ask
    National Geographic My First Pocket Guide Garden Birds
    National Audubon Society North America Birdfeeder Guide

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