The Wonderful Little “Hummer”

Sure I’ve seen them in pictures, on the television and in statue form but never live up close and in person until I moved to Door County, Wisconsin. You may wonder what I’m talking about. Its nature’s itsy bitsy little wonder – the hummingbird. One day while watering my back garden I heard this buzzing, I immediately froze. Oh no, I thought, it’s one of those GIANT bumble bees.* Standing as still as I could, I started surveying the area. There right in front of me, getting a drink from my garden hose, was the most beautifully colored tiniest bird I have even seen. Being the critter curious person that I am, I was compelled to do some reading, and here’s what I found:

The oldest historical mention of hummingbirds dates back to the Taino Native Americans, around the time of Columbus. The Taino believe that hummingbirds are the spreaders of life on Earth, and their warriors were known as Colibir or Hummingbird warriors, because they are a peaceful bird that will defend their territory with the heart of an eagle.[A]

There are approximately 330 different types of hummingbirds and they are a migratory species. The Bee hummingbird is the smallest bird in the world weighing only 0.06oz. (1.8gr). Other species weigh in at about 3-4gm; to give you an idea of weight a nickel is about 5gm. They are about 3.5” long from tip of bill to tail. Depending on the species of hummingbird they flap their wings 50-80 times per second producing a hum hence their name. Along with their rapid wings the heart must beat accordingly. The heart beat of hummingbirds that are at rest is approximately 50-180 beats per minute, and about 1220 beats per minute in flight. The hummingbird is the only bird with the ability to hover in mid-air. Besides hovering the hummingbird can fly backwards, vertically and sometimes even up side down. Their average lifespan is 3-4 years. In 1976 one specimen was banded and later captured again in 1987, so sometimes they live longer.

The ruby-throated hummingbird is the most recognized for its iridescent feathers. Its unusual coloring in part is caused by light refracting through its feather, some of which are not pigmented. With each changing angle of light upon its feathers along with movement, the colors we see change.

 

With the exception of insects, hummingbirds while in flight have the highest metabolism of all animals, a necessity in order to support the rapid beating of their wings.[B]

So to support this high metabolism they must eat at least 5 to 10 times an hour, consuming at least two thirds of its own body weight each day. Their diet consists of flower nectar, tree sap, occasionally pollen and tiny insects, but mainly its sugar. At night during rest the hummingbird is able to lower its body temperature to conserve energy.

Good choices of food producing plants for hummingbirds includes such trees or bushes as Azaleas, Mimosa, Weigela, Cape Honeysuckle and Flowering Quince. Another semi-permanent attraction is a perennial bed with Bee Balm, Columbine, Lupine, Coral Bells and Canna. You can also plant a wide range of annuals like Fuschia, Impatiens, Petunias and Firespike, but consider growing some of your own plants from seed, as many flowers that are nursery grown, tend not to have as much nectar.[C]

You can also put out hummingbird feeder which you will find are mostly red because that is the color of flower they are most attracted to. They say never put honey it can ferment a dangerous bacteria, but my editor could not find any source to back this up, see Wikipedia. So play it safe buy either commercial formula or make your own.

Here is the recipe for hummingbird nectar: One part white granulated sugar to four parts water, boil for two minutes, let cool, and store fridge. Remember to only fill your feeder about one third or to the halfway mark since it will take many birds to empty it. Don’t forget to clean your feeders every few days to prevent mold.

Currently here at the home of Kritter Korner we are planning a planting of honeysuckle and butterfly bushes this spring to help attract more Hummers (hummingbirds), as well as butterflies to our yard. Now for some interesting myths, culture and trivia

• The Aztec god Huitzilopochtli is often depicted as a hummingbird.
• One of the Nazca Lines depicts a hummingbird.
• The Ohlone tells the story of how a Hummingbird brought fire to the world. See an article at the National Parks Conservation Association’s website for a recounting.
• Trinidad and Tobago is known as “The land of the hummingbird,” and a hummingbird can be seen on that nation’s coat of arms and 1 cent coin.
• Many popular songs have been written under the title “Hummingbird”, including separate works by B.B. King, Wilco, Leon Russell, John Mayer, Frankie Laine, Cat Stevens, Seals and Crofts, Merzbow and Yuki.
• Canadian company CHC Helicopter Corporation uses a hummingbird as its corporate logo[D]
• The hummingbird is so small, that an insect, the Praying Mantis is its natural enemy.
• They are the only bird that can hover, and fly backwards as well as straight up or down
• Hummingbirds can’t walk
• The average life of a hummingbird is 3-4 years, although one specimen was caught in 1976 in Colorado, banded, and captured again in 1987[E]

So for those of you who have the right flower or put up a feeder, enjoy this beautiful, delicate bird of nature.

* – Bumble Bees are the most gentle, non-aggressive (black-yellow banded) of the bee species, and normally isn’t a threat.

---

[A] Wild Bird Watching

[B] Wikipedia

[C] Wild Bird Watching

[D] Wikipedia

[E] Wild Bird Watching