Of all the groups into which the scientists have divided the birds. The Hummingbirds are the most elegant and varied in form, brilliant in plumage, agile, and graceful in movement.
In this article, you will get stunning information about food, migration, size, flight, habits, fight, ablution, nests, eggs, and many interesting facts about Hummingbirds.
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| All about Hummingbirds. |
1.Hummingbirds Food.
Hummingbirds are popularly supposed to live upon the nectar of flowers, and unquestionably this substance forms an important part of their food.
Close observation has shown, however, that these little birds do not visit flowers wholly for the purpose of gathering honey, nor do they obtain all their food from flowers.
The researcher has observed them hovering in front of a cobweb, picking off insects and perhaps spiders entangled in the net.
They have also been observed to capture their food on the wing, like flycatchers.
Stomach examination shows that a considerable part of their food consists of insects and spiders, with sometimes a very little vegetable matter.
Only one species of hummingbird inhabits the eastern part of the United States. This is the ruby-throat (Archilochus colubris) which is more or less common almost everywhere in that region.
Close observation has shown, however, that these little birds do not visit flowers wholly for the purpose of gathering honey, nor do they obtain all their food from flowers.
The researcher has observed them hovering in front of a cobweb, picking off insects and perhaps spiders entangled in the net.
They have also been observed to capture their food on the wing, like flycatchers.
Stomach examination shows that a considerable part of their food consists of insects and spiders, with sometimes a very little vegetable matter.
Only one species of hummingbird inhabits the eastern part of the United States. This is the ruby-throat (Archilochus colubris) which is more or less common almost everywhere in that region.
The researcher has seen 100 of these tiny creatures hovering about the flowers of a buckeye tree, and this number was maintained all day and for many days, though the individuals were going and coming all the time.
In order to obtain definite knowledge as to the food of hummingbirds in general, and the ruby-throat in particular, 59 stomachs of this species were examined.
In order to obtain definite knowledge as to the food of hummingbirds in general, and the ruby-throat in particular, 59 stomachs of this species were examined.
Although the hummingbirds are the smallest of the avian race, their stomachs are much smaller in proportion to their bodies than those of other birds, while their livers are much larger.
This would indicate these birds live to a considerable extent upon concentrated sweets, as stated above, and that the insects, spiders, etc., found in the stomachs do not represent by any means all their food.
The quantities of food found in these tiny stomachs are so minute and the insects comprising them are so small that identification is very difficult and uncertain, but it is believed that the following statements do not contain any serious errors.
2. Migration of Hummingbirds.
While in tropical regions the Hummingbirds are, like other kinds,
permanent residents, or at most make comparatively slight migrations
when the food supply of a given locality fails them, or when, on high
mountains, the increasing cold forces them to descend to the warmer
slopes and valleys, those of temperate regions make extensive and
regular migrations like other birds of the same regions, coming from
the south in spring and returning in autumn.
Thus, the common Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Trochilus colubris) has its summer home in eastern North America, where it occupies the extensive region stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to halfway across the British Provinces (at least to latitude 57 degrees north), and from the Atlantic coast to beyond the Mississippi.
It breeds throughout this area but is not known to do so south of the United States.
In winter, however, its range is shifted far to the southward, the northern recorded limit at that season being southern Florida (Punta Rassa, latitude about 29 degrees), and the southern limit in Veragua, the western portion of the Isthmus of Panama, only about 8 degrees north of the equator.
It is thus evident that, notwithstanding their diminutive size, some individuals of this species perform an annual migration of at least 28 degrees of latitude, equivalent to nearly 2,000 statute miles! Oh the opposite side of the continent the highest latitude attained is about that of 61 degrees, on the coast of Alaska, where the Kufous-backed Hummingbird was found by Kotzebue.
The same species winters in Mexico, so that in their migrations those individuals which pass the summer farthest north traverse considerably more than 2,000 miles of territory! It is only in the warm valleys of California and in southern Florida that any species of Humming Bird regularly passes the winter within the borders of the United States; in the former the Anna Humming Bird (Calypte anna) and in the latter the Ruby-throat (Trochilus colubris).
All the species of western North America (including many individuals of G. anna) winter in Mexico, only one of the truly northern species (Selasphorus platycercus) extending its winter range as far as Guatemala.
The vertical range of some species in mountain districts is quite remarkable. The researchers observed examples of Selasphorus platycercus in the dooryard of a ranch in Ruby Valley,
Nevada, the altitude being between 6,000 a and 7,000 feet, and later during the same day saw a single individual of the same species at the extreme summit of the immediately adjacent East Humboldt Mountains, nearly 6,000 feet higher.
3. Hummingbird's size and regions.
The Hummingbirds are exclusively American, they have no representatives in any other part of the world.
When considered superficially, and no structurally, the Sun Birds of the tropical regions of the old World resemble the Hummingbirds in the brilliancy of plumage' but in structure, they are wholly unlike.
The Hummingbirds are the most numerous of all the families of birds that are distinctively American, there being fully live hundred distinct kinds, and new species are being constantly brought to light.
They prefer mountainous districts where within small areas are found the diversity of products and a varied surface of the soil.
The Hummingbirds, as a family, are the smallest of birds, yet many species are larger than the smallest passerine birds, such as Creepers, Kinglets, Bush-tits, and the small Wrens.
The largest of all Hummingbirds are the Patagonia Gigas or Giant Hummingbird. This is a plan colored bird that inhabits the higher portion of the Andes range from Chili to Equador and is about eight and a half inches long.
The smallest Hummingbird, and consequently the smallest of all birds, is Princess Helena's Hummingbird, the most exquisite of all the Hummingbirds of the West Indies, measuring but two and a quarter inches in length.
The Vervain Hummingbird of Jamaica has been until recently considered the smallest Hummingbird, but it is a trifle larger than its Cuban cousin.
They spend the greater part of their lives in the air, frequently hovering before a flower to procure their food, which consists chiefly of minute insects.
4. Hummingbird's flight and habits.
When so employed their body is nearly vertical, the head being held at almost right angles to the body, and the wings beating so rapidly as to form an indistinct haze.
The tail is spread and the bird regulates its position by quickly flirting it to and fro.
The tail is spread and the bird regulates its position by quickly flirting it to and fro.
The Duke of Argyle in his 'Reign of Law" positively asserts; "No bird can ever fly backward."
Many naturalists differ from this author. If one will but closely watch a Hummingbird poised before a flower he can see that the bird can easily move backward or forward assisted by a slight flirt of its tail, a feat that no other bird can perform.
In his magnificent work entitled"A Monograph of the Trochilidae," Mr. Gould, the naturalist, states, "This bird (the Hummingbird) performs every kind of evolution with the utmost ease, frequently rising perpendicularly, flying backward, pirouetting or dancing off, as it were."
While in flight the Hummingbird will frequently poise in mid-air and throw its body into quick and curious contortions as it catches the insects floating in the air.
A peculiar habit of many of the species of Hummingbird inhabiting the United States may be described as follows, The male observes another bird' probably of its own species or otherwise, perched in some exposed position; he will then mount perpendicularly to a height of forty or fifty feet, then with a headlong swoop he plunges downward at the object of his wrath; as he approaches his foe he rises again in a sharp curve to mount, on high and repeat again and again the maneuver.
In California, especially where the Hummingbirds are numerous, we may occasionally see one of these tiny creatures sitting upon some prominent perch engaged in warbling in a shrill weak tune a continuous melody for several minutes.
This song, if it may be called such, is rather monotonous, and can scarcely be heard more than forty or fifty feet away.
5. Hummingbird's Ablutions.
In performing its ablutions, a Hummingbird usually resorts to a waterfall where it dashes hurriedly through the spray a couple of times thus thoroughly wetting its plumage.
After thus wetting its plumage the bird will repair to some convenient porch where it will preen its plumage.
Then engaged in this task, and it is one which they have seen to delight in, it will assume many graceful attitudes in which its gorgeous dress is shown to great advantage.
6. Hummingbird's Fight habit.
The Hummingbirds are very pugnacious and wage incessant warfare on all species of birds, as well as among themselves.
They establish themselves in certain areas and will permit no intruders upon their domain.
During the nesting season, they indiscriminately assail any bird that approaches the vicinity of their nests. and the latter never relinquishes the defeated combatant of doubling, turning, and hiding finally succeeds in making good its escape.
During the nesting season, they indiscriminately assail any bird that approaches the vicinity of their nests. and the latter never relinquishes the defeated combatant of doubling, turning, and hiding finally succeeds in making good its escape.
The conqueror will then return to the feast that his valor has won, or, mounting guard upon some prominent twig, with his glowing breast, turned to the sun and presenting all the radiant colors of emerald, ruby, and sapphire, he will await his opponents return.
These Lilliputian battles are continued all day long, the females participating with all the ardor displayed by the males; and the strength of these pigmy combatants at all commensurate with their fury, their continuous warfare would almost extinguish the family.
But fortunately, with all the fury of those, conflicts their puny strength is such that scarcely a feather is detached from their resplendent plumage.
Anna's Hummingbird, the most common species we have in California. is perhaps the most beautiful of North American Hummingbirds and is quite generally distributed throughout the State.
7. Hummingbirds nests and eggs.
These birds nest about the beds of bright-tinted flowers which are so numerous in this State.
The nests of the Hummingbirds are among the most beautiful examples of bird architecture. They are composed of fine materials and are made extremely soft and comfortable, usually compactly felted structures of a cup-shaped form.
Hummingbird nests are usually found through pure accident, although one, by carefully watching the birds when they are suspected of having a nest in the vicinity, maybe led to it by the unsuspicious birds.
period of incubation is about twelve days, two or more broods raised in a year.
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