Hummingbird

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Hummingbird

Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Apodiformes Family: Trochilidae
Genera
Subfamily Phaethornithinae Ramphodon Eutoxeres Glaucis * Threnetes Anopetia Phaethornis Subfamily Trochilinae Androdon Doryfera Phaeochroa Campylopterus Eupetomena Florisuga Colibri Anthracothorax Avocettula Topaza Eulampis Chrysolampis Orthorhyncus Klais Stephanoxis Abeillia Lophornis Popelairia Discosura Trochilus Chlorostilbon Basilinna (recently split from Hylocharis) Elvira Eupherusa Goethalsia Goldmania Cynanthus Thalurania Damophila Lepidopyga Hylocharis Chrysuronia Leucochloris Polytmus Leucippus Amazilia Agyrtria Polyerata Saucerottia Panterpe Oreopyra Microchera Anthocephala Chalybura Lampornis Phlogophilus Adelomyia Clytolaema Heliodoxa Lamprolaima Eugenes Hylonympha Sternoclyta Urochroa Boissonneaua Aglaeactis Oreotrochilus Lafresnaya Coeligena Ensifera Pterophanes Patagona Sephanoides Heliangelus Eriocnemis Haplophaedia Urosticte Ocreatus Lesbia Sappho Polyonymus Ramphomicron Oreonympha Oxypogon Metallura Chalcostigma Opisthoprora Taphrolesbia Aglaiocercus Augastes Heliothryx Heliactin Loddigesia Heliomaster Rhodopis Thaumastura Tilmatura Doricha Calliphlox Microstilbon Calothorax Mellisuga Archilochus Calypte Atthis Stellula Myrtis Eulidia Myrmia Chaetocercus Selasphorus

Hummingbirds are very small colorful birds that can fly in any direction making them look like little fairies in flight. They are called hummingbirds for the 'hum' their wings make when they fly. They are not social animals, which explains why they are never seen in big flocks.[1] The hummingbird is only found in the Americas. [2]

1 Anatomy
2 Reproduction
3 Ecology
4 Migration
5 Evolution and Hummingbirds
6 Gallery
7 Related References
8 See Also

Anatomy

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)

The hummingbird is a very small bird covered in many colorful and bright feathers. Although the males tend to be more vibrant in color then the females.[3] Some of their feathers can change color in the light. They can weigh from 0.06 to 0.08 ounces and can live from 6 to 12 years. Their thin long bills are used for collecting nectar and to protect their split tongues.[4] Hummingbirds can not walk on the ground because their legs are too small and short. They only use their feet for perching.[5]

Reproduction

New born Hummingbirds in their nest

Hummingbirds communicate to each other with visual displays. The males attract the females by their color. They raise their feathers, toss their heads back and forth, and make shilling noises to get the females' attention. The shuttle dance is a part of courtship. Once the male has found his female he will do a ten inch, short, rapid dance. Some male hummingbirds gather in communities, which are called leks.[6] Mating occurs on the ground. They female usually lays 1-2 eggs. After they mate they separate and the female raises the young in the nest.[7] The male will have no part in building the nest or feeding the babies.[8]

Ecology

Description

Hummingbirds use their long beaks to sip nectar.[9] Nectar contains small amounts of protein. But they get the rest of their nutrition from eating small bugs. They need eat their weight everyday for survival. Just like us, they have meals, which is an large intake of nectar.[10]Hummingbirds have they highest metabolism of all animals when they are in flight. A Hummingbird's wingbeat rate is 10-15/second depending on the size of the bird.[11]Hummingbirds have quite a few predators, such as: cats, small hawks, frogs, spiders, gulls, orioles and larger birds.[12] Hummingbirds like to groom themselves. Their is a gland near the tail, where oil is produced. They use this oil to groom their heads, neck, feet and wings. They enjoy taking baths several times a day to clean themselves also. Hummingbirds sleep with fluffed feathers, their heads forwards and their bill pointed up at a sharp angle.[13] The hummingbird uses a song to protect its territory. Male and females have separate nests.

Migration

Each species have a different strategy for migrating. Some migrate north and some south. The hummingbirds that migrate north move downward as each month passes. They all arrive at different times in the year. The males migrate earlier than the females. To track where hummingbirds migrate, they tape a numbered band around the bird's leg.[14]

Evolution and Hummingbirds

Evolutionists originally thought that hummingbirds had evolved fairly recently, partially because the oldest known fossils of humming birds were dated at 1 - 2 million years old. However, a recent discovery in Germany was dated at 30 million years[15], meaning hummingbirds have remained virtually unchanged according to old earth models, and that hummingbirds are, in fact, living fossils.