Hummingbirds have underdeveloped legs, so they cannot walk.

Fun Facts About Hummingbirds

North America is home to 18 different hummingbird species. These remarkable birds are naturally found only in the New World, including North, Central, and South America.
The oldest recorded wild hummingbird was a Broad-tailed Hummingbird, which survived for more than 12 years.
There are more than 325 known hummingbird species, making hummingbirds the second-largest bird family in the world, following only flycatchers.
Hummingbirds are incredibly small, weighing only about one-tenth of an ounce, which is approximately the weight of a single penny.
Their brains are extremely tiny, roughly the size of a BB pellet, yet they display remarkable intelligence and memory.
Hummingbirds have very weak and short legs, meaning they are unable to walk normally. Their bodies are specially adapted for flying.
A female hummingbird is only about eight times heavier than the egg she produces, an unusually small difference compared with many other birds.
Hummingbirds produce the smallest bird eggs in the world. Ruby-throated Hummingbird eggs are among the tiniest known.
Most hummingbirds lay two eggs, each approximately the size of a blueberry.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have one of the highest nesting success rates among migrating birds that travel between the tropics and North America.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds can raise two broods in a single season, with each breeding cycle taking about 45 days from nest building until the young birds leave the nest.
Hummingbirds use spider silk as a natural adhesive. The sticky threads help secure their nests to branches and also hold the nest materials together.
Their nests are surprisingly small, usually around the size of a golf ball, measuring approximately 1.5 inches in diameter.
Only about 20% of young Ruby-throated Hummingbirds survive their first year of life.

Feeding Behavior

Hummingbirds have extremely high energy needs and typically feed about every 10 minutes.
Contrary to popular belief, hummingbirds are not born with a natural attraction to the color red. Instead, they learn the connection between red flowers and available food sources.
During periods of extreme cold when food becomes unavailable, hummingbirds may become aggressive. In one case, a male Anna’s Hummingbird killed another bird during a food shortage by using its bill like a spear. Providing additional feeders or temporary sugar-water sources can help birds survive such emergencies.
A hummingbird can consume nectar equal to twice its own body weight every day. Most other birds consume only about one-quarter to one-half of their body weight daily.
Their diet includes nectar from flowers as well as sugar-water solutions provided by feeders.
Hummingbirds collect nectar using their long tongues. Special grooves along both sides of the tongue create a capillary effect, helping draw nectar upward and into the mouth.
Their tongues can extend approximately the same distance as the length of their bill.
While feeding, hummingbirds can move their tongues in and out at speeds of up to 12 times per second.
Female hummingbirds generally have longer tongues than males.
In addition to nectar, hummingbirds eat insects and insect eggs found on plants, trees, and the ground. Spiders and spider eggs are especially important food sources.
They capture insects using their bills rather than their tongues.
One scientific study recorded an Anna’s Hummingbird visiting more than 1,000 flowers in a single day.

Flight Abilities

Hummingbirds are incredibly fast flyers. They can reach speeds of approximately 60 miles per hour, although their usual flying speed is around 30–45 miles per hour.
They are the only birds capable of flying:
- Backward
- Upside down
- While hovering in place
Their extraordinary flying skills are possible because of their highly flexible shoulder joints.
Their wings can beat between 20 and 80 times per second, depending on the species and activity.
Although they are excellent flyers, hummingbirds avoid deep water. They prefer bathing in shallow pools, small dishes, sprinklers, or misting systems.
To maintain clean and healthy feathers, hummingbirds sometimes perform “leaf bathing” by fluttering against wet leaves.

Survival Adaptations

At night, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds can enter a special energy-saving state called torpor.
This condition is similar to short-term hibernation. During torpor:
- Their metabolism slows dramatically.
- Their heart rate can decrease from around 1,200 beats per minute to only 50 beats per minute.
Hummingbirds are small but highly territorial. They can become very aggressive when defending feeding areas and may even chase away much larger birds.

Appearance and Colors

The shimmering colors of hummingbird feathers have earned them the nickname “jewels of the garden.”
Male hummingbirds often have a brightly colored throat patch called a gorget. This area reflects specific wavelengths of light, creating brilliant colors.
These throat colors can help identify different male species:
- Anna’s Hummingbird: bright neon pink
- Costa’s Hummingbird: violet
- Magnificent Hummingbird: green
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird: ruby red
- Blue-throated Hummingbird: vivid blue