14 Unusual Facts About Hummingbirds

Here at Little Critterz, we are fascinated by hummingbirds. I bet that everyone knows they can fly incredibly fast, and they are so often found in our gardens I enjoy having a humming bird feeder. But did you know this about these birds?

1. The average lifespan of a hummingbird is about 4 years. In one instance, a female hummingbird lived over 12 years. 
2. Common hummingbirds wing beats 50-200 times per second, on average.
3. It's a common misconception that the sugar-water in the feeder should be red. It shouldn't. Do not put any dye into the mixture. The red and yellow coloring on the feeder itself is what attracts the hummingbird.
4. Hummingbirds are able to hover by flapping their wings in a figure-8 pattern.
5. They are an endangered species.
6.  Hummingbirds are only found in the Western Hemisphere.
7. Habitat loss and climate change are the biggest threats to hummingbirds.
8. They are the smallest bird in the world.
9. They can flash or hide their colors when they want. 
10. A hummingbird's brain is 4.2% of it's body weight, the largest in the bird kingdom.
11. They can hear better and see farther than humans.
12. Hummingbirds do not use their beaks to drink nectar like a straw, they lap up the liquid using their tongue.
13. They can weigh between 2-20 grams. A penny weighs 2.5 grams.
14. They can dive at speeds up to 60 miles per hour.

Sources

http://www.hummingbirds.net/

http://www.defenders.org/hummingbirds/basic-facts

http://www.worldofhummingbirds.com/