Connecticut Nature

Hummingbirds
Written by: Kim Hargrave, Director of Education
at the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center

T he world’s tiniest birds are some of

the most amazing! There are over 335
different species of hummingbirds, which all live
in North, Central and South America. There are no
hummingbirds in Asia, Australia, Africa and Europe. In
North America we have 17 species, but only one regularly
spends time in Connecticut and is the most common on the East
Coast, the ruby-throated hummingbird.

Hummingbirds are unique from most other birds. They can not only hover
in mid air, but also fly backwards and forwards. This allows them to drink nectar
from flowers without landing and can help them avoid predators. As they fly, they can
beat their wings over 70 times per second, which creates the humming noise they are named
for. In order to beat their wings so quickly, they have large flight muscles making up over 25% of their
body weight. Their hearts also beat quickly at 1,000 times per minute and they breathe over 250 times
per minute!

Hummingbirds drink nectar from flowers by lapping it up with their forked tongues at a rate of 12 times per second. In
addition to drinking nectar, hummingbirds also eat insects and spiders. Hummingbirds need to eat a lot to keep their small
bodies going. If a human used energy the way a hummingbird does they would have to drink a can of soda every minute! During
the night, hummingbirds slow their breathing and heart rate to make up for their lack of eating.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds spend the winter in Central America and Mexico. Each spring, they migrate back to the East Coast of the United States
following blooming flowers north until they find their summer home. In order to complete their long migration, ruby-throated hummingbirds double
their body weight before starting their journey. The most difficult part of their migration is
crossing the Gulf of Mexico, a 500 mile journey without stopping!

Once in their summer grounds, hummingbirds mate. The female hummingbird builds the
nest and takes care of the young by herself. The nest is very small, less than 2 inches in
diameter and is lined with fuzz, often from a cinnamon fern, then covered with lichens to
help camouflage it. The female usually lays 2 eggs that hatch after about 16 days. Young
leave the nest after about 3 weeks.

Male ruby-throated hummingbirds have an iridescent ruby red patch on their throat called a
gorget. Females are white and green. Keep your eyes open for these tiny, but magnificent
birds!

TRY IT!
Can you flap your “wings” as fast as a hummingbird can? Hummingbirds can flap their wings
at a rate of 70 times per second. If that’s too quick, try flapping your wings like a crow, they
average 2 times per second.

Put up a hummingbird feeder near your house. Hummingbird feeders come in all shapes and sizes. The best ones are easy to
clean and have a perch for the hummingbird to sit on while feeding. Make your own hummingbird food by mixing ½ cup of sugar
with 2 cups of hot water. Do not use food dye to make it red, the hummingbird feeder will be enough to attract them.

Plant flowers that attract hummingbirds. Flowers that are brightly colored and tube shaped attract hummingbirds, native plants
are always best. Try to find red columbine, bee balm, cardinal flowers and milkweeds; monarch butterflies also use them.

dpnc.org

CCSS.ELA.Reading:
Informational Text: 3-5.2, 3-5.3, 3-5.8