In the animal kingdom, each kind of animal has their own special, unique styles that make them

standout from other species. The hummingbird belong the family Trochilidae. Unlike other birds,
hummingbird is among the smallest bird. Some of their kind are measured about 7.5 to 13 cm. Their
smallest species holding the record until now is the bee hummingbird. The males measure 5.5cm in total
length, mainly are their bill and tail and weight about 1.95 g. The female’s bee hummingbirds are slightly
larger, weight up to 2.6 g and are 6.1cm. Hummingbirds are found in southeastern Alaska to the
southern Chile although they have been seen in Chukchi Peninsula of Russia.

The structure of the hummingbird is indeed fascinating. The parts of a hummingbird includes the bill,
chine, crown, chin, auricular, throat, wings, chest, flank, foot, rump, under tail coverts and tail.
Hummingbird bills are like a needle, use to laps out nectar from the flower. Hummingbirds have a very
long tongue and the it’s lick rate can be pretty amazing, up to 15 times per second like a cat drinking
water. The crown is on the top of the bird’s head, it might show iridescent coloration – showing bright
colors that change from a different angle- also like their throat. Male hummingbirds have bright colored
throat to make them stand out from the females or the other males. The colors are usually in red, pink,
orange, purple, turquoise or other shades. The colors are form from their feather structure rather than
pigments that may changes color in different lights. Their chin is hard to see because of their small size
but it can be a very important clue for some species. While flying, their wing flap at a speed of 70 times a
minute and it may be nearly invisible. They got their name by while flapping their wings; they make a
humming sound so people decided to name them like that. Their heartbeat can reach 1260 beats per
minute because of all the flapping they need to do to keep their body hovering in the air. They are the
only bird that can fly backward, up, left, right and go from normal speed to full speed in an instance. The
hummingbird body is covered in 1000 to 1500 feathers; one of the bird with the fewest number of
feathers in the world. Owning a tiny body size, having fewer feather keep their weight light and for
easier flight. Hummingbird’s feet can be really small and only cable of helping the bird to land. Having
such little feet, hummingbirds can’t walk, hop or jump and when they are flying it is also mistaken as
color splotches. Their tail is also one of the thing that is use to tell the difference between different kind
and it is use to help control the flight direction.

While flying, their body has to be held upright unlike other birds flying flat with their stomach facing
toward the ground. Nectar and sugar water are one hundred to two hundred percent of their whole
body weight. They are able to visit up to two thousand flowers a day to get enough nectar but
consuming only nectar and sugar water does not provide the hummingbirds all their needed nutrients so
they have to eat other source of food to like soft shell insect: mosquitoes, flies, ants, small beetles, tiny
wasps and other tiny insects. They will also sip tree sap when there is not enough flower nectar although
it is not as sweet. Hummingbird also will eat sand, wood ashes and seawater because these unusual
foods are high in calcium and may also contain sodium and other minerals which can help them replace
during egg production and reproduction.

Hummingbirds are very territorial and they have been seen chasing other hummingbirds away or larger
birds. During the mating season from March to July, male hummingbirds will impress the females by
dive bombing from the side instead of in front of her because if the male dive bomb on the side, it will
appear that he will be faster than he usually is. After mating which means the fertilization of the egg,
males will leave the female and look for other females to pass on his gens while the other females are
left to raise the chick herself including making the nest, hatch the egg and take care of her baby chicks.
The gestation –carrying the womb- is from thirteen to twenty two days and her clutch is between one to
three eggs per nest. Hummingbirds hold the records for the smallest bird egg 12.9 mm in length and 8.5
mm wide. The younglings will be fed by their mother with tiny insects and spider by putting them right
into chick’s mouth. Baby’ hummingbird will also be feed with nectar and pollen.

Although hummingbirds are not an endanger species but we have to learn and keep their species
thriving. Back then, hummingbirds are killed for their feathers but today, they face an equally threats.
Due to climate change, the earth’s temperatures are rising and it is affecting hummingbird migrate
pattern causing them to fly on the wrong track and end up in somewhere different that is outside of
their normal range and it might be harder for them to find food. Also they could even meet more
difficulties and more challenges and due to this, it could decrease the number of the hummingbirds fast.

Sources:

https://www.tennessean.com/story/life/shopping/ms-cheap/2018/08/22/hummingbirds-19-things-
know/1052657002/

https://defenders.org/hummingbirds/basic-facts

https://www.thespruce.com/fun-facts-about-hummingbirds-387106

https://www.thespruce.com/parts-of-a-hummingbird-385987

https://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/bwdsite/learn/hummingbirds/what-do-hummingbirds-eat.php