Did you know... hummingbird lifespan
Did you know... While most hummingbirds live 3-5 years, the record for a hummingbird's lifespan is 9 years!
National Hummingbird Day
National Hummingbird Day is Saturday, September 3rd! Celebrate by posting a picture of hummingbirds in your backyard, and we'll feature it on our website!
Hummingbird-ing Tips:
Here's a few tips on how you can attract hummingbirds to your yard:
- Flowers & plants: honeysuckle, wild bergamot, sage, aloe. These plants produce natural nectar that are attractive to hummingbirds.
- Don't worry about the insects: Hummingbirds love to eat soft-bodied insects, so let them be your natural pest control solution.
- Water feature: Hummingbirds love to take baths after a sticky meal of nectar and bugs. Install a bird bath and watch them frolic!
- Nectar feeders: Step 1: Hang a few nectar feeders in your yard, preferrably in clusters, Step 2: fill them with sugar water and Nectar Defender ™. Step 3: watch the hummingbirds flock to your yard!
Did you know... male hummingbirds...
Did you know... male hummingbirds are reported to have achieved speeds of almost 400 body lengths per second when swooping in an effort to impress females! Now that's impressive!
Did you know... honeyguides
Did you know... a wild birds called Honeyguides lead people to honey in Mozambique? Read more here: http://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/so-sweet-science-confirms-wild-birds-lead-people-honey-n614346
Did you know... hummingbird baths
Did you know... hummingbirds need to bathe more regularly than other birds because of the sticky nature of their food: nectar. They prefer shallow, running water or a spray mist!
Did you know... hummingbird wings
Did you know... hummingbirds can flap their wings over 200 times per second!?
Did you know... bird brains have significantly more neurons than primate brains of the same mass?
See the link to find out more!
Did you know...hummingbird predators
Did you know... more than half of hummingbirds die before the age of 1 due to predators such as snakes, and even insects like spiders, bees, and praying mantis.
Did you know... young hummingbirds
Did you know... young hummingbirds come of age within 18-30 days and start to fly!
Pro-tip: territorial hummingbirds
If a hummingbird is being territorial in your backyard, place feeders in clusters of three or more so that one hummingbird can’t defend all of them at once.
Did you know... the calliope hummingbird is the smallest bird species in North America. They can be up to 3 inches long. They prefer forests and mountain meadow habitats. While they live primarily in the Northwestern United States (California, Oregon, Idaho) they migrate south to Mexico for the winter!
Audubon on ruby throated hummingbirds
"No sooner has the returning sun again introduced the vernal season, and caused millions of plants to expand their leaves and blossoms to his genial beams, than the little Humming-bird is seen advancing on fairy wings, carefully visiting every opening flower-cup, and, like a curious florist, removing from each the injurious insects that otherwise would ere long cause their beauteous petals to droop and decay."
Did you know... hummingbird size
Did you know... generally, a female ruby-throated hummingbird is 15-25% larger than a male ruby-throated hummingbird!
Did you know... hummingbird brains
Did you know... hummingbird brains take up 4.2 percent of their body weight! Human brains by comparison only take up 2 percent. That's a pretty big brain!
Did you know... body temperature
Did you know... Anna's hummingbirds have an average body temperature of 107 degrees.
Pro-tip: territorial hummingbirds
If a hummingbird is being territorial in your backyard, place feeders in clusters of three or more so that one hummingbird can’t defend all of them at once.