Hummingbird is not only the smallest bird on our planet, but also one of the most beautiful creatures created by nature. The amazing creature impresses with its lifestyle and decisive disposition. But let's find out a little more about this miniature bird.
Tiny size
There are many (about 330) species of hummingbirds. Among the representatives of this order, you can find birds whose sizes are more reminiscent of large insects than birds. For example, the assertion that the smallest hummingbird bird weighs 20 g is a mistake, because the very miniature species, which was called the hummingbird, can boast of representatives weighing about 2 g.
These crumbs are found mainly in Cuba and reach a size of less than 7 cm, while the largest of the existing hummingbird birds can grow up to 22 cm.
Typically, measurements are taken from the tip of the beak to the extreme point of the tail. Most of these small birds live on the North American continent. They can be found not only in tropical and subtropical climates, but also in Alaska. Their favorite habitats are gardens, meadows, fields. Among hummingbirds, both settled and migratory birds are found. The latter include the ruby-headed hummingbird and the red fire-bearer; they spend the winter in Mexico. Unfortunately, these crumbs do not occur on the territory of our continent. Not even a hummingbird bird is found in Udmurtia, where you can meet another small bird called kingfisher. It is also small and has an emerald color, so they are often confused.
Coloring
Hummingbird is a bird with a unique color, its plumage is very beautiful and resembles precious stones. When exposed to direct sunlight, bright feathers shimmer, as if changing their color. That is why the bird is often given names associated with precious stones (for example: "topaz hummingbird", "emerald neck", "fiery topaz, " flying amethyst "). Agree, very poetic nicknames.
"Family life"
Hummingbird nests are woven from blades of grass, cobwebs, wool and pieces of bark. The size of the "home" depends on the size of the bird itself. In some of them, the nests reach the diameter of a cup, and in others - walnut shells.
In this "house" hummingbird lays 2 testicles, the size of which is not more than a pea. The diameter of the eggs is only 12 mm, the weight is not more than 0.5 g.
I must say that the hummingbird is a very brave and brave bird, in case of danger, she fearlessly defends her chicks and swiftly flies to the enemy. A desperate mother plunges her sharp beak into the nose or eye of the attacker.
It is noteworthy that hummingbirds do not form pairs. On females, the care of the offspring lies hollow. At the same time, she remains alone, from the moment the nest is built until the chicks are fed.
Food
Hummingbird - a bird, whose description of life is somewhat different from our usual idea of the way of life of birds. First of all, it is interesting that the main food for them is nectar, which they produce independently from flowers. Hummingbirds are able to hang in the air above the flower, making up to 80 wing flaps in one second. Such a stressful flight takes a lot of strength and energy, so if possible the birds sit on a flower to drink nectar.
However, it is incorrect to believe that this is the only food product for these birds. For many species of hummingbirds, the main food (for some of them even exceptional) is small insects. Sometimes they eat captives of the web.
Hummingbird - a bird that during flight spends a huge amount of energy, so it is forced to eat often. During the period of activity, food intake occurs every 10 minutes. It turns out that in a day these crumbs eat up the amount of food that is in excess of the weight of their own body.
Flight style
Another interesting feature of this tiny creature is that the hummingbird is a bird capable of maneuvering backwards. More than one representative of the birds in the world such a flight is beyond the power. Scientists have determined that the flying muscles of a bird make up about 25-30% of its total weight. The ability to move up and down and back is ensured by a special wing design. Typically, the wings of birds are connected from the shoulders, elbow and wrist, while in hummingbirds they are attached only from the shoulders. All this allows them to quickly accelerate, hover in the air, land vertically, and during courtship courtship to develop a wing flap speed of up to hundreds per second.
Hummingbird has a big and strong heart. It occupies almost half the cavity of her body, and its size is three times larger than its own stomach. The heart rate is also impressive - 1000-1200 beats per minute.
Important biological function
By the way, eating nectar, hummingbirds perform one of the very significant biological roles - they pollinate flowers. The fact is that a number of flowers have such a structure that only this tiny bird can pollinate them. Interestingly, the shape of the flower, most often pollinated by a particular species of hummingbird, is directly related to the structural features of the bird's beak. That is, for different types of hummingbirds, their forms of beaks are characteristic. So, if the flower is flat, then the bird should be short. From long inflorescences similar to a funnel, you can get nectar only with the help of a narrow elongated beak.
The longest beak (up to 10 cm) is possessed by a mechkill. Its dimensions exceed almost twice the total length of the bird.
In addition, this hummingbird organ also has other features, for example, a significantly bifurcated tongue, a brushless base. Such individual differences allow this bird to stick its tongue out of the mouth much further than other birds.
Cold Migration
Some hummingbirds migrate to mountain rock formations located in Canada, while the snow cover has not yet melted. In this case, the temperature of the laid eggs is successfully maintained by the birds at the level of 25 degrees. It is warmer than the ambient temperature. How does this happen?
The fact is that a hummingbird is a bird that easily adapts to fairly low temperatures thanks to its unique feather barrier. One inch of their body has the largest number of feathers compared to other birds (excluding large species). In addition, hummingbirds can lower their metabolism to lethargic sleep to conserve energy. Before migrating, they accumulate a significant amount of fat. Thus, it accounts for 72% of the total weight of the bird. Not every bird can accumulate such an amount of energy reserve due to the strength, because this requires special adjustment of physiological mechanisms. Scientists have found that hummingbirds have the most metabolically active liver in the world. Another important feature is the high glucose delivery rate. This is an invaluable feature for a living creature whose main food is nectar.
