Humming Bird
The Hummingbird is the smallest and one of the most magical birds on earth.
There are literally hundreds of varieties within the Hummingbird family, and they can be found through all of the Americas- North, South and Central, as well as the Caribbean Islands.
Hummingbirds derive their name from the distinct hum of their beating wings- which can move as rapidly as 70 times per second! They possess an extraordinary metabolism which enables them to process sugar and other nutrients at a remarkable rate. Their heart rate can reach 1,260 bpm and while in flight, they consume oxygen at a rate of 10 times that of an elite human athlete. Their incredible strength and endurance also allows them to make non stop flighs of up to 500 miles during migration.
Also of great fascination is their ability to conserve vast amounts of energy by slowing their body function to a near halt, referred to as torpor. This nearly hibernatory state allows the Hummingbird to prevent energy reserves from falling to critical levels when food is not readily available.
There are literally hundreds of varieties within the Hummingbird family, and they can be found through all of the Americas- North, South and Central, as well as the Caribbean Islands.
Hummingbirds derive their name from the distinct hum of their beating wings- which can move as rapidly as 70 times per second! They possess an extraordinary metabolism which enables them to process sugar and other nutrients at a remarkable rate. Their heart rate can reach 1,260 bpm and while in flight, they consume oxygen at a rate of 10 times that of an elite human athlete. Their incredible strength and endurance also allows them to make non stop flighs of up to 500 miles during migration.
Also of great fascination is their ability to conserve vast amounts of energy by slowing their body function to a near halt, referred to as torpor. This nearly hibernatory state allows the Hummingbird to prevent energy reserves from falling to critical levels when food is not readily available.