In some species, the tail feathers produce sounds used by males during courtship flying. Particularly while hovering, the wing beats produce the humming sounds, which function to alert other birds. Hummingbirds have compact bodies with relatively long, bladelike wings having anatomical structure enabling helicopter-like flight in any direction, including the ability to hover. The bee hummingbird – only 6 centimetres (2.4 in) long and weighing about 2 grams (0.071 oz) – is the world's smallest bird and smallest warm-blooded vertebrate. They have characteristic long, narrow beaks (bills) which may be straight of varying lengths or highly curved. Morphology Īcross the estimated 366 species, hummingbird weights range from as small as 2 grams (0.071 oz) to as large as 20 grams (0.71 oz). The iridescent colors and highly specialized feathers of many species (mainly in males) give some hummingbirds exotic common names, such as sun gem, fairy, woodstar, sapphire or sylph. Hummingbirds are the smallest known and smallest living avian therapod dinosaurs. The common ancestor of extant hummingbirds is estimated to have lived 22 million years ago in South America. Hummingbirds split from their sister group, the swifts and treeswifts, around 42 million years ago. While most hummingbirds do not migrate, the rufous hummingbird has one of the longest migrations among birds, traveling twice per year between Alaska and Mexico, a distance of about 3,900 miles (6,300 km). To conserve energy when food is scarce and at night when not foraging, they can enter torpor, a state similar to hibernation, and slow their metabolic rate to 1/15 of its normal rate. Hummingbirds have the highest mass-specific metabolic rate of any homeothermic animal. They hover at rapid wing-flapping rates, which vary from around 12 beats per second in the largest species to 80 per second in small hummingbirds. They are known as hummingbirds because of the humming sound created by their beating wings, which flap at high frequencies audible to other birds and humans. Noted for long beaks, hummingbirds are specialized for feeding on flower nectar, but all species also consume small insects. The smallest is the 5 cm (2.0 in) bee hummingbird, which weighs less than 2.0 g (0.07 oz), and the largest is the 23 cm (9.1 in) giant hummingbird, weighing 18–24 grams (0.63–0.85 oz).
Hummingbirds are the smallest mature birds, measuring 7.5–13 cm (3–5 in) in length. Among all birds, male hummingbirds have the widest diversity of plumage color, particularly in blues, greens, and purples. Hummingbirds have varied specialized characteristics to enable rapid, maneuverable flight, exceptional metabolic capacity, adaptations to high altitude, sensitive visual and communication abilities, and long-distance migration in some species. About 28 hummingbird species are listed as endangered or critically endangered, with numerous species declining in population. With about 366 species and 113 genera, they occur from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, but most species are found in Central and South America. Hummingbirds are birds native to the Americas and comprise the biological family Trochilidae. Send us feedback about these examples.For an alphabetic species list, see List of hummingbird species These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hummingbird.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2021 This member of the cuckoo family is not a seed eater, but often hangs out near my hummingbird feeders in hopes of snatching one out of the air. Carina Woudenberg, Discover Magazine, 13 Apr. 2023 Balconies can be prime spots for the hummingbird and suet feeders mentioned earlier. Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2023 With a little effort, your garden can become a source of endless joy as hummingbirds and orioles gather at nectar feeders. Arricca Elin Sansone, House Beautiful, 23 Feb. 2023 Flowering vines also attract pretty, little pollinators such as hummingbirds and butterflies. Marty Ross, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Mar. 2023 Bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies also notice when the first, fragrant flowers appear in mid summer.
Alyssa Gautieri, Good Housekeeping, 23 Mar.
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Gisela Williams, Travel + Leisure, Make sure not to overwater them! Zones: 3-8 Sun exposure: Full sun SHOP HENS AND CHICKS 6 Honeysuckle Loaded with nectar, the honeysuckle plant is beloved by bees, hummingbirds and other pollinators.
2021 Nabil was waiting for me at a gated door set within a wall spray-painted with a large hummingbird. Recent Examples on the Web My heart was fluttering like a hummingbird.
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