Donna Nelson

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Tiny But Mighty

Did you know hummingbirds are the smallest known and smallest living avian theropod dinosaurs? These little dynamos are native to the Americas and are comprised of approximately 366 species and 113 genera; they occur from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, but most species are found in Central and South America. 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. Also, noted for their long beaks, hummingbirds are specialized for feeding on flower nectar, but all species also consume small insects.

Among all birds, Mother Nature has bestowed male hummingbirds as having the widest diversity of plumage color, particularly in blues, greens, and purples. Hummingbirds are the smallest mature birds, measuring 3–5 inches in length. The smallest, the bee hummingbird, is 2 inches and weighs in at less than 0.07 ounces, and the largest is the giant hummingbird weighing in at a hefty 0.85 ounces.

Hummingbirds are known by that name because of the humming sound created by their beating wings, which flap at high frequencies audible to other birds and humans. They hover at rapid wing-flapping rates -- around 12 beats per second in the largest species to 99 per second in small hummingbirds.

Twenty-one hummingbird species are listed as endangered or critically endangered, with numerous species declining in population. So, the next time you see a hummingbird, be reminded that it might be on its way to a far-distant place; can use a drink of nectar—or a little bug or two; and will be looking for a safe, quiet spot to spend the night.