Hummingbirds migrate in response to changing length of daylight, so it is best to leave feeders up at least two weeks after you have spotted what you think is your last hummingbird for the season. Feeders do not stop the Hummingbird from migration when it is time to go.
Hummingbirds sleep with their neck retracted and their head forward, their bill pointed up at a sharp angle and feathers fluffed.
Large numbers of hummingbirds will accept a busy feeding station. They tend to be more aggressive when there are only a few about.
Lifespan is average of 4 years, in the wild from 3 to 5 years. In captivity, they have been known to survive more than 10 years. In captivity, they only do well with others of their own kind. This somewhat breaks the laws that they are just fighters, but maybe they do indeed play alot.
The hummingbird family is the second largest in the hemisphere, with over 340 species. The American flycatcher with over 360 is number one.
The greatest traveler is the Rufous with over 2000 miles. The longest flight is the Ruby Throat with over 500 miles over seas.
Swordbilled Hummingbirds have the longest bill, while the Purple Backed Thornbill have the shortest. Both are South American.
The largest hummer is the Giant hummingbird of the Andes at 8 1/2 inches and weighs 20 grams. He is also the dullest in color. Compared to the smallest in Cuba, the Bee hummingbird, has a length at 2 1/4 inches and weighs 2 grams. Nearly half of its length is made up of his bill & tail.
The average weight of a male Ruby Throated hummingbird is 1.95 grams to a female of 2.6 grams.
The ancestry of hummingbirds once was thought to be impossible. Till Gerald Mayr of the Senkenberg National History Museum in Frankfurt, German identified two 30 million year
German Hummingbird Fossils,
They are known for their extrordinary precision for traditional routes. The same bird will appear from year to year to drink from the same flowering bush. It is believed that they inherit their route finding skills.
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