A Hummingbird Sits On Eggs In Her Nest

A Hummingbird Sits On Eggs In Her Nest

Hummingbirds are birds native to the Americas and comprise the biological family Trochilidae. With approximately 366 species and 113 genera, they occur from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, but most species are found in Central and South America. As of 2024, 21 hummingbird species are listed as endangered or critically endangered, with numerous species declining in population

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. Among all birds, male hummingbirds have the widest diversity of plumage color, particularly in blues, greens, and purples. Hummingbirds are the smallest mature birds, measuring 7.5–13 cm (3–5 in) in length. 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 in) giant hummingbird, weighing 18–24 grams (0.63–0.85 oz). Noted for long beaks, hummingbirds are specialized for feeding on flower nectar, but all species also consume small insects

The International Ornithological Committee (IOC) recognizes these 366 hummingbird species in family Trochilidae, and distributes them among 112 genera.[1] One extinct species known only from a 19th century specimen, Brace's emerald, is included. This list is presented in IOC taxonomic sequence and is also sortable alphabetically by common name and binomial name.

Hummingbirds are some of the most sophisticated fliers on Earth, weaving in and out of branches without so much as rustling a leaf. Most birds fly with upstrokes and downstrokes, generating all their lift and power on the downstroke of each wing beat. but the Hummingbird flying, stroke their wings forward and backward, pivoting up to 180 degrees at the shoulder to rotate the wing. The uniqueness of hummingbird flight patterns has fascinated ornithologists for ... This pattern, with the wingtip tracing a horizontal figure eight in the air often you see the hummingbird flying fast through the air amazes most