Live hummingbird camera at the bottom of this page!
About hummingbirds!
Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world!
They can reach flight speeds up to 30 miles per hour, and up to 60 miles per hour in a high speed dive
Hummingbirds can chase larger birds -such as hawks- away from their territory
There are 320 different kinds of species
Hummingbirds lick their food, up to 13 licks per second- they do not suck through their bills
When a hummingbird flaps its wings, they make a figure 8 -- a circular motion
Hummingbirds have very little to no smelling scent at all (can't smell) -so wearing flowery perfume won't attract them
FAQ- The answers
A hummingbird's wings can flap up to 50-200 flaps per second
A hummingbird's heart rate is an average of more than 1,200 beats per minute, about 23.3bps (beats per second)
A hummingbird can take an average of 250 breaths per minute
Hummingbirds of America
Click on a link to learn more about the hummingbirds that live in your area. It will take you to a wonderful website called http://www.hummingbirds.net/.
Find where you live to see what hummers are in your area.
There is more hummingbird information at the bottom of this page.
United States
Alabama
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, Allen's, Buff-bellied, Calliope,Broad-tailed, Anna's, Magnificent, Blue-throated, Green Violet-ear.
Alaska
Rufous, Anna's, Costa's, Ruby-throated.
Arizona
Black-chinned, Broad-billed, Anna's, Magnificent, Rufous, Broad-tailed,Allen's, Blue-throated, Costa's, Calliope, Violet-crowned, Berylline,Lucifer, White-eared, Plain-capped Starthroat, Cinnamon, Ruby-throated.
Arkansas
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, Anna's, Buff-bellied, Magnificent,Broad-tailed, Calliope, Green Violet-ear.
California
Anna's, Black-chinned, Costa's, Rufous, Calliope, Allen's, Broad-tailed,Broad-billed, Blue-throated, Violet-crowned, Ruby-throated, Xantus', Green Violet-ear.
Colorado
Broad-tailed, Rufous, Black-chinned, Calliope, Blue-throated,Magnificent, Anna's, Ruby-throated, Broad-billed, White-eared, Green Violet-ear.
Connecticut
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Calliope.
Delaware
Ruby-throated, Rufous.
District of Columbia
Ruby-throated, Rufous.
Florida
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, Calliope, Cuban Emerald, Bahama Woodstar, Buff-bellied, Anna's.
Georgia
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, Magnificent, Allen's, Broad-tailed, Anna's.
Hawaii
No hummingbirds reported.
Idaho
Black-chinned, Rufous, Calliope, Broad-tailed, Anna's, Broad-billed.
Illinois
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Broad-billed, Allen's.
Indiana
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned.
Iowa
Ruby-throated, Rufous.
Kansas
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Broad-tailed, Calliope, Black-chinned, Anna's,Magnificent, Allen's, Costa's, Broad-billed.
Kentucky
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Green Violet-ear.
Louisiana
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, Buff-bellied, Allen's, Broad-tailed, Anna's, Calliope, Blue-throated, Broad-billed, Green Violet-ear,Magnificent, Green-breasted Mango.
Maine
Ruby-throated, Rufous.
Maryland
Ruby-throated, Rufous.
Massachusetts
Ruby-throated, Allen's, Rufous, Calliope, Black-chinned, Broad-billed.
Michigan
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Broad-billed, Green Violet-ear, White-eared.
Minnesota
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Calliope, Magnificent, Anna's.
Mississippi
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Buff-bellied, Black-chinned, White-eared,Calliope, Broad-tailed, Anna's, Allen's, Green Violet-ear.
Missouri
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Anna's, Calliope, Green Violet-ear, Black-chinned,Broad-tailed, Allen's.
Montana
Calliope, Rufous, Black-chinned, Anna's, Broad-tailed.
Nebraska
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Broad-tailed, Calliope.
Nevada
Black-chinned, Anna's, Broad-tailed, Rufous, Calliope, Costa's, Allen's,Magnificent, Broad-billed.
New Hampshire
Ruby-throated, Rufous.
New Jersey
Ruby-throated, Rufous.
New Mexico
Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, Rufous, Calliope, Broad-billed, Violet-crowned, Costa's, Anna's, Magnificent, Ruby-throated, Blue-throated,White-eared, Lucifer, Cinnamon, Berylline. Allen's, Plain-capped Starthroat.
New York
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Calliope.
North Carolina
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Green Violet-ear, Calliope, Green-breasted Mango.
North Dakota
Ruby-throated, Rufous.
Ohio
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Calliope, Green Violet-ear, Anna's.
Oklahoma
Ruby-throated, Black-chinned, Rufous, Calliope, Broad-tailed, Anna's, Green Violet-ear.
Oregon
Rufous, Anna's, Calliope, Black-chinned, Costa's, Allen's, Broad-tailed.Broad-billed.
Pennsylvania
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Anna's, Allen's, Calliope.
Rhode Island
Ruby-throated, Rufous.
South Carolina
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Green Violet-ear.
South Dakota
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Broad-tailed, Calliope.
Tennessee
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, Allen's, Calliope.
Texas
Ruby-throated, Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, Anna's, Rufous,Magnificent, Lucifer, Buff-bellied, Blue-throated, Costa's, Green Violet-ear, Allen's, Calliope, Broad-billed, Violet-crowned, White-eared, Green-breasted Mango, Berylline. Antillean Crested, Rufous-tailed.
Utah
Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, Calliope, Rufous, Costa's, Anna's, Broad-billed, Magnificent, Blue-throated.
Vermont
Ruby-throated, Rufous.
Virginia
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Allen's.
Washington
Anna's, Rufous, Black-chinned, Calliope
West Virginia
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, Green Violet-ear.
Wisconsin
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Anna's, Green Violet-ear.
Wyoming
Broad-tailed, Calliope, Rufous, Black-chinned, Magnificent, Anna's.
They can reach flight speeds up to 30 miles per hour, and up to 60 miles per hour in a high speed dive
Hummingbirds can chase larger birds -such as hawks- away from their territory
There are 320 different kinds of species
Hummingbirds lick their food, up to 13 licks per second- they do not suck through their bills
When a hummingbird flaps its wings, they make a figure 8 -- a circular motion
Hummingbirds have very little to no smelling scent at all (can't smell) -so wearing flowery perfume won't attract them
FAQ- The answers
A hummingbird's wings can flap up to 50-200 flaps per second
A hummingbird's heart rate is an average of more than 1,200 beats per minute, about 23.3bps (beats per second)
A hummingbird can take an average of 250 breaths per minute
Hummingbirds of America
Click on a link to learn more about the hummingbirds that live in your area. It will take you to a wonderful website called http://www.hummingbirds.net/.
Find where you live to see what hummers are in your area.
There is more hummingbird information at the bottom of this page.
United States
Alabama
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, Allen's, Buff-bellied, Calliope,Broad-tailed, Anna's, Magnificent, Blue-throated, Green Violet-ear.
Alaska
Rufous, Anna's, Costa's, Ruby-throated.
Arizona
Black-chinned, Broad-billed, Anna's, Magnificent, Rufous, Broad-tailed,Allen's, Blue-throated, Costa's, Calliope, Violet-crowned, Berylline,Lucifer, White-eared, Plain-capped Starthroat, Cinnamon, Ruby-throated.
Arkansas
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, Anna's, Buff-bellied, Magnificent,Broad-tailed, Calliope, Green Violet-ear.
California
Anna's, Black-chinned, Costa's, Rufous, Calliope, Allen's, Broad-tailed,Broad-billed, Blue-throated, Violet-crowned, Ruby-throated, Xantus', Green Violet-ear.
Colorado
Broad-tailed, Rufous, Black-chinned, Calliope, Blue-throated,Magnificent, Anna's, Ruby-throated, Broad-billed, White-eared, Green Violet-ear.
Connecticut
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Calliope.
Delaware
Ruby-throated, Rufous.
District of Columbia
Ruby-throated, Rufous.
Florida
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, Calliope, Cuban Emerald, Bahama Woodstar, Buff-bellied, Anna's.
Georgia
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, Magnificent, Allen's, Broad-tailed, Anna's.
Hawaii
No hummingbirds reported.
Idaho
Black-chinned, Rufous, Calliope, Broad-tailed, Anna's, Broad-billed.
Illinois
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Broad-billed, Allen's.
Indiana
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned.
Iowa
Ruby-throated, Rufous.
Kansas
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Broad-tailed, Calliope, Black-chinned, Anna's,Magnificent, Allen's, Costa's, Broad-billed.
Kentucky
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Green Violet-ear.
Louisiana
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, Buff-bellied, Allen's, Broad-tailed, Anna's, Calliope, Blue-throated, Broad-billed, Green Violet-ear,Magnificent, Green-breasted Mango.
Maine
Ruby-throated, Rufous.
Maryland
Ruby-throated, Rufous.
Massachusetts
Ruby-throated, Allen's, Rufous, Calliope, Black-chinned, Broad-billed.
Michigan
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Broad-billed, Green Violet-ear, White-eared.
Minnesota
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Calliope, Magnificent, Anna's.
Mississippi
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Buff-bellied, Black-chinned, White-eared,Calliope, Broad-tailed, Anna's, Allen's, Green Violet-ear.
Missouri
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Anna's, Calliope, Green Violet-ear, Black-chinned,Broad-tailed, Allen's.
Montana
Calliope, Rufous, Black-chinned, Anna's, Broad-tailed.
Nebraska
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Broad-tailed, Calliope.
Nevada
Black-chinned, Anna's, Broad-tailed, Rufous, Calliope, Costa's, Allen's,Magnificent, Broad-billed.
New Hampshire
Ruby-throated, Rufous.
New Jersey
Ruby-throated, Rufous.
New Mexico
Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, Rufous, Calliope, Broad-billed, Violet-crowned, Costa's, Anna's, Magnificent, Ruby-throated, Blue-throated,White-eared, Lucifer, Cinnamon, Berylline. Allen's, Plain-capped Starthroat.
New York
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Calliope.
North Carolina
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Green Violet-ear, Calliope, Green-breasted Mango.
North Dakota
Ruby-throated, Rufous.
Ohio
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Calliope, Green Violet-ear, Anna's.
Oklahoma
Ruby-throated, Black-chinned, Rufous, Calliope, Broad-tailed, Anna's, Green Violet-ear.
Oregon
Rufous, Anna's, Calliope, Black-chinned, Costa's, Allen's, Broad-tailed.Broad-billed.
Pennsylvania
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Anna's, Allen's, Calliope.
Rhode Island
Ruby-throated, Rufous.
South Carolina
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Green Violet-ear.
South Dakota
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Broad-tailed, Calliope.
Tennessee
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, Allen's, Calliope.
Texas
Ruby-throated, Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, Anna's, Rufous,Magnificent, Lucifer, Buff-bellied, Blue-throated, Costa's, Green Violet-ear, Allen's, Calliope, Broad-billed, Violet-crowned, White-eared, Green-breasted Mango, Berylline. Antillean Crested, Rufous-tailed.
Utah
Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, Calliope, Rufous, Costa's, Anna's, Broad-billed, Magnificent, Blue-throated.
Vermont
Ruby-throated, Rufous.
Virginia
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Allen's.
Washington
Anna's, Rufous, Black-chinned, Calliope
West Virginia
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, Green Violet-ear.
Wisconsin
Ruby-throated, Rufous, Anna's, Green Violet-ear.
Wyoming
Broad-tailed, Calliope, Rufous, Black-chinned, Magnificent, Anna's.
What do hummingbirds sound like?
You know it's a hummingbird when you hear this:
What's on a hummingbirds' menu?
Hummingbirds eat small bugs for protein and drink nectar for energy. If a hummingbird does not have food for several minutes (about ten) it will die.
Did you know?
-Hummingbirds usually sleep upsidedown. It is a process called "torpor" (tôrpər, tore-per) When it becomes dark, hummingbirds will find a safe perch, then it will fluff up its feathers like a coat to retain body heat. As the tempurature of the air continues to drop, the hummingbird will conserve energy by adjusting its thermostat and producing less heat. It enters a low energy state called torpor, it's like going into hibernation. The bird's body tempurature, normally 105 degrees fahrenheight, can drop by more than half. Its heartrate will slow way down to as low as 36bpm (beats per minute). Then, when the air warms at dawn, the bird slowly emerges from torpor. Its vital signs will become normal again.
(information from "Magic In The Air" by Nature)
-A hummingbird's heartbeat beats up to 1,260bpm, while a human's is usually 70bpm.
-The average ruby-throated hummingbird weighs 3 grams. In comparison, a nickel weighs 4.5 grams.
-Hummingbirds eat, then they sit down for five minutes, then they eat agian, then they sit down and the whole process starts over agian and lasts all day long!
-Hummingbirds live up to an average of 5 years. The longest recorded life of a hummingbird was 12 years.
-Hummingbirds are the only birds that can hover, fly forward, backwards, up, and down. They can even fly upside-down!
-Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world.
-Males arrive three weeks earlier than females. This is because they can find the best spot to mark their territory. This gives them a better chance of attracting the females.
-Hummingbirds only live in America, as far south as Chile and as far north as the state of Alaska.
(information from "Magic In The Air" by Nature)
-A hummingbird's heartbeat beats up to 1,260bpm, while a human's is usually 70bpm.
-The average ruby-throated hummingbird weighs 3 grams. In comparison, a nickel weighs 4.5 grams.
-Hummingbirds eat, then they sit down for five minutes, then they eat agian, then they sit down and the whole process starts over agian and lasts all day long!
-Hummingbirds live up to an average of 5 years. The longest recorded life of a hummingbird was 12 years.
-Hummingbirds are the only birds that can hover, fly forward, backwards, up, and down. They can even fly upside-down!
-Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world.
-Males arrive three weeks earlier than females. This is because they can find the best spot to mark their territory. This gives them a better chance of attracting the females.
-Hummingbirds only live in America, as far south as Chile and as far north as the state of Alaska.
-All hummingbirs' bills are designed to fit the shape of their favorite blossoms, like a key and a lock. For example, the Swordbill hummingbird of Ecuador gets its name from its 4 inch long bill, which is actually longer than its body. The trumpet-like blossoms of the datura (duh-toor-uh) flower hangs straight down, and its nectars tucked away at the very top. Because the nectar is so hard to reach, only those with the right equiptment can gain access. Some bills are curved, such as the bills of the Purple-throated Carib. The male and the female Purple-throated Caribs have different shaped bills because they both like different flowers.
This is a Swordbill hummingbird
This is a Swordbill hummingbird feeding on its favorite flower, the datura
This is a male Purple-throated Carib
Image of a female Purple-throated Carib. Notice how much longer and more curved the female's bill is from the male's. Although, it is hard to see from their angles in these photos.
-A female Black-chinned hummingbird will usually build her walnut-sized nest on a tall branch of a tree. There will usually be clusters of Black-chinned hummingbird nests in the same tree, shared by another bird, a Cooper's Hawk. Cooper's Hawks are killers, the reason why hummingbirds like to stay close. These hawks especially eat birds, but hummingbirds are too small and too fast for these big birds to bother with. Hawks prey on all animals that eat hummingbird eggs. So they help each other out.
-Eggs are about the size of tick-tacs or small jelly beans.
This is a Cooper's Hawk.
Another Cooper's Hawk.
This is a Cooper's Hawk nest.
This is a female Black-chinned hummingbird sitting on her eggs.
Hummingbirds will lay around 1-2 tick-tac sized eggs.
A mother hummingbird will feed her babies lots and lots of food, eventually they will become too big for the nest and eventually outgrow their mother. When they begin flying, they will burn off their baby fat.
Hummingbird babies getting too big for the nest. The little brown things you see are little hummingbird poops. They "shoot" their poop. They will not poop in the nest, therefore, hummingbirds do not usually contain the deadly bacteria Salmonella, and therefore, are very clean birds.