by Anna Harrison

Created on: March 04, 2009

The tiny hummingbird is truly the marvel of the bird world. These buzzing little bundles of energy are endlessly entertaining to watch, which is probably the reason why so many of us feed them. Weighing a mere 1/10th of an ounce, they average less than 4 inches in length. They can fly in any direction, even upside down. Truly speed demons, they can reach 60 mph when flying forward.

There are sixteen species of hummingbirds in the United States. All of these but one live on the western side of the country. The rufous, black chinned and Anna's hummingbirds are the most common to reside in the west. The ruby throated hummingbird is the only species that lives east of the Rocky Mountains.

Hummingbirds are amusing to observe, with their antics and acrobatics. When they feel that their food source is being threatened, they will fly in a large arc, swooping and diving, and making chirping and clicking noises. They also go through similar actions to attract a mate, or to protect their nest. Despite their diminutive size, they have been known to take on birds as large as crows, and even hawks. They are also not shy about letting humans know when they are too close to their food, and will zoom back and forth very closely,.

These beautiful, iridescent birds have good reason to be so protective of their food source. They need every bit of it, since they have a higher metabolism than any other bird, and need to eat nearly 50% of their weight in flower nectar daily. While this makes up most of their diet, they will also eat tiny insects and spiders. Many people think these birds fly and hover nearly nonstop, but in reality they will perch whenever they can to conserve energy. At night, especially when cold, they will go into a torpor state, which means their heart rate goes down to 1/5 of their daytime rate. Breathing slows as well and their body temperature drops. Hummingbirds can store up to 2 grams of body fat, though, which helps them when migrating. The ruby throated hummingbird flies across the Gulf of Mexico to Central America nonstop.

Female hummingbirds, a less colorful version of their male counterparts, are in charge of nest building, which is made up of any variety of materials. Their nests are the world's smallest, and have been known to include insect cocoons, ferns and hair. Females raise their babies alone, and the little nestlings may stay in the nest for up to three weeks.

A garden with a wide variety of flowering plants will attract hummingbirds. They are especially fond of red flowers, such as cardinal flowers, bee balm and beard tongue. Tubular shaped flowers like foxglove and trumpet vine are also favorites. In addition to flowers, hummingbirds also enjoy the nectar from feeders made just for them. While the commercial mixes and blends are good, they are not necessary. Just offering them a mixture of one part sugar to four parts water is sufficient, though it can be made slightly sweeter in the spring, when hummingbirds can really use the extra energy. It is important to clean feeders often, and keep the nectar fresh, because it will quickly mold, and this can make birds sick. If the feeder holds a large amount of nectar, it is best to only partially fill it, as it will take a long time for such small birds to consume it all. Placing bee guards over the feeder tubes will help to deter the wasps that are so fond of the nectar, and a light coating of vegetable oil will repel ants.

Here in the northeast, the ruby throated hummingbirds usually disappear by mid September, heading for a warmer climate. We start looking for them to return in mid May, and make sure their feeders are full and waiting for them.

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