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Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds have glittering, iridescent colours. They are native to South America and when the early Spanish explorers saw them, they called them “Joyas voladoras”, flying jewels.Tochilidae is the family of scientific classification given to these little birds. This is a Greek word meaning “small bird”. Very appropriate! In many instances in nature, the male is more brightly coloured than the female. This is the case with some hummingbirds too. Both sexes in the Ruby Throated species have metallic green above and white below. But the male has a brilliant red throat which the female lacks. In other species like the Rufous, the males and females share the same stunning array of colour.  Flight They are “Smart” flying machines with “lots of heart”. Their brain is 4.2% and their heart is 2.4% of their body weight, both proportionately the largest in the bird kingdom. Hummers can rotate each wing in a circle allowing them to fly in all directions: forward, backward, up, down, sideways or in one place. They can also fly upside-down and often deploy this maneuver when being chased. Their flight speed is 25 to 30 mph and they can dive at speeds of up to 60 mph. But they have a weakness. They have very little strength in their feet. When in their nest or perched on a branch, they will use their wings to change position rather than their feet. A Hummer’s normal life span averages from 3 to 5 years. But some sources state that some birds have lived as long as 9 to 12 years. Food A hummingbird will drink nectar from a variety of flowers. One bird may visit 1000 flowers per day! Voice The Pavarotti of the bird world, the Hummer will never be. This species cannot be considered a songbird. They produce nothing close to the beautiful lilt of other birds. Although they may not be known for their beautiful vocal sounds they are distinctly recognized for the humming sound produced by their wings. Thus the name! Click on the following topics for more interesting facts on Hummers! Migration Mating and Nesting Habitat and Habits  
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