Humming Bird Characteristics

Hummingbirds average 3 1/3 inches in length and are regarded as the world's smallest bird. However, 343 different known hummingbird species make the hummingbird family the second largest family of birds. A hummingbird can rotate its wings, allowing it to be the only bird that can hover in one place or fly backwards.

  1. Habitat

    • Hummingbirds are found only on the North American and South American continents. They have been spotted as far north as southeastern Alaska and as far south as southern Chile. More than half of the 363 hummingbird species can be found in South America. Ecuador hosts 163 hummingbird species. Over 50 different species regularly breed in Mexico.

    Flight

    • Hummingbirds are the only birds that can rotate their wings. This allows them to be very fluid in their flight. They oftentimes move forward, backward or sideways in short spans of time. Hummingbirds flap their wings up to 80 times per second when hovering and up to 200 times per second when engaging in a courtship dive. A normal flight speed for a hummingbird is approximately 25 miles per hour, but they can reach speeds up to 50 miles per hour when diving.

    Size and Lifespan

    • Hummingbirds can weigh anywhere between 0.07 and 0.7 oz. The bee hummingbird averages about 2 1/4 inches in length and is considered the smallest bird on Earth. Giant hummingbirds can be considerably larger, averaging about 8 inches in length. The lifespan of the hummingbird is not particularly long, and most hummingbirds do not make it past their first year. If they do survive the first year, their average lifespan extends to three to four years. Some hummingbirds have lived for up to 12 years.

    Feeding Information

    • Hummingbirds feed on flower nectar and tree sap five to eight times every hour. These feeding sessions are usually brief, lasting between 30 and 60 seconds at a time. The beak of a hummingbird is shaped similarly to the beaks of other birds, however it is longer proportionately to its body. This allows hummingbirds to reach deep inside larger flowers and even eat insects and pollen.