There are over 300 species of hummingbirds. They live exclusively in the Western Hemisphere, from Alaska to the tip of South America. It is not surprisingly, that most are found in the tropics, where flowers are abound year-round. Only a handful of species reach the United States and Canada.
With eggs the size of a coffee bean, the HB will grow to 2¼ inches to 5 inches. Their flight muscles account for 25 to 30 percent of body weight, compared to 15 to 25 percent in other strongly-flying birds. Their weight is 3 grams to 4¼ grams in total.
the fastest wingbeats
HB have the most amazing ability to fly up, down, sideways, and backwards and dive at over 60 miles per hour during displays. Their wingbeats are up to 80 beats per second.
They have high body temperatures of 105° to 109°F and spend their days hovering at flowers to sip nectar, feeding almost constantly to supply the sugar necessary to maintain their racing metabolism.
Mating
They have the most brilliant iridescent colors and the most ornate patterns among hummingbirds are worn by males, to impress females.
After mating, the male takes no more part in family life. The female alone builds the nest, incubates the tiny eggs, and feeds the young for about 2 weeks
Considering the amount of energy that an individual hummingbird needs just to feed itself, it seems remarkable that the female is able to raise the young successfully all alone.
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