Hummingbird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
Scientific classification
Kingdom Information
Domain |  Eukaryota
Kingdom |  Animalia
Subkingdom |  Bilateria
Branch |  Deuterostomia
Phylum Information
Phylum |  Chordata
Sub-phylum |  Vertebrata
Infraphylum |  Gnathostomata
Class Information
Superclass |  Tetrapoda
Class |  Aves
Sub-class |  Neornithes
Infra-class |  Neoaves
Order Information
Superorder |  Passerimorphae
Order |  Apodiformes
Family Information
Family |  Trochilidae
Population statistics

Hummingbird is any species of New World bird of the family Trochilidae, consisting of some 340 species within two subfamilies, and named for the humming sound from their rapidly-beating wings. Although hummingbirds include some of the smallest birds in the world, they belong to one of the largest families of birds. Hummingbirds are native to tropical rain forests but can be found in deserts, mountains, and plains. The smallest of these is the bee hummingbird. It weighs approximately 1.8 grams and is about 5 centimeters in length. The giant hummingbird is the largest hummingbird, weighing in at 18-20 grams and measuring eight and a half inches in length.

## Food[edit]

Hummingbirds are called "nectivores" because about 90 percent of their diet is nectar from flowers. hummingbirds slender bills which are perfect for collecting nectar from flowers. The bills allow each kind of hummingbird to feed from specific types of flowers. They also protect their long split tongues. Although their main diet is nectar, they sometimes eat insect which are often caught by "hawking". Hawking is when a hummingbird catches insects by flying and diving to snap them up out of the air. Hummingbirds consume between 3.14 and 7.6 calories a day. Humans (who may eat somewhere around 3,500 calories a day) would have to consume approximately 155,000 calories a day if they had the metabolism of a hummingbird. This is about 77 times the amount which humans usually eat. Because of their heart rate and small body size, hummingbirds need a lot of calories. Hummingbirds must digest their food quickly because they eat so much. A hummingbird can digest a fruit fly in 10 minutes. Some flowers rely on hummingbirds for pollination. Hummingbirds are attracted to flowers that are bright colors and are open during the day.

Hummingbird nest with two chicks.

## Nesting[edit]

Every spring the hummingbird migrate north to make a home for their young. The mother hummingbird find a spot where temperatures will stay below 96 degrees F to make her nest. The first thing the hummingbird lays down is spider webbing. After she applies the material to her nest site, she then carries soft material to the site in her beak. When the material is arranged the way she likes it, she carries another load of spider webbing to the nest. She repeats this process a few more time and then applies a soft layer of down to the inside of the nest. The hummingbird lays her eggs, which are the size of a coffer bean, inside the nest. When hummingbirds hatch, they are blind, have only a little down, and have small bumps for bills. These chicks are very vulnerable and sometimes their predators are large insects.

## See also[edit]

* Allen's Hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin
* Amazilia Hummingbird, Amazilia amazilia
* Amethyst Woodstar, Calliphlox amethystina
* Amethyst-throated Hummingbird, Lampornis amethystinus
* Amethyst-throated Sunangel, Heliangelus amethysticollis
* Andean Emerald, Agyrtria franciae
* Andean Hillstar, Oreotrochilus estella
* Anna's Hummingbird, Calypte anna
* Antillean Crested Hummingbird, Orthorhyncus cristatus
* Antillean Mango, Anthracothorax dominicus
* Azure-crowned Hummingbird, Agyrtria cyanocephala
* Bahama Woodstar, Calliphlox evelynae
* Band-tailed Barbthroat, Threnetes ruckeri
* Bearded Helmetcrest, Oxypogon guerinii
* Bearded Mountaineer, Oreonympha nobilis
* Beautiful Hummingbird, Calothorax pulcher
* Bee Hummingbird, Mellisuga helenae
* Berylline Hummingbird, Saucerottia beryllina
* Black Inca, Coeligena prunellei
* Black Jacobin, Florisuga fuscus
* Black Metaltail, Metallura phoebe
* Black-backed Thornbill, Ramphomicron dorsale
* Black-bellied Hummingbird, Eupherusa nigriventris
* Black-bellied Thorntail, Popelairia langsdorffi
* Black-billed Streamertail, Trochilus scitulus
* Black-breasted Hillstar, Oreotrochilus melanogaster
* Black-breasted Puffleg, Eriocnemis nigrivestis
* Black-chinned Hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri
* Black-crested Coquette, Lophornis helenae
* Black-eared Fairy, Heliothryx aurita
* Black-hooded Sunbeam, Aglaeactis pamela
* Black-tailed Trainbearer, Lesbia victoriae
* Black-thighed Puffleg, Eriocnemis derbyi
* Black-throated Brilliant, Heliodoxa schreibersii
* Black-throated Hermit, Phaethornis atrimentalis
* Black-throated Mango, Anthracothorax nigricollis
* Blossomcrown, Anthocephala floriceps
* Blue-capped Hummingbird, Eupherusa cyanophrys
* Blue-capped Puffleg, Eriocnemis glaucopoides
* Blue-chested Hummingbird, Polyerata amabilis
* Blue-chinned Sapphire, Chlorostilbon notatus
* Blue-fronted Lancebill, Doryfera johannae
* Blue-headed Hummingbird, Cyanophaia bicolor
* Blue-headed Sapphire, Hylocharis grayi
* Blue-mantled Thornbill, Chalcostigma stanleyi
* Blue-tailed Emerald, Chlorostilbon mellisugus
* Blue-tailed Hummingbird, Saucerottia cyanura
* Blue-throated Goldentail, Hylocharis eliciae
* Blue-throated Hummingbird, Lampornis clemenciae
* Blue-throated Starfrontlet, Coeligena helianthea
* Blue-tufted Starthroat, Heliomaster furcifer
* Booted Racket-tail, Ocreatus underwoodii
* Brazilian Ruby, Clytolaema rubricauda
* Broad-billed Hummingbird, Cynanthus latirostris
* Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus
* Broad-tipped Hermit, Anopetia gounellei
* Bronze-tailed Comet, Polyonymus caroli
* Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, Chalybura urochrysia
* Bronze-tailed Thornbill, Chalcostigma heteropogon
* Bronzy Hermit, Glaucis aenea
* Bronzy Inca, Coeligena coeligena
* Brown Inca, Coeligena wilsoni
* Brown Violet-ear, Colibri delphinae
* Buff-bellied Hermit, Phaethornis subochraceus
* Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Amazilia yucatanensis
* Buff-breasted Sabrewing, Campylopterus duidae
* Buff-tailed Coronet, Boissonneaua flavescens
* Buff-tailed Sicklebill, Eutoxeres condamini
* Buff-thighed Puffleg, Haplophaedia assimilis
* Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Coeligena lutetiae
* Buffy Hummingbird, Leucippus fallax
* Bumblebee Hummingbird, Atthis heloisa
* Calliope Hummingbird, Stellula calliope
* Canivet's Emerald, Chlorostilbon canivetii
* Charming Hummingbird, Polyerata decora
* Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird, Amazilia castaneiventris
* Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Boissonneaua matthewsii
* Chilean Woodstar, Eulidia yarrellii
* Chimborazo Hillstar, Oreotrochilus chimborazo
* Chiribiquete Emerald, Chlorostilbon olivaresi
* Cinnamon Hummingbird, Amazilia rutila
* Cinnamon-throated Hermit, Phaethornis nattereri
* Collared Inca, Coeligena torquata
* Colorful Puffleg, Eriocnemis mirabilis
* Copper-rumped Hummingbird, Saucerottia tobaci
* Copper-tailed Hummingbird, Saucerottia cupreicauda
* Coppery Emerald, Chlorostilbon russatus
* Coppery Metaltail, Metallura theresiae
* Coppery Thorntail, Popelairia letitiae
* Coppery-bellied Puffleg, Eriocnemis cupreoventris
* Coppery-headed Emerald, Elvira cupreiceps
* Coppery-naped Puffleg, Eriocnemis sapphiropygia
* Costa's Hummingbird, Calypte costae
* Cozumel Emerald, Chlorostilbon forficatus
* Crimson Topaz, Topaza pella
* Cuban Emerald, Chlorostilbon ricordii
* Dot-eared Coquette, Lophornis gouldii
* Dusky Hummingbird, Cynanthus sordidus
* Dusky-throated Hermit, Phaethornis squalidus
* Ecuadorian Piedtail, Phlogophilus hemileucurus
* Emerald-bellied Puffleg, Eriocnemis alinae
* Emerald-chinned Hummingbird, Abeillia abeillei
* Empress Brilliant, Heliodoxa imperatrix
* Esmeraldas Woodstar, Chaetocercus berlepschi
* Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Heliodoxa rubinoides
* Festive Coquette, Lophornis chalybeus
* Fiery Topaz, Topaza pyra
* Fiery-tailed Awlbill, Avocettula recurvirostris
* Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Panterpe insignis
* Fire-throated Metaltail, Metallura eupogon
* Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Thalurania furcata
* Frilled Coquette, Lophornis magnificus
* Garden Emerald, Chlorostilbon assimilis
* Garnet-throated Hummingbird, Lamprolaima rhami
* Giant Hummingbird, Patagona gigas
* Gilded Sapphire, Hylocharis chrysura
* Glittering-bellied Emerald, Chlorostilbon aureoventris
* Glittering-throated Emerald, Polyerata fimbriata
* Glowing Puffleg, Eriocnemis vestitus
* Glow-throated Hummingbird, Selasphorus ardens
* Golden Starfrontlet, Coeligena eos
* Golden-bellied Starfrontlet, Coeligena bonapartei
* Golden-breasted Puffleg, Eriocnemis mosquera
* Golden-crowned Emerald, Chlorostilbon auriceps
* Golden-tailed Sapphire, Chrysuronia oenone
* Gorgeted Puffleg, Eriocnemis isabellae
* Gorgeted Sunangel, Heliangelus strophianus
* Gorgeted Woodstar, Chaetocercus heliodor
* Gould's Inca, Coeligena inca
* Gould's Jewelfront, Heliodoxa aurescens
* Gray-bellied Comet, Taphrolesbia griseiventris
* Gray-breasted Sabrewing, Campylopterus largipennis
* Gray-chinned Hermit, Phaethornis griseogularis
* Gray-tailed Mountain-gem, Lampornis cinereicauda
* Great Sapphirewing, Pterophanes cyanopterus
* Great-billed Hermit, Phaethornis malaris
* Green Hermit, Phaethornis guy
* Green Mango, Anthracothorax viridis
* Green Thorntail, Discosura conversii
* Green Violet-ear, Colibri thalassinus
* Green-and-white Hummingbird, Leucippus viridicauda
* Green-backed Firecrown, Sephanoides sephaniodes
* Green-bellied Hummingbird, Saucerottia viridigaster
* Green-breasted Mango, Anthracothorax prevostii
* Green-breasted Mountain-gem, Lampornis sybillae
* Green-crowned Brilliant, Heliodoxa jacula
* Green-crowned Woodnymph, Thalurania fannyi
* Green-fronted Hummingbird, Agyrtria viridifrons
* Green-fronted Lancebill, Doryfera ludovicae
* Green-headed Hillstar, Oreotrochilus stolzmanni
* Greenish Puffleg, Haplophaedia aureliae
* Green-tailed Emerald, Chlorostilbon alice
* Green-tailed Goldenthroat, Polytmus theresiae
* Green-tailed Trainbearer, Lesbia nuna
* Green-throated Carib, Eulampis holosericeus
* Green-throated Mango, Anthracothorax viridigula
* Green-throated Mountain-gem, Lampornis viridipallens
* Hispaniolan Emerald, Chlorostilbon swainsonii
* Hoary Puffleg, Haplophaedia lugens
* Honduran Emerald, Polyerata luciae
* Hooded Visorbearer, Augastes lumachella
* Hook-billed Hermit, Glaucis dohrnii
* Horned Sungem, Heliactin bilophus
* Hyacinth Visorbearer, Augastes scutatus
* Indigo-capped Hummingbird, Saucerottia cyanifrons
* Jamaican Mango, Anthracothorax mango
* Juan Fernandez Firecrown, Sephanoides fernandensis
* Koepcke's Hermit, Phaethornis koepckeae
* Lazuline Sabrewing, Campylopterus falcatus
* Little Hermit, Phaethornis longuemareus
* Little Sunangel, Heliangelus micrastur
* Little Woodstar, Chaetocercus bombus
* Loja Hummingbird, Amazilia alticola
* Long-billed Hermit, Phaethornis longirostris
* Long-billed Starthroat, Heliomaster longirostris
* Long-tailed Hermit, Phaethornis superciliosus
* Long-tailed Sabrewing, Campylopterus excellens
* Long-tailed Sylph, Aglaiocercus kingi
* Long-tailed Woodnymph, Thalurania watertonii
* Longuemare's Sunangel, Heliangelus clarisse
* Lucifer Hummingbird, Calothorax lucifer
* Magenta-throated Woodstar, Calliphlox bryantae
* Magnificent Hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens
* Mangrove Hummingbird, Polyerata boucardi
* Many-spotted Hummingbird, Leucippus hypostictus
* Marvelous Spatuletail, Loddigesia mirabilis
* Mexican Sheartail, Doricha eliza
* Mexican Woodnymph, Thalurania ridgwayi
* Minute Hermit, Phaethornis idaliae
* Mountain Avocetbill, Opisthoprora euryptera
* Mountain Velvetbreast, Lafresnaya lafresnayi
* Napo Sabrewing, Campylopterus villaviscensio
* Narrow-tailed Emerald, Chlorostilbon stenurus
* Neblina Metaltail, Metallura odomae
* Needle-billed Hermit, Phaethornis philippii
* Oasis Hummingbird, Rhodopis vesper
* Olivaceous Thornbill, Chalcostigma olivaceum
* Olive-spotted Hummingbird, Leucippus chlorocercus
* Orange-throated Sunangel, Heliangelus mavors
* Pale-bellied Hermit, Phaethornis anthophilus
* Pale-tailed Barbthroat, Threnetes niger
* Peacock Coquette, Lophornis pavoninus
* Perija Metaltail, Metallura iracunda
* Peruvian Piedtail, Phlogophilus harterti
* Peruvian Sheartail, Thaumastura cora
* Pink-throated Brilliant, Heliodoxa gularis
* Plain-bellied Emerald, Agyrtria leucogaster
* Plain-capped Starthroat, Heliomaster constantii
* Planalto Hermit, Phaethornis pretrei
* Plovercrest, Stephanoxis lalandi
* Puerto Rican Emerald, Chlorostilbon maugaeus
* Purple-backed Sunbeam, Aglaeactis aliciae
* Purple-backed Thornbill, Ramphomicron microrhynchum
* Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Urosticte benjamini
* Purple-chested Hummingbird, Polyerata rosenbergi
* Purple-collared Woodstar, Myrtis fanny
* Purple-crowned Fairy, Heliothryx barroti
* Purple-throated Carib, Eulampis jugularis
* Purple-throated Mountain-gem, Lampornis calolaema
* Purple-throated Sunangel, Heliangelus viola
* Purple-throated Woodstar, Calliphlox mitchellii
* Racket-tailed Coquette, Discosura longicauda
* Rainbow Starfrontlet, Coeligena iris
* Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Chalcostigma herrani
* Red-billed Streamertail, Trochilus polytmus
* Reddish Hermit, Phaethornis ruber
* Red-tailed Comet, Sappho sparganura
* Rondonia Emerald, Agyrtria rondoniae
* Royal Sunangel, Heliangelus regalis
* Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris
* Ruby-topaz Hummingbird, Chrysolampis mosquitus
* Rufous Hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus
* Rufous Sabrewing, Campylopterus rufus
* Rufous-breasted Hermit, Glaucis hirsuta
* Rufous-breasted Sabrewing, Campylopterus hyperythrus
* Rufous-capped Thornbill, Chalcostigma ruficeps
* Rufous-cheeked Hummingbird, Goethalsia bella
* Rufous-crested Coquette, Lophornis delattrei
* Rufous-shafted Woodstar, Chaetocercus jourdanii
* Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Amazilia tzacatl
* Rufous-throated Sapphire, Hylocharis sapphirina
* Rufous-vented Whitetip, Urosticte ruficrissa
* Rufous-webbed Brilliant, Heliodoxa branickii
* Santa Marta Sabrewing, Campylopterus phainopeplus
* Santa Marta Woodstar, Chaetocercus astreans
* Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird, Lepidopyga lilliae
* Sapphire-spangled Emerald, Polyerata lactea
* Sapphire-throated Hummingbird, Lepidopyga coeruleogularis
* Sapphire-vented Puffleg, Eriocnemis luciani
* Saw-billed Hermit, Ramphodon naevius
* Scaled Metaltail, Metallura aeneocauda
* Scale-throated Hermit, Phaethornis eurynome
* Scaly-breasted Hummingbird, Phaeochroa cuvierii
* Scintillant Hummingbird, Selasphorus scintilla
* Scissor-tailed Hummingbird, Hylonympha macrocerca
* Shining Sunbeam, Aglaeactis cupripennis
* Shining-green Hummingbird, Lepidopyga goudoti
* Short-crested Coquette, Lophornis brachylophus
* Short-tailed Emerald, Chlorostilbon poortmani
* Short-tailed Woodstar, Myrmia micrura
* Slender Sheartail, Doricha enicura
* Slender-tailed Woodstar, Microstilbon burmeisteri
* Snowcap, Microchera albocoronata
* Snowy-bellied Hummingbird, Saucerottia edward
* Sombre Hummingbird, Campylopterus cirrochloris
* Sooty-capped Hermit, Phaethornis augusti
* Spangled Coquette, Lophornis stictolophus
* Sparkling Violet-ear, Colibri coruscans
* Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird, Tilmatura dupontii
* Speckled Hummingbird, Adelomyia melanogenys
* Spot-throated Hummingbird, Leucippus taczanowskii
* Steely-vented Hummingbird, Saucerottia saucerrottei
* Straight-billed Hermit, Phaethornis bourcieri
* Streak-throated Hermit, Phaethornis rupurumii
* Stripe-breasted Starthroat, Heliomaster squamosus
* Stripe-tailed Hummingbird, Eupherusa eximia
* Stripe-throated Hermit, Phaethornis striigularis
* Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Eupetomena macroura
* Sword-billed Hummingbird, Ensifera ensifera
* Tawny-bellied Hermit, Phaethornis syrmatophorus
* Tepui Goldenthroat, Polytmus milleri
* Tooth-billed Hummingbird, Androdon aequatorialis
* Tourmaline Sunangel, Heliangelus exortis
* Tufted Coquette, Lophornis ornatus
* Tumbes Hummingbird, Leucippus baeri
* Turquoise-throated Puffleg, Eriocnemis godini
* Tyrian Metaltail, Metallura tyrianthina
* Velvet-browed Brilliant, Heliodoxa xanthogonys
* Velvet-purple Coronet, Boissonneaua jardini
* Venezuelan Sylph, Aglaiocercus berlepschi
* Veraguan Mango, Anthracothorax veraguensis
* Versicolored Emerald, Agyrtria versicolor
* Vervain Hummingbird, Mellisuga minima
* Violet Sabrewing, Campylopterus hemileucurus
* Violet-bellied Hummingbird, Damophila julie
* Violet-capped Hummingbird, Goldmania violiceps
* Violet-capped Woodnymph, Thalurania glaucopis
* Violet-chested Hummingbird, Sternoclyta cyanopectus
* Violet-crowned Hummingbird, Agyrtria violiceps
* Violet-crowned Woodnymph, Thalurania colombica
* Violet-fronted Brilliant, Heliodoxa leadbeateri
* Violet-headed Hummingbird, Klais guimeti
* Violet-tailed Sylph, Aglaiocercus coelestis
* Violet-throated Metaltail, Metallura baroni
* Violet-throated Starfrontlet, Coeligena violifer
* Viridian Metaltail, Metallura williami
* Volcano Hummingbird, Selasphorus flammula
* Wedge-billed Hummingbird, Augastes geoffroyi
* Wedge-tailed Hillstar, Oreotrochilus adela
* Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, Campylopterus curvipennis
* White-bearded Hermit, Phaethornis hispidus
* White-bellied Emerald, Agyrtria candida
* White-bellied Hummingbird, Leucippus chionogaster
* White-bellied Mountain-gem, Lampornis hemileucus
* White-bellied Woodstar, Chaetocercus mulsant
* White-browed Hermit, Phaethornis stuarti
* White-chested Emerald, Agyrtria brevirostris
* White-chinned Sapphire, Hylocharis cyanus
* White-crested Coquette, Lophornis adorabilis
* White-eared Hummingbird, Hylocharis leucotis
* White-necked Jacobin, Florisuga mellivora
* White-sided Hillstar, Oreotrochilus leucopleurus
* White-tailed Emerald, Elvira chionura
* White-tailed Goldenthroat, Polytmus guainumbi
* White-tailed Hillstar, Urochroa bougueri
* White-tailed Hummingbird, Eupherusa poliocerca
* White-tailed Sabrewing, Campylopterus ensipennis
* White-tailed Starfrontlet, Coeligena phalerata
* White-throated Hummingbird, Leucochloris albicollis
* White-throated Mountain-gem, Lampornis castaneoventris
* White-tipped Sicklebill, Eutoxeres aquila
* White-tufted Sunbeam, Aglaeactis castelnaudii
* White-vented Plumeleteer, Chalybura buffonii
* White-vented Violet-ear, Colibri serrirostris
* White-whiskered Hermit, Phaethornis yaruqui
* Wine-throated Hummingbird, Atthis ellioti
* Wire-crested Thorntail, Popelairia popelairii
* Xantus's Hummingbird, Hylocharis xantusii