Hummingbird is not only the most miniaturea bird on our planet, but also one of the most beautiful creatures created by nature. Amazing creation amazes with its lifestyle and resolute disposition. But let's find out a little more about this miniature bird.
Tiny sizes
There are many (about 330) species of hummingbirds.Among the representatives of this order it is possible to find birds, the sizes of which more resemble large insects than birds. For example, the statement that the smallest bird hummingbird weighs 20 g is erroneous, because a very miniature species, called the hummingbird bee, can boast of representatives weighing about 2 g.
These crumbs are found mainly in Cuba and reach sizes of less than 7 cm, while the largest of the existing hummingbird birds can grow up to 22 cm.
As a rule, measurements carried out from the tip of the beakto the extreme point of the tail. Most of these small birds inhabit the North American continent. They can be found not only in a tropical and subtropical climate, but also in Alaska. Their favorite habitats are gardens, meadows, fields. Among the hummingbirds are found both resident and migratory birds. The latter include the ruby-headed hummingbird and the red fire carrier, they spend the winter in Mexico. Unfortunately, on the territory of our continent, these crumbs do not occur. Not even a hummingbird bird is found in Udmurtia, where you can meet another little bird called the Kingfisher. It is also small and has an emerald green color, so they are often confused.
Coloring
Hummingbird - a bird with a unique color, its plumagevery beautiful and reminiscent of precious stones. When exposed to direct sunlight, bright feathers shimmer, as if changing their colors. That is why the bird is often given names associated with precious stones (for example: "topaz hummingbird", "emerald neck", "fire topaz," flying amethyst "). Agree, very poetic nicknames.
"Family life"
Hummingbird nests weave from blades of grass, cobwebs,wool and bark pieces. The size of the "hearth" depends on the size of the bird itself. In some of them, the nests reach the diameter of a cup, while in others they form walnut shells.
In such a "house" hummingbird lays 2 eggs, the size of which is no more than a pea. The diameter of the eggs - only 12 mm, weight - not more than 0.5 g.
I must say that the hummingbird is very brave anda brave bird, in case of danger, it fearlessly stands up to defend its chicks and swiftly flies toward the enemy. A desperate mother thrust her sharp beak into the nose or the eye of the attacker.
It is noteworthy that hummingbirds do not form pairs.On the females of the cavity lies the care of the offspring. At the same time, she remains alone, starting from the moment the nest is built and before the chicks are fed.
Food
Колибри – птица, описание жизнедеятельности which is somewhat different from our usual understanding of the way of life of birds. First of all, it is interesting that the main food for them is nectar, which they extract independently from flowers. Hummingbirds are capable of hovering in the air above a flower, making up to 80 wings by wings in one second. Such an intense flight takes a lot of strength and energy, so whenever possible the birds sit on a flower to drink nectar.
However, it is wrong to believe that this is the onlyfood product for these birds. For many species of hummingbirds, the main food (for some of them even exceptional) is small insects. Sometimes they eat the prisoners of the web.
Hummingbird - a bird that spends when flyinga tremendous amount of energy, so she has to eat often. During the period of activity, food intake occurs every 10 minutes. It turns out that during the day these crumbs eat the amount of food, by weight greater than the weight of their own body.
Flight style
Another interesting feature of this tinythe creature is that a hummingbird is a bird capable of maneuvering backwards. More than any representative of birds in the world such a flight is not under force. Scientists have determined that the flying muscles of birds make up about 25-30% of its total weight. The ability to move up and down and back is provided by the special design of the wing. Typically, the wings of birds are joined from the shoulders, elbow and wrist, in hummingbirds they are attached only from the shoulders. All this allows them to quickly accelerate, hover in the air, land vertically, and during mating courtship to develop the speed of flapping wings up to hundreds per second.
Hummingbirds have a big and strong heart.It occupies almost half of the cavity of her body, and its size is three times larger than its own stomach. The heart rate is also impressive - 1000-1200 beats per minute.
Important biological function
Кстати, питаясь нектаром, колибри выполняют одну from very significant biological roles - they pollinate flowers. The fact is that a number of flowers have such a structure that only this tiny bird can pollinate them. Interestingly, the shape of the flower, most often pollinated by a specific type of hummingbird, is directly related to the structural features of the bird's beak. That is, for different species of hummingbirds their own beak forms are characteristic. So, if the flower is flat, then the bird should have it short. From long inflorescences similar to a funnel, nectar can only be obtained with a narrow elongated beak.
The longest beak (up to 10 cm) is possessed by a mosquito. Its size is almost twice the total length of the bird.
On top of this, this hummingbird organ hasother features, for example, a considerably forked tongue, a brushless base. Such individual differences allow this bird to protrude the tongue from the mouth much further than other birds.
Migration to cold edges
Some hummingbirds migrate tomountain rock formations located in Canada, while the snow cover has not melted. At the same time, the temperature of the laid eggs is successfully kept by the birds at the level of 25 degrees. It is warmer than the ambient temperature. How does this happen?
Дело в том, что колибри – птица, которая легко adapt to fairly low temperatures due to the unique feather barrier. One inch of their body accounts for the largest number of feathers compared to other birds (excluding representatives of large species). In addition, hummingbirds are able to lower their metabolism to a state of lethargic sleep in order to save energy. Before you migrate, they accumulate a significant amount of fat. Thus, it is 72% of the total weight of the bird. To accumulate such amount of energy reserve is not possible for every bird, because it requires special adjustment of physiological mechanisms. Scientists have found that hummingbirds possess the most metabolically active liver in the world. Another important feature is the high speed of delivery of glucose. This is an invaluable characteristic for a living creature whose main food is nectar.
Memory
Another interesting feature of hummingbirdslies in their ability to memorize. Scientists have discovered that when the bird “flies around” the flowers, it avoids those that it has devastated to the end. However, it returns to those plants where nectar still remains. This is an amazing fact, since the brain of the investigated hummingbird (reddish-brown) has the size of a grain of rice. However, this does not prevent her from using his capabilities.
Hummingbirds are truly unique creations.They differ from the rest of the birds, and structure, and lifestyle, and plumage, and, most importantly, size. No bird that looks like a hummingbird in appearance can compare with it in other parameters, for example, in flight speed. Therefore, for many years, it is of particular interest to nature lovers.
Возможно, вам интересно, сколько стоит колибри – a bird that is truly unique. However, if you want to buy it, it is better to think well, as a hummingbird, like any other representative of the wild nature, needs freedom to live a full life. Proper conditions for them can be created only in natural parks. In addition, to ensure proper nutrition will be difficult.
