Hummingbird Fun Facts

► A hummingbird will take about 250 breaths per minute while at rest.

► Hummingbirds are the tiniest birds in the world.

► Hummingbirds have an average life span of about 5 years.

► An average sized hummingbird will have about 940 feathers.

► A hummingbird’s heart beats up to 1,260 times per minute and about 250 times per minute at rest.

► It is estimated that a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird takes about 20 hours to fly 500 miles across the Gulf of Mexico.

► A hummingbirds favorite color is red and they like tubular type flowers the most.

► A hummingbird can fly an average of 25-30 miles per hour and can dive up to 60 miles per hour.

► 30% of a hummingbird’s weight consists of flight muscles.

► Hummingbirds need to eat on average 7 times per hour for about 30-60 seconds.

► A Gorget is the bright flashing colored feathers of the hummingbird’s neck.

► Hummingbirds have no sense of smell.

► They eat small soft bugs for protein. Nectar only provides carbohydrates for energy.

► A hummingbird’s wings will beat about 70 times per second and up to 200 times per second when diving.

► Hummingbirds have very weak feet and can barely walk. They prefer to fly, like to perch, spending most of their life perching.

► A hummingbird’s brain is 4.2% of its body weight, the largest proportion in the bird kingdom.

► Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly forward, backwards. They can hover in mid-air, fly sideways and even upside-down.

► Hummingbirds have tiny hairs on the tip of the tongue to help lap up nectar.