Humming Bird: Generally, humming bird are one of the more than 300 species of small and brightly coloured birds belonging to the Trochilidae family, which look the most attractive among their species. They are named hummingbirds because of the beautiful humming sound produced by their flapping wings. These hummingbirds look and behave similar to sunbirds and honeyeaters.
Scientific Classification of Humming Bird
Hummingbirds, famous for their bright colours and loud wing flaps, belong to a unique family of small birds. The detailed scientific classification of hummingbirds is as follows:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Apodiformes
- Family: Trochilidae
Body Structure & Appearance of Humming Bird
These hummingbirds are famous for their mesmerizing beauty and distinctive features. These small birds attract with their beautiful colours and delicate shape and remarkable agility. Here are some glimpses of their distinctive beauty and shape-
Size and Shape
- Small Stature: Hummingbirds are among the smallest birds in the world, typically measuring between 3 to 5 inches in length.
- Lightweight: Despite their tiny size, they are incredibly lightweight, with some species weighing as little as 2 to 20 grams.
Plumage
- Iridescent Feathers: One of the most striking features of hummingbirds is their iridescent plumage. The feathers can appear to change color when viewed from different angles due to the microscopic platelets that reflect light.
- Vivid Colors: Hummingbirds display a dazzling array of colors, including brilliant greens, blues, reds, and purples. Males are often more vividly colored than females, especially around the throat and head, known as the gorget.
Wings and Flight
- Long, Narrow Wings: Their wings are long and narrow, designed for rapid flapping, which enables their unique hovering ability and agile flight patterns.
- Rapid Wing Beats: Hummingbirds can beat their wings up to 80 times per second, creating a humming sound that gives them their name.
Eyes and Vision
- Large Eyes: Relative to their head size, hummingbirds have large eyes, providing them with excellent vision.
- Colour Perception: They can see a broader spectrum of colours than humans, including ultraviolet light, which helps them locate flowers and navigate their environment.
Distribution of Humming Birds
Hummingbirds are small birds found mainly in America and their distribution area is from Alaska to the southern tip of South America. The distribution area of these birds can vary according to the climate and availability of food sources.
North America
- Northern Range: Some species, such as the Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus), migrate as far north as Alaska and Canada during the breeding season.
- United States and Mexico: The Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is widespread in the eastern United States and migrates to Central America and Mexico for the winter. The Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) is common in the southwestern United States.
Central America
Diverse Species: Central America hosts a rich diversity of hummingbirds due to its tropical climate and abundant floral resources. Countries like Costa Rica and Panama are hotspots for many species, including the Violet-crowned Hummingbird (Amazilia violiceps) and the Green-breasted Mango (Anthracothorax prevostii).
South America
- Greatest Diversity: South America, particularly the Andean region, has the highest diversity of hummingbird species. Countries like Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru are home to numerous species, including the Andean Hillstar (Oreotrochilus estella) and the Long-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus kingii).
- Amazon Basin: The Amazon rainforest also supports a variety of hummingbirds, such as the Rufous-breasted Hermit (Glaucis hirsutus) and the Glittering-throated Emerald (Amazilia fimbriata).
Introduction of Humming Bird
Generally, humming bird are one of the more than 300 species of small and brightly coloured birds belonging to the Trochilidae family, which look the most attractive among their species. They are named hummingbirds because of the beautiful humming sound produced by their flapping wings. These hummingbirds look and behave similar to sunbirds and honeyeaters.
Scientific Classification of Humming Bird
Hummingbirds, famous for their bright colours and loud wing flaps, belong to a unique family of small birds. The detailed scientific classification of hummingbirds is as follows:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Apodiformes
- Family: Trochilidae
Geographical Distribution
- Continents: South America
- Countries: Colombia, Venezuela
- Region: French Guiana
- Biographical Realm: Neotropical
Humming Bird Habitat
Hummingbirds typically live in a variety of environments across the Americas. Their habitat ranges from lush tropical forests to arid deserts:
01.Tropical and subtropical forests:
- Rainforests: Many hummingbirds thrive in the dense, moist environments of tropical rainforests, especially those found in South America. These forests offer a rich diversity of flowering plants that provide abundant nectar.
- Cloud forests: Found at high elevations in the Andes and Central America, cloud forests are cool, misty environments where hummingbirds such as the violet-tailed sylph (Aglaiocercus coelestis) and the booted racket-tail (Ochreatus underwoodi) are found.
02.Deserts and Arid Regions:
- Southwestern Deserts: Costa Hummingbird (Calypte costae) and Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) These hummingbirds are well adapted to arid environments. These hummingbirds forage for food among desert flowers.
03.Mountainous regions:
- Andes Mountains: The Andes are a biodiversity hotspot for hummingbirds, with species such as the Andean hillstar (Oreotrochilus estella) adapted to high altitudes. These birds often migrate long distances in search of food and suitable climate.
- Rocky Mountains: In North America, broad-tailed hummingbirds (Selasphorus platycerus) prefer to breed in the grasslands and forests of the Rocky Mountains.
Life Span of Humming Bird
The average lifespan of a hummingbird ranges from 3 to 5 years, many factors affect their longevity such as surrounding predators and environmental conditions, and migration risks all play a vital role in determining how long these little birds are able to live.
- Average Life Span: 3-5 Year
References: Wikipedia
https://bytica.net/humming-bird-food-classification-life-span/