Facts about Hummingbirds

1. 07

   Throat feathers in the male Anna's hummingbird reflect iridescent red light at angles exceeding 55 degrees, creating dramatic color shifts visible only when the bird positions itself directly toward an observer.

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2. 06

   At rest, a hummingbird's metabolic rate is approximately 77 times higher than similarly-sized mammals, requiring the bird to enter torpor at night to survive without food.

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3. 05

   Hummingbird eyes comprise nearly 50 percent of their head size and possess 64 times more color receptors than human eyes, enabling detection of ultraviolet wavelengths invisible to people.

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4. 04

   In a single feeding session, a hummingbird consumes approximately half its body weight in nectar, requiring up to 12 visits per hour to flowers throughout the day.

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5. 03

   A hummingbird's wings beat up to 80 times per second, allowing the bird to hover motionless in midair and fly backwards with unmatched precision.

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6. 02

   The ruby-throated hummingbird completes its 2,000-mile migration twice annually without stopping to rest, powered by fat reserves comprising up to 50 percent of its body weight.

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7. 01

   During a single day, a hummingbird's heart beats up to 1,260 times per minute, approximately 21 times faster than a human's resting heart rate.

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