# Hummingbirds (*trochilidae*) Hummingbirds are tiny, colorful birds that can flap their wings incredibly fast! They love to sip nectar from flowers while hovering in mid-air. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Habitat:** Hummingbirds are commonly found in gardens, forests, and near flowering plants. - **Also known as:** hummers ![Hummingbirds](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Archilochus-alexandri-002-edit.jpg&width=800) Photo: User:Mdf, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Archilochus-alexandri-002-edit.jpg) ## Appearance The Hummingbirds are tiny, iridescent birds, often displaying dazzling metallic greens, blues, and reds. They have long, needle-like beaks and rapidly beating wings that blur in flight, making them visually distinct from other birds. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Apodiformes - **Family:** Trochilidae - **Genus:** Calothorax ## Interesting facts - Hummingbirds beat their wings up to 80 times per second! - Hummingbirds cannot walk or hop; their tiny feet are only used for perching. - Their eggs are the smallest of any bird, about the size of a coffee bean! - They can enter a deep sleep called torpor to save energy at night. ## Special abilities - **Aerial Acrobatics:** Hummingbirds can fly forwards, backwards, and even hover in place because their unique wing joints allow a figure-eight motion. - **Super Metabolism:** Hummingbirds have an incredibly fast metabolism that helps them burn energy quickly to power their rapid wing beats. - **Long-Tongued Feeders:** Hummingbirds can reach deep into flowers because of their long, grooved tongues that help them lap up nectar efficiently. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 5-23 cm - **Wingspan:** 8-20 cm - **Weight:** 0.002-0.02 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-12 years - **Speed:** 50 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-3 - **Incubation:** 14-23 days ## Diet & Feeding These tiny birds drink sweet nectar from flowers and sometimes eat small insects for protein! - **Primary Foods:** Flower nectar, Small insects, Spiders, Tree sap - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Scarlet Sage (*Salvia splendens*) — A popular flower that hummingbirds feed from and pollinate. - **Pollinates:** Hardy Fuchsia (*Fuchsia magellanica*) — Hummingbirds are key pollinators for its tubular red and purple flowers. - **Eats:** [European Mantis](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-mantis) (*Mantis religiosa*) — Large praying mantises can occasionally ambush and prey on small hummingbirds. - **Eaten by:** [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Argiope aurantia*) — Hummingbirds can sometimes get trapped and die in strong spider webs. ## Traits - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Hummingbirds? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Hummingbirds? 5-23 cm ### What is Hummingbirds's wingspan? 8-20 cm ### How much does Hummingbirds weigh? 0.002-0.02 kg ### How long does Hummingbirds live? 3-12 years ### How fast can Hummingbirds move? 50 km/h ### What does Hummingbirds eat? These tiny birds drink sweet nectar from flowers and sometimes eat small insects for protein! ### Where is Hummingbirds usually found? Hummingbirds are commonly found in gardens, forests, and near flowering plants. ## Where to spot - [Lemon Road Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lemon-road-park) — Virginia, US · Park ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Hummingbirds: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hummingbirds)