The Hummingbird Pages
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Pictures And Information About My Favorite Feathered Friends
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In North
America, The Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Is The Only Widespread Species Of Hummingbird
That Nests East Of The Mississippi
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Hummingbirds are the most skillful flyers of all the
birds
and it is the only species that can fly backwards. Because it
can hover, fly up,
down, forward, backward and sideways, at amazing speeds up to
55 mph., it
virtually has no predators. Hummers drink flower nectar and eat
small insects
constantly throughout the day and hibernate at night to conserve
energy. With
no help from the male, the female can raise 2-3 broods of offspring
each season.
The mother builds her walnut sized nest of borrowed silk and
web of insects and
decorates it with moss and lichen. If she survives, she will
return year after year
to the same spot to nest.
In the East, the Ruby-throated
Hummingbird is wide ranging, from southern
Canada to Florida. Most hummers winter in Mexico and Central
America although
it has been thought that a few winter in the the very southeast.
These could be
Black-chinned hummingbirds however, as the females and immatures
of these two
species are virtually indistinquishable. Hummingbirds have been
known to travel
over 2500 miles on their biannual migrations. Because of this,
they are symbols of
accomplishing that which seems impossible. Their playful aerial
displays and squeaky
cheeps remind us to seek joy as we drink from the abundant nectars
of life.
Female Hummingbird With Young
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Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird
These signed &
numbered hummingbird prints are available here.
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