Humming bird

                                 The Humming bird

                                                                                  

The humming birds are  the smallest bird in the  kingdom  of the birds. The humming  birds are the native of america and constitute the biological family trochilidae. Their length is about 7.5 to 13 cm, the smallest extent bird species is of 5 cm (2.0) is also called the bee birds.

They are called as the humming bird because the humming sound created by their wings which flaps at high frequencies  audible to humans.

The humming  bird is the only bird which can fly back word  direction. The humming birds  had to sucks 2000 times nectar from the flower to complete their body needs.

Life span

Humming bird have a such a long life span with such a rapid metabolism. Though many die during the first year of the life, especially in the vulnerable period of hatching and fledgling, those who survive may live a decade or more. Among the better north american species the average life span is about 3 to 5 years. The longest living record of the humming bird is banded(ringed)  was an adult  at least  one year old, then recaptured 11 years old, making her at least 12 years old.

Reproduction

The humming bird do not take part in nesting. The most of the species make the cup shaped nest on the branches but few of them attach the nest to the leaves. Many humming bird species use the spider silk and lichens to make their nest secure the structure. The unique properties of the silk  allows the young ones grow better way. The two eggs are lay by the mother humming bird, it takes up to  14 to 23 days for incubation depending on the species , surrounding,temperature, and female attentiveness to the nest.

Bill evolution

Upon maturity, males of a particular species phaethornis longirostris the long billed  hermit, appears to evolving a dagger like weapon  on the beck tip as secondary sexual trait to defend meeting areas.

Migration 

Most of the humming birds migrate from america to spend the winter in mexico, the Caribbean island and north america. The south american species also move towards the north in to the tropics to spend the winters. A few species are year-round to the Florida,California and far to southern desert region US.

Diet and specialisation for food gathering

For nutrients the humming bird eat a variety of insects, including the mosquitoes, fruit fly and the gnats on the leaves and spider on their web. The lower beak of humming bird can bend up to 25 degree when it widen at base, making a large surface for catching the insects.

To supply the energy the humming bird drink the nectar , which is a fluid like substance present inside the flower in the small amount. Like bees humming  bird has the ability to access the amount of sugar from the nectar ; they mostly reject the flowers who has low sugar containing less than 10%

they only select the flowers which have more sugar content.

More images of humming bird: