Hummingbirds
In this article, Bella will discuss different aspects of hummingbirds.
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The Bird of may
The Bird of may
By: Bella Eichmann
By: Bella Eichmann
Hummingbirds are known as the “bird of May”. Symbolizing hope and peace, they are a cherished sight in all bird lover’s yards in the Western Hemisphere, for their slender, graceful bodies with saber-like wings, and vibrant shades of green, red, and caramel.
There are around 360 species of known hummingbirds. The Smithsonian Institute states that almost 340 hummingbird species are “entirely restricted to the New World, where they can be found from Tierra Del Fuego to southern Alaska and from below sea level deserts to steamy tropical forests at elevations of up to 16,000 feet in the Andes of South America”. While most of these species live in the tropics, at least 17 of these species live in the United States, usually found close to the Mexican border. And, only one species, the ruby-throated hummingbird, nests east of the Mississippi River.
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The most common hummingbird species in Oregon is the Rufous Hummingbird. These little birds are very territorial, known for going after hummingbirds that are up to twice their size at flowers and feeders. According to Cornell Lab, “Rufous Hummingbirds are wide-ranging, and breed farther north than any other hummingbird. Look for them in spring in California, summer in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, and fall in the Rocky Mountains as they make their annual circuit of the West.” Rufous Hummingbirds have one of the longest migrations of any hummingbird, or any bird, for that matter (as measured by their body size). Rufous hummingbirds also have an "excellent memory for location, no doubt helping it find flowers from day to day, or even year to year." These birds fly around 3,900 miles from Alaska to Mexico. During their migration, hummingbirds make a "clockwise circuit" of Western North America every year. They fly up the Pacific Coast in early spring, making it to British Colombia around May. Around July, the birds start to fly south again, following the Rocky Mountains.
While these birds may be tiny, they make up for it in speed. The Smithsonian Institute states that "A ruby-throated hummingbird's heart beats from 225 times per minute when the bird is at rest to more than 1,200 times per minute when it is flying. Its wings beat about 70 times per second in direct flight and more than 200 times per second while diving." The unique design of these birds helps them not only to fly fast but also to fly in a way that many other birds cannot. According to Farmer's Almanac, Hummingbird's "unique design allows them to fly in a figure-eight pattern (forward, vertically, horizontally, and even backward)". This is something that no other bird can do!
Hummingbirds truly are interesting creatures. They hold many records, from having the longest migration per size to being the only bird that can fly backward. It only seems right that these special birds get recognized with their very own article for the month of May.
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