Hummingbirds are among the smallest birds in the world, ranging from 7.5-13 cm in length. They can flap their wings extremely fast, from 10-90 times per second depending on the species. Hummingbirds are unique in their ability to fly in any direction, including backwards and upside down. They feed by inserting long tongues into flowers to drink nectar and consume insects. Males have brightly colored patches of feathers called gorgets that they use in courtship displays. Females build small cup-shaped nests out of spiderwebs and lay two eggs.

2.  Hummingbirds are tiny birds, most
species (kinds) being between 7.5-13
cm (3-5 inches) long. In fact, the
smallest of all birds is the Bee
Hummingbird. There are more than a
hundred species of hummingbird.

3. Body Facts
 Depending on which species they are,
hummingbirds flap their wings 10-90 times
per second. The Giant Hummingbird’s wings
beat 10 times per second, and medium sized
hummingbirds beat their wings around 20-25
times per second. Hummingbirds fly up,
down, forwards and sideways, can hover in
one spot, and are the only birds that can fly
backwards or upside down. They can fly
faster than 24 km (15 miles) per second
! The rapid wing beats of their tiny wings
makes a faint humming sound, which is how
they got their name.

5.  Hummingbirds feed on nectar from inside
flowers. They have long, grooved tongues
which they insert deep into flowers to reach
the sweet nectar inside, along with any tiny
insects that are inside the corolla. They do
not spend all day flying as it would use up
too much energy, so they spend about 75% of
their day perched, allowing their food to
digest. They have many small meals all
through the day, consuming about their body
weight in food.

6. 
Hummingbirds have patches of flat brilliantly
coloured feathers that flash when they catch the
sunlight at certain angles. These are called gorgets
(say gaw-jit) and are part of a male’s courtship
display to attract a female’s attention. It is believed
that the males do not help with the nesting.
 Females make a cup-shaped nest, the size depending
on which species it is – some are the size of a walnut
shell. The nest is bound together and held to a
branch with spiderweb. Spider silk allows the nest to
expand as the young grow. Two white eggs are laid in
the nest, and the female incubates them for 14-23
days, depending on the species. When they hatch,
the mother feeds them small insects and nectar.
 The life span of a hummingbird is between 3 to 10
years, depending on the species.