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Flight of a hummingbird is quite unique. They can fly right, left, up and down, backwards and even upside down. The structure of their wing is stretchy at the shoulder but stiff at the wrist. The hummingbird holds their bodies upright and move their wings in a thin figure eight. The hummingbird moves their wings about fifty times a second.
The feet of the hummingbird are used for perching. For a hummingbird to leave a standing position they only move their wings, no pushing off with their feet. They are so small that their wings can make them mobile. They are the smallest birds only about three inches long. Most hummingbirds are bright in color.
These birds can be found in every part of America but mostly in the tropics. There are a few in the United States. They migrate along the Gulf Of Mexico about five hundred miles and nest in Mississippi.
Hummingbirds eat every ten minutes to keep up with there high metabolism. They eat mainly sugar and as much as two-thirds of their body weight. The hummingbird's tongue has grove on the sides which helps them catch insects.
The bill of the hummingbird is very long and pointed. They lick on an average, of thirteen licks a second, of nectar. They return to the same food source year after year.
During one way of mating males will sometimes raise his feather bording the gorget, toss their heads from side to side, and make a shrill sound. The female will spread her tail feathers to show the white tips while perched watching the male show off for her. After the courtship is over the female will hang upside down holding on to the branch with her craw and the male will mount her. After the mating, they go their own way. Each bird has his or her own territory. The female will make and tend to the nest while the male provides protection of the food source for the female and the young.
Even though hummingbirds are the smallest bird there is they are quite competitive when it comes to their meals and territory. The birds use their bills and claws against each other. They seldom fight bad enough to cause either of them harm.
Hummingbirds enjoy grooming themselves. They use the oil from the gland near their tail. They use this oil on there wings, stomach, tail feathers and back. They use their claws to comb their heads and necks. Hummingbirds also enjoy the sun. You can see they laying out sunning their breasts.
If a hummingbird needs to get clean, they may use a shallow pond, or rain or a sprinkler that maybe watering flowers. They dip their chins and bellies in the shallow pond. If it is raining, they will get soaked and get clean everywhere easily.
Hummingbirds do sleep in a position with their neck retracted and their head forward. Their bill is pointed up at a sharp angle. If the weather is cold the hummingbirds will seem in an inactivate state.
There are many legends, beliefs, poems and songs about this wonderful bird. They have been considered a messenger, sign of love, rebirth of great warriors. If you get a chance to see a hummingbird take the time you need to watch, listen and enjoy them.
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