Amazing Hummingbirds! 5 Things You May Not Know About These Tiny Birds

Hello and happy February! I know for most of us, hummingbirds are far from our mind in this, the middle of winter, with snow on the ground in some places and colorful flowers long gone. But I just returned from a trip to Ecuador and saw so many beautiful and amazing hummingbirds I can’t help but want to share them with you. Perhaps you’ve been there and seen some too?

Here are 5 things you may not know about hummingbirds: (Along with a video of LOTS of hummingbirds from Ecuador at the very end. Don’t miss it!! Guaranteed to make you smile!!)

1. Did you know hummingbirds are only found in the Western Hemisphere? That makes them extra special to those of us who get to see them regularly all summer. China, Thailand, Australia, Africa, none of these places have hummingbirds!

2. Did you know that there are 330 species of hummingbirds which scientists put into 115 genera? Most of these live in the equatorial belt between 10 degrees north and south of the equator. 

3. Did you know the largest hummingbird, appropriately called the Giant Hummingbird is 8 inches long and weighs just 7 ounces? It can be found in South America, all along the east and west slopes of the Andes Mountains. The smallest hummingbird, called the Bee Hummingbird, is only 2.25 inches long and weighs less than a dime, at only 2 grams. The Bee Hummingbird is found only in Cuba. It is so tiny that people confuse it with a bee! And guess how big its eggs are? Only the size of a coffee bean!!

4.  Did you know Ecuador has the most hummingbirds of any country in the world? 135 species make Ecuador their home, and the variety is mind-boggling! There are hummingbirds with long tails, and long bills, short bills and curved bills, birds with iridescent orange, purple, turquoise, magenta, blue, green and every color in between. 

5. Lastly, Do you know how many hummingbirds live in the United States? That would be 15, although east of the Rockies there is only one species that regularly shows up at houses with feeders and that is the ruby-throated hummingbird. Know what is considered the Hummingbird capital of the US? It’s in a town called Sierre Vista, Arizona where you can see more than 12 species of hummingbirds. 

Here are a few hummingbirds from Ecuador:

 

Want to learn more about hummingbirds? I’ve written multiple posts over the years including, What Animal on Earth has the Fastest Metabolism? 10 Things You May Not Know about Hummingbirds, and Love Hummingbirds? Ten Common Questions Answered, and Love Hummingbirds? 5 Ways to Make Sure You’re Helping them, not Hurting Them, and Hummingbirds: Can you Spot the Lie? and Birds That Make Me Smile. The Joy of Watching Hummingbirds and lastly, Top Ten Native Plants for Hummingbirds.

What else would you like to know about hummingbirds? Do you have a favorite? If so, which one and why? I’d love to hear from you–just use the reply box at the end of the post. I hope to hear from you soon.