I really enjoyed learning about their physiological and anatomical adaptations which support them in their environments and during migration.

There are similarities between hummingbirds and wading birds in that they are on the constant hunt for food. While the hummingbird is going from flower to flower and eating insects, I live on a pond and watch the wading birds walk constant laps around the pond on the waters edge looking for fish, frogs, etc.  Of course there are differences in that the hummingbird must eat almost constantly during the day to survive.

The debate rages on about animal intelligence, but if any can claim to possess courage, it must be the hummingbird! One of the longest migrations, easily the longest when accounting for body size, and without gliding for a single second! Every inch they gain requiring a thousand wing beats, buffeted about by winds and rains, constantly needing to find new food sources, not being able to load up on energy stores like other long-haul migrants. I have always admired their colors and aerial abilities, but this course has given me a new level of admiration.

WOODPECKERS (W) COMPARED AND CONTRASTED TO HUMMINGBIRDS (H)   GENERAL INFORMATION   Species Count:  W have 236 species;  H have 363 species (Birds of the World).   Clades/Subfamilies:  W are in the order of Piciformes; the family Picidae includes True Woodpeckers, Wrynecks, and Piculets.  H are in the order of Apodiformes (which include swifts and hummingbirds); and the family Trochilade. There are nine clades: Hermits, Topazes-Jacobins; Mangos, Coquettes, Brilliants, Mountaingems, Emeralds, Bees, and Giants. (Course Content).   Range: W are found worldwide with the exception of Australia, NZ, Madagascar, Pacific Islands. Most are found in South America and Southeast Asia.  H are found only in the western hemisphere. Most are found in Central and South America (Course Content).   Habitat: W like woodlands, forests, savannahs, scrublands, bamboo forests and parklands with trees; The Black-backed Woodpecker specialize in being the first to return to burnt forests. H like open areas of woodlands, flowering gardens, and shrubs. Some breed in the alpine tundra (Rufous Hummingbird) and others like the coastal lowlands (Allen’s Hummingbird). Several species live in the tropics year-round (Bee Hummingbird). Others prefer to migrate up and down mountainsides (elevational or altitudinal migration) depending on the flowering plants that are in bloom. Hillstar Hummingbirds live at elevations as high as 11,500 ft. (Course Content).   Migration: Both W and H migrate. But it depends on the species, their food choice, and their breeding grounds. Making the longest journey in each species: Of the W, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (8.5” L; 16” WS) migrates from the Yukon to mid-Panama, about 4800 miles. Of the H, the Rufous Hummingbird (3.75” L, 4.5 WSJ) travels from Alaska to Mexico 3500 miles. When considering body size, the Rufous Hummingbird makes the longest journey of any bird during migration. (Course Content, Wikipedia, Sibley Birds 2nd Ed).   Conservation Status (Birds of the World; ICUN Red List 2023): Comparison shows that both W and H species are about the same with 77% to 80% of the species of both birds at Least Concern. However, both are also showing a sizeable percent 13% to 15% of the species within each group that is rated as Near Threatened to Critically Endangered.     ANATOMY   Bills: Both birds have long bills and use their bills to obtain food. W have thick bills to help excavate nests (drill), communicate (drum), and search for insects in trees, cacti (tapping).  H have bills that are used to sip nectar from flowers; but will also use their bills to defend territory. (Course Content)   Flight Muscles: Both W and H use the Pectoralis and the Supracoracoideus muscles for flight. W are not good fliers and the smaller W engage in bounded flight to save energy. The larger W must keep flapping in a direct line. H have large and powerful pectoralis which accounts for about ¼ of their body weight.  H flight is complex where the wing is lifted up, then back and down. Wings beat 50x per second. (Course Content)   Tongue: Both W and H have the longest tongues of any birds that, when retracted wrap around their heads.  W use their tongues to gather insects from trees (Hairy Woodpecker) or the ground (Northern Flicker). W tongues are sticky saliva to help catch prey. The tip of the tongue is made of keratin that wears down then regrows. W can have specialized tongues that match their diet choices. Some W that need to catch prey will have tiny barblike structures that allow the W to push past a grub, then on retraction the tongue captures the grub to be eaten ( Guadeloupe Woodpecker). Other W have sticky brushlike structures that allow the W to lick sap and capture insects that have been caught in sap (Red-breasted Sapsucker). H tongues also have structures which are specifically designed to gather nectar. Unlike the W tongue, the H tongue is forked and has tubelike structures that fill with nectar. Once nectar is gathered, the tongue is retracted, then the nectar is squeezed out when the tongue is extended again. All hummingbird tongues are structured the same way; it is only the preference in flower types that differ among the species. (Course Content)   Feet:  Both W and H have 4 toes. W: Have large, strong feet; toes are Isodactyl: zygodactyl with 2 toes forward; 2 toes back. The outer rear toe is able to swing out for better lateral grip; W use feet for climbing up trees (not down) and are able to walk and may forge on the ground. H have tiny, weak feet. H toes are 3 toes forward and 1 toe backward H toes are Anisodactyl. Their feet are  used for perching, preening. H do not walk and do not forage on the ground. (Handbook of Bird Biology, Course content).   Tails: W have extremely strong tails that are essential to W.  They are used by W to prop themselves to the side of tree trunks to excavate a nest, tap for insects, communicate territorial rights.  H use their tails during courtship and most importantly in flight to steer and keep them stable. (Course Content).   Diet/Food Resourcing: Both W and H eat insects. Occasionally, W will dip into flowers for nectar; and H will dip into sapwells. W have a wider variety of food choices as well as different resources (trees, cacti, ground). They have been known to store food in acorn granaries (Acorn Woodpecker). H sip sap for their source of energy and will capture insects for protein. They are especially fond of spiders. Both W and H birds will defend food resources. (Course Content).   Coloring/Markings/Sexually Dimorphic: W and H can be colorful.  W colors can vary, but usually there is a red patch that is common to the Male. Markings include: dots, streaks, blocks of color, and bars. Females are sexually dimorphic, usually lacking the red patch (Downy Woodpecker). W sexual differences are more subtle than H species.  H coloring and markings can range from drab coloring to flamboyant colors which include iridescence. H males have bright and striking gorgets which are use to display during courtship. H are sexually dimorphic. (Course Content).   Largest/ Smallest:   Size of the largest and smallest woodpecker and hummingbird in the world are compared to each other below. (Course Content, Birds of the World, Wikipedia).   Largest Woodpecker and Hummingbird Length Weight Red List Rating Great Slaty Woodpecker 50 cm/ 20 inches 500 gm/ 17.6 oz Vulnerable Giant Hummingbird 23 cm/ 9.1 inches 18 gm/0 .70 oz Least Concern Smallest Woodpecker and Hummingbird Length Weight Red List Rating Bar-breasted Piculet 7.5 cm/  3 inches 10 gm/ 0.32 oz Least Concern Bee Hummingbird 5-6 cm/ >2 inches 1.7gm/0.06 oz Near Threatened RAISING A FAMILY   Courtship and Displays: W use drumming to indicate that they are looking for a mate. They may also engage in a courtship dance performed by the male. The Hairy Woodpecker dance may include: neck extensions, bill pointing, bobbing, rapid wing-flicking, constant jerky movements. H males engage in courtship displays while the female watches. These displays include: showing gorget and demonstrating fancy flight patterns. Example: Allen’s Hummingbird will use moves that include climbs to 60 ft; dives, back-and-forth drops; and sudden pull-ups. While doing this the tail is spread and wiggles; wings make buzzing sounds and the male will “sing” to the female. (Course Content, Cornell Lab Video 2015 “Hairy Woodpecker Courtship Display, Course Content).   Songs: Neither W nor H have ‘songs’ such as songbirds. Both use calls, squeaks, kwirs, twitters, buzzes, clicks, etc. W communicate through drumming to be heard throughout the forest. Both use these sounds in courtship and to communicate with mate. (Course Content, Birds of the World).   Family Life: W mates build the nest together as part of their courtship and bonding. They stay together as the chicks are incubated and hatched. W lay between 2 to 12 eggs. The pair may or may not reunite the following year. Some W are cooperative breeders such as the Red-cockaded Woodpecker and the Acorn Woodpecker. W may be subject to brood parasitism. H males engage in elaborate courtship displays, sometimes in leks. Once they have mated, the male leaves. The female will build the nest, defend the territory, lay no more than 2 eggs, incubate, hatch, feed, and help fledge the chicks. There are no cooperative breeders in H. H are subject to brood parasitism. (Course Content, Birds of the World, The Handbook of Bird Biology).   HUMAN CULTURAL SYMBOLIZATION   Symbolization: W and H are revered in the spiritual world. W are seen as symbols of hope, protection, and perseverance. H are symbols of good luck and messengers of joy (www.greenmatters, Native Art Symbols and Meanings).

I was surprised this year to have ruby throat’s in our yard in October in N VT!

I monitor some Osprey nests with my local Audubon chapter. And like the ruby-throated hummingbird, the ospreys migrate up from Central and South America to reconnect with or find a new mate, find, add to, or build a nest, and raise some young (usually between 1-4 chicks instead of hummingbirds’ 2). Female ospreys have more help raising the chicks and building the nest from their male mates than female hummingbirds. Instead of the male hummingbirds flying back early, usually the female Osprey adults do once the young can mostly fish for themselves and the male will usually stick around for them too until they migrate.

This is a great study lesson which inspired me to do some research to compare the Ruby-throated hummingbird with the Eastern Phoebe that nests regularly above a light fixture in my open shed. The Phoebe arrives  on our property (12 acres of mixed woods with three ponds) around the end of March or the first week in April.  In contrast, our Ruby shows up around mid-May.  The Phoebe's earlier arrival, may be due to the fact its migration route is not as far as the Ruby-throated HB.   Southern Mexico for the Phoebe, well into Central America for our Ruby.   As I learned form this course, the Ruby-throated hummingbird is a long distance flier, second to the Rufous hummingbird. Both species eat arthropods, except, the Phoebe diet is primary made up of insects and spiders, some berries when arthropod populations are low.  The Ruby, concentrates on flower nectar, sap from Sapsucker wells, and people's offer of sugar water. Females of both species are the nest builders.  In contrast to the Phoebe, the female Ruby-throated HB, is a lone parent.  She attends to the 2 nestlings needs for the entire time.  The male Phoebe has a big role in parenting, sharing nest sitting and feeding duties of 2 to 5 babes in addition to patrolling the area.  This is when I hear his characteristic calls, his name…FeeBee! Speaking of nests...  The Ruby's nest is very tiny, just big enough to hold 2 coffee-bean sized eggs and is constructed with various plant materials.  Spider web strands bind the plant parts together and pieces of lichen decorate the outside to help camouflage the nest, since it is usually located on a tree branch Y.  Phoebes nest on protected ledges, thus the light fixture in my shed.  The nest is larger, of course, and made up of various plant material too, but moss covering the outside is very characteristic of the Eastern Phoebe. The Eastern Phoebe is a drab grey color.  I cannot tell the female apart from the male.  In contrast, the male Ruby gives his gender ID away when he flashes his metallic red gorget.  The female and juveniles are plain. I've observed our Phoebe perch and hover a bit before diving to the ground to snatch an insect from the ground.  As far as hovering goes, all hummingbirds have the characteristic ability to hover in place, to move up and down and backwards, wings beating many times per second.  A hummingbird can consume 50% its weights in sugar a day and not put on fat.   It is truly amazing. With so much energy used by the Ruby and other hummingbird species, it is easy to understand, why, when night time temperatures are very chilly, that they go into torpor - a type of deep sleep.  Other birds, like the E. Phoebe, do not need to rest in this fashion. Of course, all birds have similar characteristic body and wing shapes.  And they perform similar behaviors.  But, the contrasts are very noticeable and unique to bird species, as with the Ruby-throated hummingbird compared to the Eastern Phoebe.    

The fact that Ruby throated hummingbirds may put on 40% of their weight to fuel their migration is staggering.

I spend a lot of time photographing birds throughout the year, and hummingbirds, by far, are in a league of their own. I think in the hours a heron or bald eagle will remain still watching for an opportune time to pluck a meal out of the water, a hummingbird could quite literally drop dead. Everything about them is unique, from their way of flying, to eating, to resting. They're incredible little guys.

Hi! I have a question about the feeder. You mentioned that one way to helping hummingbirds during migration is to keep the feeder available for them. But, how do we know the precise doses of sugar for them? I would appreciate you help with this.

Many birds migrate including hummingbirds some short distance while others long distances. But not all birds migrate same is true for some species of Hummingbirds. Hummingbirds are tiny compared to other migratory birds and require more fuel especially for long distances and must go into torpor to conserve before continuing. Some other larger birds are able to fly nonstop and use less energy.

I didn't realize they ate insects! It makes total sense for protein and needing more than just nectar, but I hadn't thought about it. I also think the ability of their nests to flex and expand as the chicks get bigger is brilliant! Seems different than other songbirds that have nests made of twigs.

Hummingbirds migrate! I also learned that the bird feeder won’t stop them from migrating. They are determined little creatures that can fly great distances.

The fact that they use spider webs to wrap around their nests and the materials they use will expand as the young grow, is absolutely brilliant.  These little birds are fascinating to say the least.

It is interesting to see the lifestyle and also migration routes in the Southern and Northern hemispheres. This interests me as a resident of the western Palaearctic, as we do not have humming birds. Happy birding Lindsay

Found it interesting how similar the hummingbirds lifestyle is compared to other birds in mating, building nests, searching food , including need for insects for protein I did notice that the female hummingbirds are on their own in building nest and incubation period which is different from other type birds where raising their young hatchlings is shared by both female and male birds Migration patterns were very impressive for these small birds

I find it amazing that something that small can travel so far! Aside from their use of sugar water feeders and their average size, they seem like other birds.

8/8/24 5,700 ft Sandía foothills - high desert. The Rufus birds have arrive within the last week in Placitas, NM. They are chasing the black chinned birds but I put out 3 Feeders far apart to accommodate all of them. they all seem to enjoy the many desert willow flowers and butterfly bush flowers. With the heat the feeder has to be cleaned frequently

Hummingbirds are amazingly unique but also, in many regards, just like other birds. They build nests, raise young, seek food, and brighten our days like all birds do. It was fun to learn that the Rufous Hummingbird makes the longest migration of any hummer. I always looking forward to welcoming them to the Pacific Northwest each spring. I have even more appreciation for them now!

This is the nest of a Scaley-breasted hummingbird that I photographed in Panama.

The wing structure and motion are very different as is their ability to go into torpor at night, their extremely small size and very high metabolism. But they build nests to raise their young, have feathers, preen to keep them clean, sometimes eat insects, have lekking males, sing, have sexual dimorphism, and migrate so they are solidly a bird! Very fun lecture series!!

The way they evolved to fly as they do fly, their diet, their iridescence in most of the cases, and their nightly torpor.

The abundance maps are fantastic!  I live in NY so I get to see the ruby throated hummingbird each year.  All birds benefit from native plants.  I am replacing old gardens with native plants in my yard for hummingbirds and other birds too.   Hummingbirds differ from other birds since they are only found in the Americas.  Why are there no hummingbirds in other parts of the world?  I have read that the oldest hummingbird fossil was found in Germany.  Why did they vanish from that part of the world?

Their need to fuel every 15 minutes is astounding and scary… they do live their lives on a razor thin edge! Plus throw in the fact that there are so many predators around along with competition for flowers with other birds and insects… it’s not easy being a hummingbird! The main difference in their wing structure and the ability to generate lift in both the strokes was fascinating. Also their fast heart rates and metabolism to fuel such high speeds of flapping. The rufous hummingbirds make the longest migration per body length of any bird and that’s pretty amazing!