Continued . . .

Now that I am aware that Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have been know to drink from the sap wells of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, I will have to keep a lookout for this behaviour; especially at times of the year when flowers are less abundant.

une migration pour trouver de la nourriture mais une distance phénoménale pour certains compte tenu de leur petite taille

It’s interesting to see how the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is using Nest Watch and eBird data to create map animations of hummingbird migration routes.

After several years of watching birds in our neighbourhood and backyard we have noticed that some birds (eg. Dark-eyed Juncos), migrate north at the same time each spring and their return reminds us that winter is approaching. It’s comforting to feel the rhythm of the seasons.

Hummingbirds are extraordinary creatures. They did not mention much about their territorial behavior or how some species establish mating display areas, or leks. I was also surprised by the materials they use to build their nests and by their remarkable survival strategies.

It's awesome how Hummingbirds can do such long migrations.

Lots of common behaviors like preening, displays, and migration are common to the birds I see everyday.  The flight  abilities/mechanics of hummingbirds are unique, as are their feeding behaviors and adaptations.  The ability of the males to use sunlight to flash their colors is remarkable.

They just seem to be unique and awesome in just about every way.... except for the common, lazy males who leave the housework to the females...

the nightly torpor, hovering, body anatomy, small size, adapted beaks are specialized

female solo nestbuilding, nestling care

courtship, mating, migration, preening, behaviors are similar

This question is about Torpor.  If a hummingbird lives in the tropics with daily temperatures in the 90s and even 100s, is the bird able to cool itself to maximum topor?  Are they using less energies because of the higher daily temperature which is closer to their normal daily body temperature?  Rose

In Pennsylvania, we have many hummingbirds in the summer and they feed voraciously shortly before leaving in late September. What a journey they have. Then all winter we have chickadees and titmice and they feed so much? Both sets of birds need lots of food!  I have yet to see a ruby-throated hummingbird nest but I did see a nest in Colorado--a little over an inch in diameter with 2 tiny eggs inside, just on the edge of a hiking trail. What a life style!

They nest, they feed their young and they fly long distances, as some other birds. They rely on camouflage for their nests. I think the torpor is something unique, but I don't know. They feed on nectar and that is not so common for other birds. The humming birds is a really diverse group. A big number of bird species can live together, some times they compete, but must of the time they can share the place with other humming birds. In many other birdspecies you will find one or two members of the same family on a place, and never more than ten.

The courtship dive of the male Anna's Hummingbird immediately reminded me of the male American Woodcock's sky dance. Just as in hummingbirds, the male woodcock plays no role in nesting or rearing the young, but unlike hummingbirds, the woodcock is a ground-nester rather than a tree-nester.

I knew about the nesting materials favored by hummingbirds, but it didn't occur to me that the spiderwebs allow for flexibility and expansion of the nest as the nestlings grow. Even as tiny as the nestlings are, they still crowd that beautiful cup nest made by their mama as they grow into fledglings. (When I brush my cats, I put the removed cat hair into a suet feeder (without the suet!) for birds to use as nesting material. I've observed Black-capped Chickadees taking a billful of cat hair from this feeder, but I haven't yet seen a hummingbird do so.)

Much like other sexually dimorphic birds of the Eastern temperate forest, the female hummingbird sometimes has less eye-catching plumage than her male counterpart, in order not to draw attention to the nest. However, it seems that the strictly tropical hummingbirds often have more glamorously attired females than those who migrate to North American breeding grounds. Perhaps this is because they can blend in with the showy tropical flora that characterizes their habitat.

Hummingbirds are so unique with their vibrant colors, different songs and their ability to fly all directions.

Hummingbirds' speed and color are more impressive than most other birds. I am impressed by their elaborate courtship dances and would like to observe them at some point. They lay eggs in nests which is similar to other birds but they are so much smaller.

it is surprising to me that hummingbirds can make nectar such a large part of their diet. I understand that they eat some insects for protein and fat, but I don’t understand why they don’t need more proteins and fats in their diet like other birds.

it is amazing that hummingbirds can travel such long distances when it seems their body is so tiny they can hardly store that much energy. The key must be in how efficiently their muscles use their energy, but I don’t know how it’s possible.

Humming bird migration is very similar to the red wing blackbird that I observe in the New England area.

So happy to see them. In March.  I know Spring is near.

Other birds also migrate based on available food sources. Hummingbird nest structure seems somewhat unique compared to other birds. I love how they use spider webs to solidify the nest and allow it to stretch. This shows how everything is connected in an ecosystem. I think hummingbirds are also unique in their diet and the way they eat. You don't see other birds hovering at flowers!

I think their lives reflect many other species of birds. It is remarkable that they are able to do it with such tiny, gorgeous bodies.

Like some other birds they migrate: artic terns or swifts. Unlike them, due to their tiny size, it is tricky to track them. While they live from nectar, they can also take sips of sap, to boost their energy, for migration, which they do in several flights

This is a ruby throated hummingbird preening and cleaning itself.  I took a whole series of photos of this little one after a rain shower.  While similar to other birds, this cleaning process for the hummer seems both awkward and pretty cool to watch.

I know that many species from the north migrate to south to spend winter season in warmer weathers, including hummingbirds, but, how do hummingbirds lead such great routes is still a mistery for me, I understand they can stop during the whole journey in different countries but still is a very curious fact that they can migrate such long distances in their lives.

I know that oropendolas generally have the same nest building principles, females only will take care of it while males are there just to cheer up or sing all along the female hard work, which sounds a little unfair but nature is nature!

I was surprised by the variety of nesting materials employed, including spider webs, and that the nests expand as the chicks grow.

Hummingbirds share several behaviors with other bird species, such as courtship displays, nest building, and caring for their young. However, their feeding habits are quite specialized. They rely mainly on nectar to fuel their extremely high energy needs, although during migration, they may also consume protein-rich insects to support their journey. Unlike many birds that forage in groups, hummingbirds typically forage alone. Another notable difference is their breeding behavior, only the female takes care of the eggs and chicks, whereas in many other species, both parents are involved in raising the young.