During flight, their oxygen consumption per gram of muscle tissue is approximately 10 times higher than that seen in elite human athletes. Hummingbirds have one of the highest metabolic rates of any animal. I once witnessed a male hummingbird during courtship by flying, rather rapidly, in a U-shaped pattern, beginning at the top of the inverted arch, flying downward, circling back up to the same height as it began, and back again, several times. Research has discovered the tiny birds can double their fat mass in preparation for their gulf crossing, then expend the entire calorie reserve from fat during the 20-hour crossing when food and water are unavailable.ĭuring the courtship displays, they make ticking sounds with their wings, and shuttle side-to-side in flight. How can such a small creature travel the 500 miles nonstop over water? It would seem the caloric energy would far exceed the hummingbird’s body weight of 0.11 ounces. When it’s time to return north to their breeding grounds during the spring migration, portions of the population fly from the Yucatan Peninsula, in Mexico, across the Gulf of Mexico, first arriving in Florida and Louisiana. It is also a fact that not all hummingbirds migrate south for the winter.įollowing the mating, the male departs and the female provides all parental care. Hummingbirds and Canada geese migrate at different times and to different locations. The myth states that hummingbirds hitch a ride on the backs of geese as they migrate south. While we’re talking about their migration, let’s put a myth to bed. They probably go to the same place every winter. They do not migrate in flocks, so individual birds may spend the winter anywhere in this range where the habitat is to their liking. During their migration south in the fall, usually mid-September, older male and female birds are better prepared for long-distance flight than first-year birds by having higher body weights and larger fuel loads.Īdults of the species are not social, other than courtship, which lasts a few minutes, they lead solitary lives. The ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus comumbris, the only hummingbird species found in Maine, winters between southern Mexico and northern Panama. Finally, on Saturday, one appeared, briefly mind you, and stayed about 2.5 seconds, then was gone. Although we see a multitude of female hummers, as of last Friday, we had not seen a single male. It was nice to see the little critters back with us.Īs usual, the rule of thumb for their return from the south is around the middle of May.īut, since then, a phenomenon has occurred. It’s always great to leave the city and live in the serenity by the lake for about five months.Īnd, on that Sunday, we were greeted by my wife’s favorite bird, the ruby-throated hummingbird. Halleeīack in May, my wife and I moved to camp for the summer. Ruby-throated Hummingbird (June 9th, 2008, Our house in Brandon, Canon 20D, 400 5.6L) by Roland D.
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