In the spring, their migration north appears to be timed to the appearance of certain flowers along their route. This non-stop flight is an amazing feat for a bird the size of a peanut! Incredibly, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds fly straight across the Gulf of Mexico during their migrations to and from their wintering grounds. These South American hummingbirds, if they wander at all, travel short distances, such as up and down mountain slopes as they track flowering plants. Most North American hummingbird species are migratory, unlike their more southerly relatives such as the Long-tailed Sylph and Esmeraldas Woodstar. Gulf Coast and at Florida's southern tip. They winter mainly in the tropics, from coastal southern Mexico south to northern Panama, although some winter along the U.S. During the spring and summer, Ruby-throats may be found from southern Canada across the central and eastern states to the Gulf Coast. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only hummingbird species that nests east of the Mississippi River. Ruby-throated Hummingbird range map by Birds of North America, maintained by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This ability to enter controlled hypothermia is shared by many other small birds such as the Black-capped Chickadee. The next morning, within a few minutes, the hummingbird speeds up its metabolism and gets its body temperature back to normal. They can only perch or scoot sideways.On cold nights, these diminutive dynamos conserve energy by lowering their body temperature and heart rate, entering a temporary state of torpor. but there's a downside: These birds cannot walk. Having small feet reduces aerodynamic drag in flight. Like the Chimney Swift, another master flier and member of the same avian order, the Apodiformes, hummingbirds have tiny feet. The main wing bone, or humerus, is relatively short and strong, helping to stabilize a hummingbird's wings during hovering flight, yet allowing for fine movements that enable quick changes of direction. Hummingbirds' pectoral (chest) muscles are especially well-developed, comprising up to 30 percent of their body weight - a higher percentage than in any other bird group. This pattern generates lift on both forward and backward wing strokes and allows extreme maneuverability in flight.
Their long, blade-like wings have a unique, flexible shoulder joint that allows the wings to rotate almost 180 degrees while moving forward and backward in a horizontal figure-8 pattern. At first glance, it's easy to mistake a Ruby-throated Hummingbird for a large bee!Īll hummingbirds share skeletal and muscle adaptations that allow for speedy, agile flight. Beating its wings 60 to 80 times a second, this tiny sprite creates a blur of motion and a whirring, insect-like sound. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird weighs less than a nickel, and like all hummingbird species including the Calliope and Rufous, it is a master of flight.
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