Hummingbirds at the Feeder
Beau May 24th, 2008
We have a few thirsty hummingbirds that visit the feeders each day. The only resident species here in Missouri is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. The female in this picture seems to take turns with the male at the feeder many times during the day. In a few weeks there will be young hummingbirds flying all around, and then it’s like a festival at the feeders with little birds zooming everywhere.
It’s hard to believe these little birds migrate all the way to Mexico and Central America. It doesn’t seem possible for an animal that weights 1/8 of an ounce, but their tiny hearts beat faster than 4 times each second while resting and more than 20 times per second while flying and feeding.
Just watching a hummingbird seems like a lot of work and gets my heart beating faster.
Me too! But they’re interesting little dudes. I don’t know how they survive on meager flower nectar.