DAY 255: RUBY THROATED HUMMINGBIRD

You may have seen this photo recently on Facebook.  Here's some interesting info about these beautiful tiny birds (from worldofhummingbirds.com)

• Hummingbirds are the tiniest birds in the world.
• Hummingbirds can flash their bright colors, as well as hide them when needed.
• The bright radiant color on hummingbirds comes from iridescent coloring like on a soap bubble.
• A Gorget is the bright flashing colored feathers of the hummingbird's neck.
• A hummingbird's brain is 4.2% of its body weight, the largest proportion in the bird kingdom.
• Hummingbirds are very smart and they can remember every flower they have been to, and how long it will take a flower to refill.
• Hummingbirds can hear better, & see further than humans
• Hummingbirds can see ultraviolet light.
• Hummingbirds have little to no sense of smell.
• A hummingbird will use its tongue to lap up nectar from flowers and feeders.
• A hummingbird's tongue is grooved like the shape of a "W".
• Hummingbirds have tiny hairs on the tip of the tongue to help lap up nectar.
• A hummingbird's beak is shaped like any other bird beak, just longer in proportion to its body.
• The edges of the hummingbird's top beak will overlap the edges of the hummingbird's bottom beak.
• Hummingbirds do not drink through their beaks like a straw. They lap up nectar with their tongues.
• A hummingbird's heart beats up to 1,260 times per minute.
• A hummingbird's heart is 2.5% of the total body weight.
• A hummingbird will take about 250 breaths per minute while at rest.
• A hummingbird's metabolism is roughly 100 times that of an elephant.
• Hummingbirds have very weak feet and can barely walk. They prefer to fly.
• Hummingbirds like to perch.
• A hummingbird baby is generally smaller than a penny.