Hummingbird (Archilochus Colubris)

The Hummingbird, also known as, Archilochus Colubris, only lives in North and South America. They are about 3.5inches in length and 3-4grams in weight. Hummingbirds are the smallest birds at a full grown stage. They are often brightly colored red and green, with a long beak used to suck nectar from flowers and to drink sugar water from feeders. They must drink their body weight in sugary juices every day to maintain their constant wing speed of 60-80 beats per minute. Also, they dine on small spiders and insects. The hummingbird’s heart beats at 250 bpm at rest, and 1,220 bpm while flying. Their average speed is 25mph, however they can reach up to 40mp in a nose dive. They are full grown once they leave the nest at about one month. Most hummingbirds die in their first year, however some live up to three years.
Similar to other birds, the males put on shows to attract female hummingbirds. They make their colors very vibrant, spread their wings, and fight with other males. Once they have won them over, the female builds the nest which is made out of spider webs and plant material, camouflaged with bits of lichen. Hummingbirds often live close to human residence so they can drink from flowers out of their garden, and suck sugar water from the feeders. During the winter, hummingbirds migrate down to Central America which is over 1,525 miles. It is estimated that it takes them only 20 hours to fly over the Gulf of Mexico.