9 Facts About Hummingbirds That Will Change the Way You See Them

by N/A, 10 years ago | 1 min read

Just because hummingbirds are small, doesn't mean they aren't really important. These interesting facts will make you see them differently....if you're lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one.Â

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1. They have excellent hearing.

Some of them have absolutely adorableÂ ear floofs.Â

2. They have the weirdest tongues.

Many people think that they use their tongues like straws, but they're actually forked and unroll to reveal hair-like extensions that help them get nectar from flowers.Â

3. They have more feathers than you'd think.

They actually have more feathers per inch than any other bird. The only bird that may be able to compete is the penguin.Â

4. They're amazing fliers.

They are the only bird on Earth that can fly forwards, backwards, upside down and hover. They can also reach speeds up to 30 miles and hour.Â

5. They have huge brains.

A hummingbird's brain makes up 4.2 percent of its body weight. Studies have shown that hummingbirds can remember every flower that they've ever visited, they can also recognize humans and know how long to wait for a flower to generate nectar.Â

6. They have super fast-metabolisms.

They're metabolisms are so fast that they have to eat every ten minutes.Â

7. Their beaks can be pretty dangerous.

Male hummingbirds can get very competitive with each other and have sometimes been known to stab each other in the throat with their beaks.Â

8. They have great vision.

They can see every color that humans can and even some we can't because they can process UV light. They also have a third set of eyelid. They're translucent and act as a pair of flight goggles.Â