Not only are some hummingbird species the smallest birds in the world, but they are also amongst the most agile. They can fly forwards and backwards, they can hover in mid-air and are even capable of flying upside down. Their wings beat on average 50 times per second, and up to an incredible 200 times a second. The rapid beating of their wings makes a humming sound and that is where they get their name.
Most hummingbirds average between 7.5 and 13cm in length. These small birds need plenty of fuel to keep going. They get their fuel by drinking nectar. Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid found in flowers. Most hummingbirds have long, thin bills so they can reach deep inside the flowers to get at the nectar. They also have a long, forked tongue which flattens then folds into tubes to suck up the sweet liquid. They must drink copious amounts to survive, more than their body weight each day. They need to feed every 15 minutes during the day, but spend most of their time resting, and grooming themselves to keep their feathers in tip-top flying condition.
At night, hummingbirds go into a hibernation-like state known as torpor. It is similar to going into a very deep sleep. Their breathing and heartbeat slows right down and their body temperature drops. Torpor helps them save energy until the next day when they can go out feeding again. Hummingbirds also need protein to build their muscles and grow new feathers and they get this by catching small insects such as flies, gnats, mosquitoes and aphids.
The mother hummingbirds take care of the rearing of the chicks. Cup-shaped nests are built on tree branches or attached to leaves. Some hummingbirds use spider silk as a material to build the nest, the silk expands as the fledglings grow. The mother generally lays two eggs and incubates them for 14-23 days. The new-borns are fed on regurgitated nectar, pollen and insects. The fledglings are silent; demanding food by opening their beaks wide.
There are over 340 species of hummingbirds. Two species are found here in St. Maarten. The first is the Antillean Crested Hummingbird which features a quirky green feathered crown on its head and a straight beak. Its colours are grey and black with metallic green and turquoise. The second variety is the Green-throated Carib, a larger bird with a slightly curved bill. It is black with green gem-like colouring at the throat and some flashes of deep blue.
Hummingbirds have iridescent feathers; the colour of the feathers appears to change depending on the angle of the light. The feathers appear dull at one angle; whereas at a different angle they are spectacular, shining like jewels. It is believed that the hummingbirds use iridescence as a tool against predators or intruders. They can fly at an angle so their feathers appear dull in order to hide from predators. They can also fly at an angle so that the sun reflects their feathers, flashing brilliant colouring at intruders to scare them off.
