Consider this little hummingbird. It is
hatched from an egg no larger than a small pea. Each wing is
aproximately 3/4” long, yet the feathers are constructed just like
a larger birds. Its feet are about 1/8” wide, yet they have very
sharp and well defined claws. Its wings flap 80 times per second
in normal flight and up to 200 times per second in a
power dive. It can fly 30 miles per hour. It must consume five times
its weight in nectar and insects (which it catches inflight) each
day. And, yes, its beak opens and, no, it doesn't suck up the nectar
through its beak like a straw...it has a long and tiny tongue that
laps up the liquid. Many of our plants are pollinated by this little
workhorse, and in spite of its diminutive size it lives about five
years. It is a living, breathing marvel of miniturization.
Nikon D7000, Nikkor 70-300 VR. Shutter priority at 1/1500, ISO 800, full sun manual white balance.
2 comments:
I marvel at them each time they visit my feeder. Sometimes they will just stop in front of me and hover, looking me right in the face, and I am never sure if I should be afraid.
Beautiful birds. They are part of us as they come in different colors and at different times. Beautiful amazing short.
We just need to love them in order to appreciate them.
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