Hummingbirds - In Belize

There are about 348 species of hummingbirds in the world, with 26 species zipping through the airways of Belize.

Green Breasted Mango Hummingbird

The Hummingbird is a very small species and one that many people are familiar with. There are 348 species, that have been identified. They live in regions found all over the world both in North & South America.  With such a large number of species it ranks them as the second largest bird family in the world.
The size of these Hummingbirds does vary though based on the species. To give you a good idea of their overall dimensions the smallest species is about 2.2 grams and the largest is about 20 grams. The smallest is the Bee Hummingbird and it is also noted to be the smallest bird in the world (found mainly in Cuba).
These charming birds get their names from the fact that the rapid movement of the wings make a humming sound. This is actually the smallest of all birds in the world. They are also the smallest type of animal in the world that has a backbone so they are often studied intensely by researchers.
Another reason that the Hummingbird is so well loved and researched has to do with the fact that it has the ability to move in ways that other birds can’t. It is the only species of bird that is able to fly in all directions. This includes backwards and even upside down. It is quite the sight to see!

Blue Throated Sapphire Hummingbird

Hummingbird Facts - Did You Know?
There are some wonderful facts out there about the Hummingbird to learn. These are definitely some of the most fascinating birds in the world.

• The name of the Hummingbird comes from the fact that these birds make a humming sound with their wings when they are in movement.
• The wings of the Hummingbird can move up to 80 times per second. When a male is trying to impress a female that can increase up to 200 times per second.
• This happens to be the smallest of all species of birds in the world. The young offspring are no bigger than a penny.
• The Hummingbird is also the smallest animal in the world that has a backbone.
• There is no ability to smell for the Hummingbird. They seem to be attracted to the colors of plants and flowers. Red is the dominant color that they are attracted to.
  
• This is the only species of bird that has the ability to fly in all directions. They are able to fly backwards, forwards, upside down, and even side ways.
• They are able to conserve energy by slowing down their metabolism to about 1/15th of the normal speed.
• During a normal period of time their heart will be more than 1,200 times per minute.
• Like other birds, this one migrates in the colder times of the year. They may go up to 2,000 miles. The stretch over the Gulf of Mexico is 500 miles non stop.
• They typically fly at a speed of 20 to 30 miles per hour. However, there are times when they have been seen flying as fast as 60 miles per hour.
• There are 348 species of Hummingbirds that have been found in the world.
• The Hummingbirds are the second largest family of birds.
• This bird has the largest brain in comparison to its body of all species of birds.
• All species of Hummingbirds live in either North America or South America.
• There are some species of Hummingbirds that live in Alaska. That is the coldest place for them. The warmest climate where they are found is in Chile.
• More types of Hummingbirds are found in Ecuador than any other location. 163 species have been identified in this region.
• More than 50 different species of Hummingbirds are known to mate annually in areas of Mexico.
• There are 16 species of Hummingbirds that mate in the United States.
• The Bee Hummingbird is the smallest species at 2.2 grams and it is also the smallest of all birds in the world. The Giant Hummingbird is the largest species and they weigh about 20 grams.
• More than half of all Hummingbirds will die during the first year of life. The life expectancy for those that survive it is up to 4 years. However, there is verification of one that lived for 12 years.
• Vocalizations are common with Hummingbirds. They can’t sing but they do chirp.
• Sometimes Hummingbirds are found sleeping upside down in trees.
• They seem to do well in captivity as long as they have lots of space.
  

Azure Crowned Hummingbird

At the same time many people find it is a great joy to have this type of bird in their yard, so it is an exchange that works well for humans and nature to benefit from. The life span for the Hummingbird is often very short. The majority of them won’t make it past their first year of life. Those that do will typically only live up to 4 years. In many locations these Hummingbirds are having trouble surviving due to their habitat being taken away.  Problems with trees being removed, a lack of food, and even chemicals and other elements in their environment has resulted in some serious drops in numbers for some of the species. Even with education and conservation efforts though it may be very hard to get those numbers back up.

Wedged Tailed Sabrewing Hummingbird

Hummingbird Species - Here are a few found in Belize

1. Rufuous Tailed
2. Purple Crowned Fairy
3. White Necked Jacobin
   
4. White Bellied Emerald
5. Long Billed Hermit
6. Wedge-Tailed Sabrewing
7. Azure Crowned
8. Blue Throated Sapphire
9. Ruby Throated
10. Scaly Breasted
11. Green Breasted Mango

White Bellied Emerald Hummingbird

You can expect a little rocket science from hummers – they have the biggest brain of all birds. Although their brains are 7,000 times smaller than ours, their brain to body weight ratio is 4.2% versus 2% for that of a 150-pound person.
Hummingbirds remember every flower visited and how long it takes the plant to replenish pollen and nectar.  While most birds seek out food sources by means of the visual spectrum only, hummingbirds can also detect ultraviolet patterns in flowers. The ultraviolet reflectance acts like a neon sign, advertising the location of pollen and nectar in the flower.  Hummingbirds are great pollinators.
There are about 348 species of hummingbirds in the world, with 26 species zipping through the airways of Belize. If you’re a birder and long to see a Green-breasted Mango, Purple-crowned Fairy or Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird, pack your binocs and book a trip to Belize.

For a chance to view some of Belize’s hummingbirds – sit in the gardens at Belize Budget Suites.  You’ll see them whizzing through the trees of these beautiful gardens.  You might even be lucky enough to view their dazzling, dive-bombing display.

Long Billed Hermit Hummingbird

BELIZE HUMMINGBIRDS
This diminutive little hummingbird, is absolutely fabulous.  Often covered in iridescent features, and an astounding mode of locomotion, is certainly one of Belize's special treats. 
These tiny birds, some only being 2" inches tall, have a metabolic rate which is astronomically high; they must feed throughout the day, from dawn to dusk.  A female hummingbird under the additional stress of caring for her young must take in more than her body weight worth of nectar each day, with a supplement of insects for extra energy. 
When in action, the wings of a hummingbird beat madly about 50-80 flicks per second!  In a figure 8 movement whereby the tilt of the wing is continually adjusted so that each stroke, both back and forth, forces the air down - and the bird up.  Not only are hummingbirds able to hover "motionless" in midair, but they rise on the wing rather than push off as do most other birds, and they can fly backwards as well as forwards - at up to 71 m.p.h.
All hummingbirds feed on nectar, and are important pollinators.  Some hummingbirds have long, curved bills, while others have shorter and straighter bills.  Most of the hummingbirds in Belize, have the longer bill.  As they poke their beaks down these petal-formed tubes to get at the nectar at the base, pollen from the stamens sticks (on the flower) attache to their chin feathers and then to the next flower.  The more pollen they collect, the more flowers they pollinate, and then my sister Christina has more flowers, she has to write about.  And so it goes.
The hummingbird does not exactly drink, they sip their nectar.  Instead, it has a long, extensible tongue which forms grooves up its sides through which the nectar is drawn by capillary action.
Although I have see dozens of hummingbirds dining together at the same time, hummingbirds are naturally territorial about their food sources and a male can become quite aggressive about maintaining the privacy of his patch.  We've often seen a fight or two at grandpa's cabin, over who is going to get to drink next. 
Belize officially claims only 26 of the over 348 species of hummingbirds as her own, but who knows how many other hummingbirds cross our air space each day?  Although as a genus they range far and wide, most species very definitely have tropical dispositions.  

White Necked Jacobin Hummingbird

Brightly colored and mesmerizing, hummingbirds are some of the most interest of the nearly 10,000 bird species in the world.  If you live in the United States, you probably seen them fluttering around during the summertime.  Perhaps you've have fed them, too  the name hummingbird comes from the buzzing sound of their fast-flapping wings.
Hummingbirds are native species of the New World and are not found outside of the Western Hemisphere except in a few zoos or aviaries.  There are no hummingbirds found in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, or Antarctica.  These tiny, feathered creatures are astounding to even the most experience birders.

Purple Crowned Fairy Hummingbird

Hummingbird Physical Characteristics

• A hummingbird's brilliant throat color is not caused by feather pigmentation, but rather by iridescence in the arrangement of the feathers.  Light level, moisture, angle of viewing, wear and tear, and other factors all influence just how bright and colorful the throat may appear.
• Hummingbirds cannot walk or hop, though their feet can be used to scoot sideways while they are perched.  These birds have evolved smaller feet to be lighter for more efficient flying.  They wil use their feet for itching and preening, however.
• Hummingbirds have 1,000 to 1,500 feathers, the fewest number of feathers of any bird species in the world.  Not only do they not need as many feathers because of their tiny size, but fewer feathers also keeps them more lightweight for easier flight.
• Roughly 25 to 30 percent of a hummingbird's weight is in its pectoral muscles.  These are the broad chest muscles principally responsible for flying.
• An average hummingbird's heart rate is more than 1,200 beats per minute.  In comparison, a human's average heart rate is only 60 to 100 beats per minute at rest.
• Hummingbirds have no sense of smell but have very keen eyesight.
  

Hummingbird Diet & Feeding Habits
There are many types of food that Hummingbirds consume. They mainly will consume sugar and sap. They also consume pollen and they will eat small insects as a way to get protein. These birds can eat up to 3 times their own weight in food every single day. There are rumors about Hummingbirds hibernating but many people dismiss them. This is something though that has some truth to it.
Feeding habits are very interesting for this species of bird. They can feed up to 8 times an hour. Each time that they feed the duration is from 30 seconds to 1 minute at a time.
These birds have the highest natural metabolism of all animals in the world.
The main sources of food for the Hummingbird is sugar, sap, pollen, and insects. They will consume up to 3 times their body weight in food daily.
There are many types of food that Hummingbirds consume. They mainly will consume sugar and sap. They also consume pollen and they will eat small insects as a way to get protein. These birds can eat up to 3 times their own weight in food every single day. There are rumors about Hummingbirds hibernating but many people dismiss them. This is something though that has some truth to it.
While these birds don’t have a typical season for hibernating they will do so if they need to conserve energy due to a lack of food. Then their metabolism slows down to an extremely small speed and they can continue to survive. Many people offer bird feeders in their yards where Hummingbirds come to feed. It is a great way to help these birds to thrive.

• A hummingbird must consume approximately one half of its weight in sugar daily and the average hummingbird feeds five to eight times per hour.  In addition to nectar, these birds also eat many small insects and spiders, and may also sip tree sap or juice from broken fruits.
  
• Hummingbirds do not suck nectar through their long bills, and they lick it with fringed, forked tongues.  Capillary action along the fringe of their tongue helps draw nectar up into their throats so they can swallow.
• A hummingbird can lick 10 to 15 times per second while feeding.
• Hummingbirds digest natural sucrose - the sugar found in floral nectar - in 20 minutes with 97 percent efficiency for converting the sugar into energy.

Rufous Tailed Hummingbird

Hummingbird Species

• Many hummingbird species, including Anna's, Black-chinned, Allen's, Costa's, rufous, calliope, and broad-tailed hummingbirds, can breed together to create hybrid species.  This is one factor that makes identifying hummingbirds very challenging.
  
• The calliope hummingbird is the smallest bird species in North America and measures just 3 inches long.  The bee hummingbird is the smallest hummingbird to weigh one ounce.
• The rufous hummingbird has the longest migration of any hummingbird species.  These hummers fly more than 3,000 miles from their nesting grounds in Alaska and Canada to their winter habitat in Mexico.
• The bill of the aptly named sword-billed hummingbird, found in the Andes Mountains, can reach up to 4 inches long, and it can be so heavy that the birds may perch holding their bills straight up.  These birds hold the record for the longest bill relative to the overall body size.

Mating & Reproduction
Hummingbird harems (or leks), are the hippy communes of the bird world. Up to 100 males congregate in the lek colony and carve out their turf – which may simply be a perch on a petal. Then, the singing begins – both solo and chorus performances – with the sole aim of attracting females into the lek.
After singing their praises, the male hummers then dance for the apple of their eye. Flashing their gorgets (colourful patch of throat feathers), the courtship continues. With avian swagger, they puff out their chests, bop their heads from side to side and “dance” in the air, showing off their tail feathers.
If the female is impressed, the mating ritual is consummated. While hummingbird breeding occurs year round in Belize, the height of breeding takes place when flowers are in profusion. Look for hummingbird leks in Belize on the forest floor, in a clearing or on a slope under the canopy. As few as 3 male hummingbirds may form a lek so you have to be eagle-eyed to spot a hummer harem. Belize’s Western Long-tailed Hermits are an example of lek-breeders. Research evidence shows that leks are formed just before sunrise – so the early bird gets the bird.
The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, one of the hummingbird species found in Belize, is not a lek-breeder. The males do mate with more than one female hummer, but not in Belize. They reserve their mating cycle to the spring and summer months in North America.
However, the courtship rituals of the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird – and many other Belize hummingbirds – are a sight to behold. In a flamboyant display of artistry and skill, males skyrocket up to 50 feet in the air and then dive downwards up to 60 mph, with wings flapping up to 200 times per second, registering a G-force almost nine times that of gravity. They put on the brakes and pull a sharp U-turn upwards just before contact. This U-turn wooing is repeated again and again.
When they’re not pulling U-turns or humming in their harems, hummers are out scouting for food – efficiently and intelligently.

1. More than 50 different species of Hummingbirds are known to mate annually in areas of Mexico.
2. There are 16 species of Hummingbirds that mate in the United States.

The mating rituals for the Hummingbird are interesting too. Known as the courtship dive, the males will go at least 60 feet in the air and then rapidly shoot down, make a U turn, and do it again. They will continue this process until they have the attention of a female that they can mate with.

Migration

• During the colder times of the year the Hummingbirds migrate up to 500 miles. They are able to cover a great deal of distance every day. The Gulf of Mexico is one of the common areas where they are seen during the migration period. This has become a very common place for bird watchers to gather and to take in the exciting sight.
  
• There are more than 325 unique hummingbird species in the world.  Only eight species regularly breed in the United States, though up to two dozen species may visit the country or be reported as regular vagrants.  The rest of the hummingbirds are primarily tropical species and do not regularly migrate.  They are found in Central South America as well as throughout the Caribbean.
• A hummingbird's maximum forward flight speed is 30 miles per hour.  These birds can reach up to 60 miles per hour in a dive, and hummingbirds have many adaptations for unique flight.
• A hummingbird's wings beat between 50 and 200 flaps per second depending on the direction of flight, the purpose of their flight, and the surrounding air conditions.

Miscellaneous

• Hummingbirds lay the smallest eggs of all birds.  Their eggs measure less than 1/2 inch long but many represent as much as 10 percent of the mother's weight at the time the eggs are laid.  A hummingbird egg is smaller than a jelly bean.
• At rest, a hummingbird takes an average of 250 breaths per minute.  Their breathing pace will increase when they are in flight.
• Depending on the species, habitat, conditions, predators, and other factors, including threats to hummingbirds, the average lifespan of a wild hummingbird is three to 12 years.
• Despite their small size, hummingbirds are one of the most aggressive bird species.  They will regularly attack jays, crows, and hawks that infringe on their territory.  Backyard birders often find they have one dominant hummingbird that guards all the feeders, and chases intruders away.

18 FUN FACTS - I BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT HUMMINGBIRDS
It's the time of year when the magnificent hummingbirds begin their long journey north to enjoy the spring and summer months in North America. Let's celebrate the hummingbirds by learning more about them. Here is a list of interesting hummingbird facts to brush up on before they make their way to your area!

1. Hummingbirds have tongues that are grooved like the shape of a "W".
   
2. Hummingbirds have tiny hairs on the tips of their tongues to help them lap up nectar… similar to a cat.
   
3. A hummingbird's bill is longer in proportion to its body, as compared to other birds.
   
4. Hummingbirds have no sense of smell, but can hear better than humans.
   
5. Hummingbirds are attracted to all bright colors, although red is most prominently associated with these tiny birds.
   
6. Hummingbirds see in ultraviolet light and they can see further than a human.
   
7. Hummingbirds have a great memory – they remember every flower & feeder they've been to, and how long it will take a flower to refill.
   
8. The hummingbird brain is 4.2% of its body weight – this is the largest, in proportion, of the wild bird group.
   
9. Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly like a helicopter… up, down, sideways, front, and back!
   
10. Hummingbirds are the second largest family of birds with over 300 species.
    
11. Hummingbirds have weak feet – they mainly use them just for perching.
    
12. When food is scarce and they are fatigued, hummingbirds go into a hibernation-like state (also known as torpor) to conserve energy.
    
13. A hummingbird's heart beats up to 1,260 times per minute.
    
14. Hummingbirds do not mate for life.
    
15. A baby hummingbird is roughly the size of a penny and is unable to fly.
    
16. The average life span of a hummingbird is 5 years, but they have been known to live for more than 10 years.
    
17. Hummingbirds fly at an average of 25-30 miles per hour, and are able to dive up to 50 miles per hour.
    
18. Some hummingbirds will travel over 2,000 miles twice a year during their migration.
    

Now you can track the hummingbirds during their migration with our Interactive Hummingbird Migration Map. Check out the map and submit a photo of the hummingbirds you see in your backyard. Plus, see trends of where they're going, and how long it takes to get there - even see last years migration through our archives

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Hummingbird Highway in Belize

Hummingbird Highway is one of the four major highways in Belize.  It connects the George Price Highway outside of Belmopan (Cayo District), to the Southern Highway outside of Dangriga (Stann District).  It partially follows, and sometimes uses the infrastructure of, the former Stann Creek Railway.
A paving project was completed in 1994.  All the citrus produced in Belize travels along this highway to the two major processing plants in Stann Creek district.  There are quite a few small villages along the highway.  A new bridge was completed over the Sibun River in 2004, and a new bridge inaugurated in 2006 across Silver Creek; however, there are still quite a few one-lane dilapidated bridges over numerous creeks and streams.
The traffic along the Hummingbird Highway has been on the increase lately due to an increase in demand for eco-tourism and the passage of petroleum trucks, which use the highway as a shortcut en route to the George Price Highway (which terminates at the Guatemala border).  The Hummingbird Highway is the only highway in Belize which cuts through the mountains of Belize.  The highway rests in a valley which comprises citrus orchards in the lowlands and the untouched jungle habitat on the outskirts and beyond.