Spring is Coming and So are the Hummingbirds

Recently I saw a post with some interesting facts about Hummingbirds.  It was from a newsletter I get from About.com  And it reminded me that soon the Hummingbirds will be returning to our neck of the woods.  I love these little birds.  But they can be annoying. LOL  I put my hummingbird feeders out every year and attract quite a few to our small Texas ranch.  But if I dare let them feeders get empty, boy do they let me know it.  They will fly all around me and buzz me until I go back inside, clean them and put out fresh nectar for them!  Anyway, I thought you'd enjoy these facts as much as I did:

1.There are more than 325 hummingbird species in the world. Only 8 species regularly breed in the United States, though up to two dozen species may visit the country.
2.A hummingbird’s brilliant throat color is not caused by feather pigmentation, but rather by iridescence in the arrangement of the feathers and the influence of light level, moisture and other factors.
3.Hummingbirds cannot walk or hop, though their feet can be used to scoot sideways while they are perched.
4.The calliope hummingbird is the smallest bird species in North America and measures just 3 inches long. The bee hummingbird is the smallest species and measures 2.25 inches long.
5.Hummingbirds have 1,000-1,500 feathers, the fewest number of feathers of any bird species in the world.
6.The average ruby-throated hummingbird weighs 3 grams. In comparison, a nickel weighs 4.5 grams.
7.From 25-30 percent of a hummingbird’s weight is in its pectoral muscles, the muscles principally responsible for flight.
8.A hummingbird’s maximum forward flight speed is 30 miles per hour, though the birds can reach up to 60 miles per hour in a dive.
9.Hummingbirds lay the smallest eggs of all birds. They measure less than 1/2 inch long but may represent as much as 10 percent of the mother’s weight at the time the eggs are laid.
10.A hummingbird must consume approximately 1/2 of its weight in sugar daily, and the average hummingbird feeds 5-8 times per hour.
11.A hummingbird’s wings beat between 50 and 200 flaps per second depending on the direction of flight and air conditions.
12.An average hummingbird’s heart rate is more than 1,200 beats per minute.
13.At rest, a hummingbird takes an average of 250 breaths per minute.

This is only half of the facts about Hummingbird's I saw.  Stay tuned for part 2 in a week or so.  Plus, keep your eye out for my new Fused Glass Hummingbird Feeder that I'll be listing in my Etsy shop: KayzKreationz. They are great for your yard or as a gift.  In the meantime, check out this cute Hanging Mosaic Birdfeeder that can also be used as a birdbath if you wish.