A recipe for (hummingbird) success. Photo by the author.

Given the incredible infrequency with which hummingbirds have graced my presence (I have seen this species a mere three times), I have always considered their appearance to be equally spectacular and special. However, as I sit typing this article, in the middle of the woods, in Maine, I am no more than four feet away from an attractive red feeder jar filled with simple syrup—one part water and one part sugar—and my ears are becoming intermittently fixated on the characteristic hum that gives these miraculous birds their name.

In an effort to try and describe the defining noise of a hummingbird, a member of the Trochilidae family, perhaps it would be appropriate to draw a parallel to a more familiar organism. As this bird whips by, I can only think of bees. More specifically, I imagine putting my ear to a mason jar filled with several bees, all buzzing in unison, except that the buzz emitted from the hummingbird is occasionally interrupted with the tiniest (and very cute) squeak.

Capturing the Ruby-throated hummingbird was no easy task! Photo by the author.

Though one might associate a hummingbird with adjectives like adorable, pretty, and/or delightful (all very true), the biomechanics of hummingbird flight is actually quite impressive. In fact, the aerodynamics of hummingbirds has been extensively studied, with some results featured in Nature, and despite their avian body plan, hummingbird flight is more akin to insect flight than bird flight. Because of their ability to rotate their wings in a circular fashion, hummingbirds generate a series of vortices in their wake—a phenomenon that has been documented using stereo-photography and helium-filled soap bubbles. This gives the hummingbird amazing versatility, allowing them to fly forwards, backwards, or side-to-side. Furthermore, these creatures are the only group of birds that can hover in mid-air.

But what puts the hum in hummingbird? This buzz is actually the result of the flapping of hummingbird wings. To be more specific, hummingbirds can flap their wings between 12 and 90 times per second (depending on hummingbird species). The maintenance of hummingbird flight is extremely demanding metabolically: the heart rate of these birds can reach up to 1,260 beats per minute! Because of these huge energy requirements, hummingbirds must drink the nectar from hundreds of flowers per day. This probably explains why there were hummingbirds frequenting our sugar-filled feeder every few minutes, from dusk until dawn. Interestingly, when food is scarce, hummingbirds can enter a state of torpor—a hibernation-like status that is characterized by both slowed breathing and heart rate, thus reducing the need for food (nectar).

Going in for a drink. Photo by the author.

Speaking of nectar, hummingbirds have been categorized as “nectarivores” and the size of their beaks are closely related to the lengths of the flowers on which they feed, all suggesting co-evolution. Typically, hummingbirds are most attracted to flowers that are red, orange, and fuchsia explaining why most hummingbird feeders are bright red. However, these tiny birds are able to see colors that fall into the near-ultraviolet portion of the light spectrum.

Although I spent a week watching this awesome avian species, seeing a hummingbird will still elicit a feeling of excitement, especially knowing just how incredible these tiny vertebrates really are.