The World's Tiniest Bird Can Hover (and other strange facts)

In the summer, hummingbirds may be all around, but until you put up a feeder, you're not likely to spot one. They fly as fast as 30MPH, and even 45 MPH. They make a humming sound, hence the name, and can be as small as a bee. Typically, these birds are about 2 to 4 inches long. At first, you may think this fast-flying bird is a beetle, bee or some other insect. Once your eyes are trained, and you put out a feeder (or plant flowers that have the nectar they like), you may see these playful birds start to visit more often.

Did you know these hummingbird facts?

• The smallest hummingbird, the bee hummingbird, is the size of a bee and its eggs are the size of a coffee bean. It's only found in Cuba.
• There are more than 300 species of hummingbird.
• You'll find hummingbirds across the country. If you look at a map of the United States, the entire right half of the country has plenty of breeding hummingbirds migrating back and forth. You'll find them at least part of the year in your backyard if you live in a state as far west as Louisiana and Texas, all the way up to Canada. That means the whole East Coast has migrating hummingbirds. They migrate as much as 2,000 miles to Mexico or South America in the winter, and then return, often flying the same route they did before. They migrate solo.
• Hummingbirds are thought to be the only "vertebrates" able to hover. However, Stanford University is studying bats in Costa Rica that also hover. Hummingbirds can also fly upside-down and backward. Sideways, even.
• The heart of a hummingbird beats 1,000 times per minute when flying and about 225 when resting.
• Hummingbirds like sugar water made with 1/4 cup sugar and 1 cup of water. Microwave it, let it cool, and pour it in a feeder, found at hardware stores and gardening shops.
• When migrating, hummingbirds can travel 23 miles in a day.
• A hummingbird's wings flap 70 times PER second.
• Hummingbirds have the ability to see ultraviolet light.
• A baby hummingbird is smaller than a penny.
• Hummingbirds live 5-10+ years. Five years is the average.
• Pollination is not only for the bees. Hummingbirds also pollinate plants.
• Hummingbirds use pieces of spider web to hold together their tiny nests, which are the size of a quarter. Their eggs are the size of small jelly beans.

Ways to Get Hummingbirds to Your Yard

Red feeders and ribbons. Hummingbirds like the color red. If you put out a feeder, avoid adding red to the sugar water. You only need a red ribbon or feeder. Food coloring isn't good for them. They also like orange and pink.

Expand Your Garden. Hummingbirds like bee balm, honeysuckle, milkweed, hibiscus, cardinal flower and sage. They are known to like tubular flowers best.

Keep Cats Away. Cats and hawks are known to be a danger to hummingbirds. Also, brush away a praying mantis, if you see it around a feeder, because this insect can make this tiny bird its meal. Blue jays and crows may target eggs in their nests. Hummingbirds can fiercely defend themselves and may even aggressively fly at other birds. Their long beaks are even used in battle with other hummingbirds during mating.

How to Maintain a Hummingbird Feeder

Once you buy a feeder, you'll have to maintain it weekly. This is important because mold can develop in the feeder and that will turn them away. Also, you want to keep the feeder free of ants and bees, so experiment with the right location to hang it, which should be in a shady location, if possible.

You can clean the feeder with dish soap and vinegar. Buy a brush that can clean the tiny holes for their beaks. A larger glass brush can clean the rest. Let it dry.

The solution for the feeder is 1/4 cup of white refined sugar for every 1 cup of water. Heat in the microwave or on the stove, enough to dissolve the sugar. Then let cool.