Hi friends! Today, we’re going to explore the fascinating world of hummingbirds. These tiny birds are full of surprises, and there’s so much to learn about them!
Hummingbirds belong to a bird family called Trochilidae. This family has over 350 different kinds, or species, of hummingbirds, making it one of the largest bird families in the world! While there are only about 17 species in the United States, most hummingbirds live in Central and South America. They’re usually very small and weigh less than a penny. The tiniest hummingbird, called the bee hummingbird, lives in Peru and is as small as a bee!
Hummingbirds are amazing flyers. They can zoom through the air at speeds between 25 and 30 miles per hour, just like some bees. Their wings beat super fast, creating a humming sound, which is how they got their name. Hummingbirds are special because they can fly forward, backward, and even hover in one spot. In fact, they’re the only birds that can fly backward!
Just like us, hummingbirds love sweet treats! They have a high metabolism, which means they need lots of energy to keep going. Metabolism is how our bodies turn food into energy. Hummingbirds get their energy from a sweet liquid called nectar, which they find in flowers. They use their long tongues to sip up the nectar, and their tongues have special grooves to help them eat.
But nectar isn’t enough to keep them healthy. Hummingbirds also need protein, minerals, and vitamins. To get these, they eat tiny insects. They catch these insects while flying by snapping them up with their long beaks.
Hummingbirds are very protective of their food. They choose a spot, like a flower garden or a feeder, and claim it as their own. They don’t like to share and will chase away other birds to defend their territory.
Hummingbirds are known for their bright colors, and many are named after their beautiful feathers. Some have names that sound like fairies or superheroes, such as the Green-crowned Wood Nymph and the Fire-throated Metaltail.
These little birds have the fastest metabolism of any bird, so they need to eat all day long. Their hearts beat over 500 times per minute, while our hearts beat only about 60 to 100 times per minute. Because of this, they eat about their body weight in food every day!
Hummingbirds are also symbols of courage. The ancient Aztec Indians believed they were brave and powerful, and they wore hummingbird feathers into battle. Even though they’re small, hummingbirds are fierce defenders of their territory.
Hummingbirds play a big role in nature. As they drink nectar, they help pollinate flowers by spreading pollen from one flower to another. They also eat lots of insects, which helps keep the insect population under control. Gardeners and farmers love having hummingbirds around because they help plants grow and keep bugs away.
While there are no endangered hummingbirds in North America, some species in Central and South America are in trouble because they’ve lost their homes. To help them, people are creating special parks with lots of flowers and feeders where hummingbirds can live happily.
Let’s see what you’ve learned! Which word best describes hummingbirds? A) defenseless B) colorful C) bland D) slow E) predator. The answer is B) colorful.
What does “metabolism” mean? It’s the process in our cells that turns food into energy.
True or false: There are no endangered hummingbirds in North America. If you said true, you’re correct!
Great job, hummingbird heroes! If you enjoyed learning about these amazing birds, be sure to check out more fun facts about other creatures. Visit us at learn.org for more exciting resources.
Make Your Own Hummingbird Feeder: Gather some simple materials like a plastic bottle, a shallow dish, and some string. With the help of an adult, create a hummingbird feeder by filling the dish with a sugar-water mixture (1 part sugar to 4 parts water). Hang it outside and observe if any hummingbirds visit. Keep a journal to note how many you see and what time of day they come. Discuss why hummingbirds might be attracted to your feeder and how this relates to their need for nectar.
Hummingbird Dance: Hummingbirds are known for their unique flying abilities. Try mimicking their movements by creating a “hummingbird dance.” Can you move forward, backward, and hover in one spot like a hummingbird? Use your arms to mimic their fast-beating wings. Discuss with your friends or family how these movements help hummingbirds in their daily life, such as finding food or escaping predators.
Colorful Creations: Hummingbirds are famous for their bright and colorful feathers. Use colored paper, crayons, or markers to create your own hummingbird art. Think about the different colors you might see on a hummingbird and why these colors are important. Share your artwork with others and explain how the colors help hummingbirds in nature, such as attracting mates or blending into their environment.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
—
[Music]
Hi friends! Today we’re going to learn about hummingbirds. You can read along with us by downloading the lesson plan from our website, learn.org.
What are hummingbirds? Ornithologists are scientists who study birds and group them into families. The family named for hummingbirds is the Trochilidae. This family has over 350 members or species, making it the second largest bird family in the world. There are only about 17 species of hummingbirds in the United States, while the rest live in Central and South America. Most hummingbirds are tiny and weigh less than a penny. The smallest hummingbird lives in Peru and is the size of a bee; it is called the bee hummingbird.
A hummingbird can fly between 25 and 30 mph, as fast as many species of bees. Their wings beat extremely fast to move at this speed, producing a humming sound, which is where they get their name. Hummingbirds are unique because they can fly forward, backward, or hover in place. In fact, they are the only birds that can fly backward.
What do they eat? Just like humans, hummingbirds love sugary treats. They have a high metabolism, which means they need lots of energy. Your metabolism is the chemical processes in your cells that convert food into energy. Hummingbirds gather energy from a sugar called nectar. Most nectar comes from flowers, but people can also make nectar by mixing water and sugar. Hummingbirds use their long tongues to lap up nectar from flowers; their tongues have unique grooves to help them eat.
However, hummingbirds can’t live on sugar alone; they also need protein, minerals, and vitamins to stay healthy and strong. To get these, they eat insects. Usually, hummingbirds will open their long beaks and catch insects in midair while flying.
Hummingbirds are very territorial. They pick an area, like a specific flower garden or feeder, and claim it as their own. They do not like to share food from their sight and will fight to defend their territory from other hummingbirds or any other kind of bird.
Here are some interesting facts: Because hummingbirds are brightly colored, they are often named after their colorful feathers or unusual appearance. As a result, many names sound like fairies, princesses, or even action figures. Here are some examples: Green-crowned Wood Nymph, Black-eared Fairy, Fire-throated Metaltail, and the Horned Sunangel.
In a single day, a hummingbird can feed on hundreds of flowers. With the fastest metabolism of any bird on the planet, they must eat all day long just to get enough energy. Their heart beats over 500 times per minute; for comparison, your heart only beats about 60 to 100 times per minute. Because of this, hummingbirds eat about the weight of their body in one day. In fact, if they go more than a few hours without food, they can starve to death.
Hummingbirds are well known for their great courage. The ancient Aztec Indians, who lived in and around Mexico, would wear necklaces made of hummingbird feathers before going into battle. They believed the birds had great courage and power. Despite being very small, they defended their territory with great strength against larger birds. Many people today still associate the hummingbird with a symbol of courage.
Why are they important to the environment? Since hummingbirds eat nectar, they are also responsible for pollinating flowers. As they eat, pollen often falls onto their wings, and since they travel from flower to flower all day, they can pollinate many flowers. They also eat a lot of insects, which helps keep the population under control. Gardeners and farmers love to see hummingbirds around their gardens because they are excellent pollinators and help keep the insect population from eating their plants.
At this time, there are no endangered hummingbirds in North America, but many hummingbirds are threatened in Central and South America. Many of them have lost their habitats and don’t have anywhere to live. Because of this, people are building special parks where hummingbirds can thrive. These parks provide lots of flowers, water, and hanging feeders.
Now that we have learned some interesting facts about hummingbirds, let’s review. Choose the word the author would say best describes the hummingbird: A) defenseless B) colorful C) bland D) slow E) predator. The answer is B) colorful.
In the lesson, the author uses the word “metabolism.” What is the meaning of metabolism? Metabolism is the chemical reactions that take place in cells to change food into energy.
True or false: At this time, there are no endangered hummingbirds in North America. If you said true, you got it right!
Great work, hummingbird heroes! If you are interested in cool facts about other creatures, make sure to check out [Music] learnbop. If you had fun learning with us, visit us at learn.org for thousands of free resources and turnkey solutions for teachers and homeschoolers.
[Music]
—
Let me know if you need any further modifications!
