Although hummingbirds They feed mainly on the nectar of flowers. They complement their diet with small insects and spiders that they catch when they visit the flower. The amount of habitats occupied by hummingbirds It is very extensive and varied.
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How long does a hummingbird live?
The female of hummingbird She lays two eggs over a two-day period and hatches them for 14 to 19 days. While incubating, they are aggressively territorial and prevent other birds from approaching, even those of the same species, near the nest.
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The hummingbird is a bird native to the Americas and there are more than 340 described species.
Then, the hummingbirds They feed their young for about three to four weeks. The female goes to the nest at this time up to 140 times a day to feed her young. Unfortunately, some usually die in the first few days during the incubation period.
The life period of the hummingbird it’s 4 yearsbut specimens have been recorded that have reached up to twelve years of life.
How does the hummingbird sleep?
The metabolic needs of hummingbird They are so high that under normal conditions they would literally die of hunger during sleep, since they would not be able to last more than an hour without feeding.
However, the hummingbirds have developed a state of torpor during the night in which his temperature is reduced from the usual 40ºC to room temperature, his heart slows down to a hundred beats per minute and his kidneys stop working to avoid death from dehydration.
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The female hummingbird is very territorial and cares for her chicks for three to four weeks.
Only in this way hummingbird survives the inevitable fasting intervals that occur at night.
Due to this need to be preserved at certain temperatures and to always have a wide variety of food available, many species of hummingbird They live on the move, avoiding the coldest months of the year.
Does the hummingbird have natural predators?
Although he hummingbird It has many natural predators, the fact that it feeds on flowers at high altitudes helps keep it away from places where carnivores hide.
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Many hummingbird species migrate to avoid the coldest months of the year.
Females often defend their nest fiercely against intruders, flapping their wings strongly or attempting to sting the attacker, depending on the species.
Among the natural predators of hummingbird There are the chameleon, the viper, the praying mantis, the tarantula, the hawk, the great roadrunner and sometimes cats and bats.