What Makes Hummingbirds Unique?
Species - All Hummingbirds make up a family of birds called “Trochilidae” which includes more than 300 species!
Flight - Hummingbirds have the unique ability of hovering because their wings produce lift while moving both forward and backward. Their wings beat at rates of about 50 times per second!
Heart Rate - All of that activity requires a lot of energy. Hummingbird’s hearts can beat at rates of over 1,000 beats per minute!
Body Temperature - Among the warmest body temperatures of all warm–blooded animals, hummingbirds maintain an internal body temperature of over 100 degrees fahrenheit.
Body Mass and Brain Size - Hummingbirds have a larger brain in relation to their body mass than any other bird, , yet they weigh about as much as a penny.
