National Hummingbird Day

Sharing is caring!

The first Saturday of September is National Hummingbird Day! How are you going to observe these amazing creatures and all they do for us?

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

What is National Hummingbird Day?

These incredible birds are native to the New World and can’t be found in the wild anywhere else outside of the Western Hemisphere.

On September 5th, we celebrated National Hummingbird Day… which is a great opportunity to learn more about this magical bird. For those who are interested in discovering expert tips on how to attract more hummingbirds to your backyard, patio, or balcony, you’ve come to the right place!

hummingbird drinking from a flower

Hummingbird Information and Facts

These tiny creatures pack a lot of energy and power into a very small package. As they are widely known for their speed, here are some fast facts and information about hummingbirds to try to match their velocity:

 

  • The world’s smallest bird, the bee hummingbird, is on average roughly two inches long and weighs in at a whopping 2 grams.
  • These buzzing birds can’t use their feet to walk or hop but they can use them to scoot over on a branch, as well as to clean their feathers.
  • Hummingbirds lay teeny tiny eggs. In fact, they lay the smallest eggs of any species of bird — they can be smaller than a jelly bean!
  • A hummingbird’s beak doesn’t vacuum up nectar. Their tongue actually flicks the nectar up at a rate of 10 to 15 licks per second.
  • The hummingbird can reach a top speed of 50 miles per hour and their wings can flap at roughly 80 beats per second.
  • Although these birds have no sense of smell, their sense of eyesight is impeccable.
  • These talented birds are the only birds that can fly backwards.

Can hummingbird recognize humans?

Hummingbirds recognize and remember people and have been known to fly around your head to alert you that a feeder is empty or the nectar has gone bad. Other times a hummingbird has buzzed by just to get acquainted and to say thanks.

Hummingbirds can grow accustomed to people and even be induced to perch on a finger while feeding. Credible tales of hummingbirds greeting a human friend are not uncommon.

How to Observe National Hummingbird Day

  • Check for events dedicated to hummingbirds taking place near you. You could also plan a trip to attend a hummingbird event or festival that is taking place now or at any time in the year.
  • Educate yourself and others about hummingbirds. Watch a documentary such as Hummingbirds or Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air. Read A Monograph of the Trochilidae, or Family of Hummingbirds, or one of many other books. If you are a teacher, you could prepare a lesson plan about hummingbirds for the day.
  • Take care of hummingbirds by starting a hummingbird garden, putting up a hummingbird feeder, or supporting The Hummingbird Society.
  • Find a place to view hummingbirds, and see if you can identify the birds while doing so.

hummingbird drinking nectar from a flower

With National Hummingbird Day this month, be sure to take a moment to discover all of the fun and interesting information and facts about hummingbirds. Then, if you want to be able to witness some of these magnificent creatures for yourself, consider adding some feeders or planting some hummingbird plants to attract more hummingbirds to your space.  You can read about feeders here.  And you can read about hummingbird flowers here.

 

Want to learn more about hummingbirds? Visit – Everything Hummingbirds

What’s Next?