How Hummingbirds Save the Winter

How Hummingbirds Save the Winter

 As the days got shorter and cooler I wondered if it was time to unload our hummingbird feeder. As far as possible I know that some hummingbirds start migrating as early as mid-July and others wait until August or September. But I wonder if these tiny, energetic birds are gone all winter or if there may still be a few strugglers.

This puts most hummingbirds into practice. There is even a species of hummingbird (Rufus) that migrates longer than any bird size in the world, traveling from Alaska to Mexico! Most make their way to sunny climates in the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico and even South America. But there are some that do not. And if they don’t, they definitely need a place to stop and feed.

Hummingbirds have the highest metabolism of any endothermic animal in the world. Endothermic means that hummingbirds, like humans, need to generate body heat to keep warm. Although a high metabolism means they need plenty of calories to survive the next day. In addition to feeding tree sap and nectar for calories, hummingbirds feed on carnivores and insects and spiders that usually do not survive wind temperatures. The sweet water we have left for them and the nectar of the flowers they take is the only fuel for their insects and spiders. Needless to say, flowers that produce life-giving nectar are not usually found at cool temperatures.

But, times they change! And our environment is changing! Climate change has initiated changes in the ecosystem. In some regions, mild temperatures allow flowers to bloom all year round and allow insects to breed all year round. Hummingbird feeders have been left out for a long time and throughout the year which contributes to the hummingbird’s ability to feed and sustain itself.

Until the end, hummingbirds survive using torpers because they cannot be seen or eaten at night. Similar to hibernation, torpedo hummingbirds slow down their heart rate, store energy, and even adjust their body temperature to the ambient air. Hummingbirds are said to be able to store thirty-five to ninety-nine percent of their energy during torpedo and their heart rate per second. The whole fifty pushes can go down every minute! Hummingbirds can lose about ten percent of their body weight overnight even by using a torpedo, but it is still an invaluable tool for their survival.

Hummingbirds are interesting animals and there is still a lot to learn about their migration patterns. I hope this glimpse of their intense ability to survive in harsh conditions increases their curiosity to learn more about this great, tiny wonder!