Hummingbirds of North America Peterson Field Guide Q & A
What characteristic sets the hummingbird apart from all other birds? -The ability to hover.
How many hummingbird species have bred in the U.S. and Canada? - 17 (5% of the world's hummingbird species.)
What is the only hummingbird that breeds east of the Mississippi River in North America? - The Ruby-throated.
Why is this species the only hummingbird to breed east of the Mississippi River? - They are the only one that can migrate some 5 or 6 hundred miles across the Gulf of Mexico.
What causes the hummingbird's plumage colors? - It is the results of both pigment and iridescence.
What is iridescence? - It is the rainbow like display of colors.
What is the gorget? - It is a specially colored patch on the throat.
What is molt? - It is the periodic loss and replacement of a birds feathers, usually the entire sent in a single cycle.
What is plumage? - It is the entire clothing of feathers of a bird.
What type hummingbird species is most often mistaken for the ruby-throated hummingbird? - The black- chinned hummingbird because they are so closely related.
What risk arise for hummingbirds due to the development of "civilized" landscapes? - Pesticides, free roaming cats, windows, air and water pollution, and continuing loss of habitat due to urbanization.
Describe the movement of nectar from the flower to the throat of the hummingbird. - The liquid is licked up rather then sucked. It moves by capillary action from the forked tip of the tongue through two partial tubes before being squeezed into the throat for swallowing.
The liquid is licked up rather then sucked. It moves by capillary action from the forked tip of the tongue through two partial tubes before being squeezed into the throat for swallowing. - It helps clear the nectar residue from the mouth and it allows humans to see the remarkable length of the tongue.
Only a few birds excrete urine. Is the hummingbird one of them? - Yes, its daily urine out put may exceed 80% of its body weight. To match this a 200-pound man needs to excrete 160 pounds of urine.
How have flowers and hummingbirds co-evolved to reduce competition with bees for the nectar? - The bees' eyes are more sensitive to shorter wavelengths. The hummingbirds are more sensitive to long wavelengths such as red and the nectar flowers tend to be red which often almost invisible to bees.
How do hummingbirds and humans compare in their taste for sugar? - Both prefer sucrose to simpler sugars such as glucose and fructose. The simpler sugars dominate in the nectars of most insect-pollinated flowers.
Why do nesting females spend little time at flowers and feeders? - Both egg-laying and providing for growing baby birds require large quantities of proteins, amino acids, vitamins and minerals and other nutrients, not supplied by nectar. Females spend more time catching insects.
What is torpor? - It is a hibernation-like state when breathing, heart rate, and body temperature are drastically reduced.
How long does it take a female hummingbird to build a nest? - About one week.
When does mating occur? - The female seeks out a male for mating only after the nest is completed.
When does egg laying occur? - Only a short time after mating.
What is the normal number of eggs laid by the female hummingbird? - 2 but sometimes up to 4. This may be due to immature female dumping her eggs in another's nest.
How long is the incubation period for North American hummingbird species? - From 12 to 22 days.
Dangers to eggs and baby birds eliminate what percent of the birds from becoming fledglings? - Fewer than half of the eggs develop into fledglings.
What are fledglings? - These are the young birds that leave their nest to become more independent of the mother. They fledge at 18 to 28 days but are still dependent on the mother some 4 weeks.
How often do females nest per season? - Some two to three times per season, often a new nest is started before the young have fledged the previous nest.
How much reserve nectar may a migrating hummingbird store? - They may double their weight and replenish where possible along the migratory path.
How long do hummingbirds live? - In North America the average is 3 to 5 years for females but one has lived 12 years. Males live shorter lives.
What did the Aztecs think happened to their fallen warriors? - They became hummingbirds.
What has protected the North American hummingbird species from human exploration? - The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.
What flowers and plants should be used to attract the ruby-throated hummingbirds to our area? - Jewelweed, cardinal flower, bee balm, coral honeysuckle, trumpet creeper, winter shrimp, Tulip-cap hibiscus.
A feeder of 8 fluid ounces will feed how many hummingbirds for a day? - 40 -60 birds
What ratio of water to sugar should be placed in a hummingbird feeder? - A solution of 4 parts water to 1 part sugar
How long can the unused sugar water still be used? - Up to a week if kept refrigerated.
What problems exist when the sugar is replaced by sugar substitutes or honey? - Sugar substitutes do not offer the energy needs and may result in starvation. Honey contains spores that cause infections in the hummingbirds.
How often should the feeder be refilled? - Every 2 to 3 days and every second day if the temperature is above 90 degrees.
When should the first ruby-throated hummingbirds arrive in Hot Springs? - On or slightly before April 1st.
How late should feeders be kept available for the ruby-throated in the fall? - First or second week of October.
What is the basic pigment in the feathers? - Melanin.
What is the bird's nape? - The area at the back of the head, between the crown and the upper back.
What is a good Internet hummingbird resource? - www.hummingbirds.net
How big is the hummingbird's brain? - About the size of a BB, but it still guides the young to migrate from North America up to 2000 miles without guidance from parents.
What are neotrops? - This stands for Neotropical Birds that migrate from the tropics to North America each spring or summer. Neo stands for new world or America.
What is the major difference in hummingbirds and most birds' migration? - Most birds migrate at night but hummingbirds migrate during the daytime. This is revealed by radar.
What was Bird Cast? - It was an attempt to forecast bird migration with radar and proved to be about as accurate as using radar for weather forecasting.
How high should a hummingbird feeder be placed if cats are commonly in the area? - 6 feet above the ground will keep them above the height that cats can leap.
What is the second smallest of all warm-blooded animals? - The bee hummingbird, which is outweighed by some insects; it was found in Cuba by the first explorers.
What is the largest hummingbird species? - The Giant Hummingbird of South America, which is larger than many songbirds.
What is the only bird that can hover in still air and fly backwards, sideways and straight upwards and downwards? - The Hummingbird
"Budding Topics" - September
Heavenly Bells
Bob Byers, Garden Director
As I write this, it's mid August and the temperature is predicted to be 106 today. There aren't a lot of plants that will hold up to that kind of abuse, but one of the best is Brugmansia arborea, better known as angel's trumpets. A native of South America's Andes, it's a close relative to the common jimpson weed and moonflower (Datura), other members of the nightshade family used medicinally by ancient peoples in both North America and Eurasia.
The 'trumpets' are huge (to 7-8 inches) bells of white, yellow, or apricot that bloom all summer on mature plants. One of the more interesting things about the blooms is that they are produced in a series of flushes all summer. This means that while there are periods when your plant isn't blooming at all, they're more than made up by the times when a new round of up to 50 blooms open, all within a week or two of each other. Those of you who have been out to the Gardens frequently have been enjoying the spectacular show they've put on intermittently all summer around the Welcome Center.
Angel's trumpets bloom better if root bound, so they make great container plants. Growing Brugmansia in pots makes good sense for another reason; while they will usually survive winter in the ground if protected they thrive much better if brought indoors. They need a heavy potting mix and consistent water, but actually bloom better if kept a little on the lean side, so don't over fertilize. As you can see, it's easy to bring a little heaven home, with angels' trumpets.
"Budding Topics" - June
A Woodland Walk
Bob Byers, Garden Director
According to a well-known quotation, the only thing that remains constant is change. And, if you haven't looked into what's been happening with daylilies (Hemerocallis cultivars) since you enjoyed those your mother grew, you're in a real education. Hybridizers are constantly introducing new colors and other improvements in this garden denizen with the cast iron constitution.
For example, if you've never cared for the bright, warm oranges and yellows of older varieties, you'll love some the new pastel colors. Hemerocallis 'Gentle Shepherd' is one of the best examples of the new, near white varieties now available. Pale yellow and chartreuse varieties join 'Gentle Shepherd' to offer wonderful, cooler colored flowers. This allows them to blend well with a broad range of other annuals and perennials. As an added bonus, the wide selection of pastel pinks, salmons, and lavenders present a number of opportunities to use daylilies in a mixed border without creating strife.
If you do need a showy, brightly colored bloom for a special location, there are now a number of good, clear reds. H. 'Siloam Red Ruby', bred right here in Arkansas, is a beautiful rich red that has proven very popular at the Gardens. There are also bright oranges and hot pinks, so just about any hue in the warm color range can be accommodated.
Another characteristic of 'Siloam Red Ruby' and many of the new selections is its relatively small size of about 18 inches in height. The range of sizes now available to the daylily enthusiast is truly impressive, from 14 inch dwarfs up to very tall selections like H. 'Hyperion' that may be well over four feet tall.
Finally, the flower forms available today are surprisingly diverse. Hybridizers have widened the petals and sepals on those exhibiting the natural bloom form, creating large, more symmetrical blooms that look surprisely like the blossoms of oriental garden lilies. A number of new flower forms like spiders, with elongated, narrow petals, have novel appearances that can provide the perfect accent.
But you won't find the best new varieties at the garden center. Daylilies are only one example of popular plants that have societies dedicated to their promotion in most of the country. You'll find wonderful information on sources for new varieties, the latest cultural techniques, and great new gardening friends by joining your local daylily society. The Gardens maintain a list of contacts for each of the six or so daylily clubs in Arkansas and many other groups with interests in other ornamental plants.
Call (888) 530-6873 for more information on these groups or on progress at the Gardens.
