09/05/2026
It's National Hummingbird day!
🐦✨ HUMMINGBIRD FACTS THAT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU! ✨🐦
Those tiny little visitors buzzing around your feeders are absolutely incredible. Here are some hummingbird facts you may not know:
🌸 They can fly backward!
Hummingbirds are the only birds known to routinely fly backward—and they can even hover in place.
❤️ Their hearts are FAST!
A hummingbird’s heart can beat more than 1,000 times per minute when it’s active. When resting, its heart rate can drop dramatically.
👅 Their tongues are amazing.
A hummingbird can extend its tongue roughly twice the length of its bill to reach deep into flowers. And that tongue isn't simply scooping nectar—the grooves along it help capture the liquid.
💨 They aren't actually "humming."
That familiar humming sound comes primarily from the rapid movement of their wings, which can beat dozens of times per second.
🧠 They have incredible memories.
Hummingbirds can remember individual flowers and feeding locations—and they can learn how long it takes a flower to replenish its nectar.
🌙 They can basically put themselves into a mini hibernation. At night, some hummingbirds enter a state called torpor, dramatically lowering their body temperature, heart rate and metabolism to conserve energy.
⚖️ They're tiny…but mighty!
Some hummingbirds weigh less than a U.S. penny. Yet they can migrate hundreds or even thousands of miles.
🗺️ They can migrate across the Gulf of Mexico.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds can make a nonstop flight of roughly 500 miles across the Gulf of Mexico during migration. Imagine making that trip on a body weighing only a few grams!
🌈 Their feathers don't necessarily have the color you think they do.
Those brilliant reds, greens and blues often come from the structure of their feathers reflecting light, rather than ordinary pigment.
🐝 They eat more than nectar.
Nectar provides quick energy, but hummingbirds also eat tiny insects and spiders for protein and other nutrients.
🌎 And here's one of my favorites…
Hummingbirds are found naturally only in the Americas. There are more than 350 species, with most living in Central and South America.
So the next time one stops by your feeder, take a minute to watch. That tiny creature is doing some pretty extraordinary things. ❤️
If you have hummingbird feeders in Indiana, now is a great time to keep them full and fresh! As these tiny travelers prepare for migration, they need plenty of energy for the journey ahead.
✈️ Here's the incredible part: Ruby-throated hummingbirds can make a nonstop flight of approximately 500 miles across the Gulf of Mexico during migration.
What hummingbird fact surprised you the most? 🐦👇
May you have a great day everyone!
