Ruby-throated Hummingbird: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Small but Mighty Flyers · day 1 of 7

Five facts

1. In spring, some ruby-throated hummingbirds fly about 800 km nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico, from Mexico's Yucatán to the US coast.
2. To manage it, they first double their body fat, then burn every bit of it during the 20-hour crossing.
3. Hummingbird wings can rotate almost 180 degrees, so the bird can fly backward and hover in mid-air. That is unique among birds.
4. The male's ruby throat only shines from certain angles. From many others, it looks dull black.
5. An adult weighs just 2 to 6 g. Males, at about 3.4 g, are a little lighter than females, at about 3.8 g.

The quiz

1. How long is the nonstop flight some of them make across the Gulf of Mexico?

• About 80 km
• About 300 km
• About 800 km (correct)
• About 8,000 km

Some fly about 800 km nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico.

2. What do they do to their fat mass before the Gulf crossing?

• Halve it
• Double it (correct)
• Keep it the same
• Swap it for muscle

Before the crossing they can double the fat they carry, then use all of it up in the air.

3. Besides forward, in which direction can a hummingbird fly?

• Sideways only
• Straight down only
• Backward (correct)
• Upside down only

The wing rotates almost 180 degrees, enabling flight backward as well as forward.

4. How does the male's ruby throat look from many angles?

• Bright blue
• Pure white
• Dull black (correct)
• Bright yellow

The red shine depends on the angle; from many angles the throat looks dull black.

5. How much does an adult ruby-throated hummingbird weigh?

• 200 to 600 g
• 20 to 60 g
• 2 to 6 kg
• 2 to 6 g (correct)

An adult weighs just 2 to 6 g.

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