The latter part of March through the middle of April marks the return of the “jet-helicopter” of the bird world to middle Tennessee from its wintering grounds in Central and South America.  There are some 320 species of hummingbirds worldwide. The bee hummingbird of Cuba is the smallest at 2 grams, and the giant hummingbird of South America at eight inches is the largest. The ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilocus (ruler of the ambush for its flying ability) colubris (snake-like for its long forked, tongue)) is the only hummingbird found in appreciable numbers east of the Mississippi River.  Adult males have a red throat and a forked tail, while females lack the red throat and have rounded tails.

Best known for its flying ability, these tiny birds are masters of flight.  With short humerus, radius, and ulna bones and long fused phalanges, they can truly fly in any direction.  The sternum (breast bone) is the largest bone in the body and makes up about 1/3 of the body weight.  This supports the large breast muscles needed to power the wings.  They can even briefly fly backwards and upside down.

The wings beat about 55 times per second during feeding and can top 200 beats per second during fast maneuvers and male courtship displays.  Flight speeds can exceed 60 miles per hour.  Heartbeats can approach 1,200 per minute and breathing 250 respirations per minute.  All these things combine to burn a lot of energy.

Refueling this spent energy may take up to 1,500 flower visits to sip nectar (with a spongy forked tongue) each day.  Some bill shapes only fit certain flowers which depend on that particular species for pollination.  Hummingbirds also consume large numbers of tiny insects for protein for body growth.  If a 200-pound man had the metabolism of a hummingbird, he would have to eat the equivalent of 400 pounds of hamburger each day to stay alive.

The female ruby-throated hummingbird builds a half-dollar size nest made of plant down, tied together with spider webs and adorned with lichens for camouflage.  It is placed on a small limb from 10 to 30 feet above the ground.  Two honeybee-size birds emerge in 16 to 18 days from pea-size eggs.