A hummingbird is a small bird that can fly frontwards or backwards. They are the only bird that can stay in one place while in flight. Depending on the type of hummingbird, their wings can move anywhere from 15 to 80 times per second. Some species fly 600 miles to migrate during the cold months of the year. Despite their size, they can travel up to 60 miles an hour.

Hummingbirds only have a life span of five to six years in the wild. They have a very high metabolism and are constantly on the move. They get their energy from nectar that they collect from flowers. The beak of a hummingbird is very long and has a grooved tongue for collecting nectar. They consume half their weight in sugar from nectar daily. Hummingbirds do stop to perch every once in a while, but because of their short legs, they can not walk.

After mating, the female hummingbird always stays with the eggs until they are hatched. The mother then gathers bugs and larvae to feed them. Some of the smallest hummingbirds, such as the bee hummingbird, can use a half of a walnut shell for its nest.

These birds can be seen in almost anywhere in the world. Many people put up hummingbird feeders in their yards to attract these tiny, lovely birds. If you feed hummingbirds, the mixture you put in the feeder should be four parts water and one part sugar. It should be pure sugar, not artificial or honey.