Today’s new Birdorable species is a tiny type of hummingbird found in northeastern parts of South America. Look at the crazy plumage of the Tufted Coquette!
There are 11 species of coquette in the genus Lophornis. All of these tiny hummingbirds are native to Central and South America. Six other types of coquette have crests like the Tufted Coquette, though their ranges don’t typically overlap, making identification of Tufted Coquettes fairly easy. In these birds, the males have the outlandish crests (and the wild neck tufts as seen in the Tufted) while the females have a typically lower profile (ie, less flashy plumage).
Tufted Coquettes feed on nectar, favoring Orange Milkweed and pigeon pea flowers, among others. Like other hummingbirds, they will also take small insects as prey as available.
Tufted Coquette (Lophornis ornata) by Teresa Frost (CC BY 2.0)
Tomorrow’s new bird is closely related to the America Robin, but lives on the other side of the world. Do you know this spotted, migratory bird?
Today our Birdorable Bonanza: 2015 Advent Edition continues with the smallest species of bird in the world: the Bee Hummingbird!
An adult Bee Hummingbird weighs in at 2 grams or less, which is lighter than an American penny coin. In fact, a nickname for this tiny 2-inch long bird is the "Penny Hummingbird". It is both the smallest and the lightest species of bird in the world. The second-smallest living species of bird in the world is the Bumblebee Hummingbird.
The tiny size of the Bee Hummingbird may be attributed to competition with other hummingbirds in its habitat. Over time the species evolved to feed on smaller flowers than other hummingbird species that shared its habitat.
Bee Hummingbirds are endemic to Cuba, meaning they are found only on the islands of that country and no where else on earth. They are non-migratory but may disperse during the year depending on availability of nectar-producing flowers.
Mellisuga helenae by Ekaterina Chernetsova (CC BY 2.0)
Mellisuga helenae by Ekaterina Chernetsova (CC BY 2.0)
The Bee Hummingbird is our 624th Birdorable bird and our 7th species of hummingbird. Be sure to check out our collection of apparel and gifts featuring the Birdorable Bee Hummingbird! Our Bonanza continues tomorrow with a common North American flycatcher that sings its name. Can you guess tomorrow's species?
A little jewel joins Birdorable today! Today's Bonanza bird is the Buff-bellied Hummingbird, bringing our total number of hummers to five.
Buff-bellied Hummingbirds breed in eastern parts of Central America and the Yucatan Peninsula. Their northernmost breeding range extends into the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. While some birds are resident, there are also seasonal movements (dispersal) in parts of the population. Some birds fly NORTH for the winter! Their wintering range includes much of the Gulf Coast of the United States.
Buff-bellied Hummingbird by k. draper (CC BY-ND 2.0)
Like other hummingbirds, Buff-bellied Hummers feed on flower nectar. They will readily feed from hummingbird feeders filled with sugar water. Buff-bellieds also feed on very small insects caught on the wing.
Tomorrow's new bird has the longest wingspan of any living species!
If you think our Birdorable birds are cute as adults, what about when they are babies? Below are some baby photos (shared via Flickr) of the Anna's Hummingbird. Female Anna's Hummingbirds select the nesting site after a territory is established (often based on a nectar source). They build the cup-shaped nest alone. Two eggs are laid and incubation takes about 16 days. The baby hummingbirds fledge about three weeks after hatching.
Anna's hummingbird eggs in nest by Michael Layefsky
bird babies in Sean's back yard (11961) by ehoyer
Thanks, Rob! by iwasfixin2
Anna's Hummingbird babies about 1 week old. by Callahan, Tom
This week's highlighted t-shirt design features a trio of Birdorable Ruby-throats in flight - and all are wearing Santa Claus hats! The hummingbirds may be south for the winter, but they are still in our hearts and minds. Get ready for the holidays with these little jewels in festive Christmas style. Shown here on a kids organic t-shirt made in the USA by American Apparel. Also available on other customizable gifts.
Rufous Hummingbirds live in the western half of North America. They are long-distance migrants, with some individuals breeding in Alaska and spending the winter down in Mexico. Considering the small size of these birds, this is one of the longest migratory journeys of any bird in the world. Rufous Hummingbirds are known to have excellent memories, especially for location. Birds may return to the same backyard year after year, pinpointing the exact location of a previously known nectar feeder.
If you want to learn more about Rufous Hummingbirds, check out Cornell's All About Birds.
