Hummingbirds

When it comes to hanging a hummingbird feeder, the old real estate adage applies: Location is everything. While we often think of hummingbirds as sun-loving…

Deep in the South Pacific, approximately 400 miles off the coast of Chile, lies the Juan Fernández Archipelago. This remote cluster of islands is the…

In the cloud forests of the Andes, where the air is thin and the mist is constant, lives one of the most stylistically distinct birds…

The Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) is a biological marvel that defies the laws of scale. Weighing roughly the same as a penny, this feisty, copper-colored…

In the world of ornithology, the competition for the title of “smallest” is a game of millimeters. While many people use the terms interchangeably, the…

In the extreme heights of the northern Andes, where the air is thin and the nights are bone-chillingly cold, lives one of the world’s most…

Feeding hummingbirds is one of the most rewarding backyard hobbies, but it comes with a significant responsibility. Because of their incredibly high metabolism and specialized…

Metabolism is the chemical process that converts food and oxygen into the energy required to maintain life. While all vertebrates share the same basic metabolic…

The Blue-bearded Helmetcrest is one of the rarest and most mysterious hummingbirds in the world. Found only in a tiny region of the Colombian Andes,…

Hummingbirds are famous for their rapid wingbeats, hovering ability, and astonishing aerial agility. Yet not all hummingbirds flap their wings at the same speed. The…

Hummingbirds (family Trochilidae) are among the most remarkable birds on Earth. With over 360 recognized species across 112–113 genera, they are found exclusively in the…

In the dense, humid rainforests of Central and South America, evolution has produced a bird that looks less like a typical hummingbird and more like…