HUMMINGBIRDSGod's living jewelsHummingbirds are little birds with a large reputation. They are beautiful, lively and have personality. These living jewels are one of the marvelous gifts of God. How could we not enjoy them?
The Great Hummingbird lives high in the mountains of South America. At over 8" in size it truly is 'great' compared to it’s relatives. It's larger size allows it to retain more body heat for living in the chilly mountain climate.
These living jewels display brilliant iridescent jewel-like colors as they fly, flit, and turn in the sunlight. They truly are gifts from God. 
The most spectacular colors are seen on the 'gorget' on their throat. They must turn directly to the light to show their brilliant throat colors. In indirect or sideways light their throats look very dark and you will not even imagine what brilliant jewels they are carrying. The throat and head carry the most striking colors. They use the gorget colors in courtship and fighting, but we get to see them as they come to our flowers and feeders.
Because hummingbirds are so small I imagine they would be a tasty treat for many predators if they could see them.
What are some interesting facts about these tiny charmers?
Well - God made them better than helicopters! They not only can hover like a helicopter, something unusual in the bird world, but they can fly backwards and upside down occasionally. Amazing - huh! When they are flying forward they carry their body horizontal and their wings beat up and down vertically.
When they are feeding they hover like a helicopter.The body moves from horizontal flying position to about a 45-degree angle. The wing beat moves horizontal beating from front to back. 
Then if they want to fly backwards they drop their body vertical - straight up and down and they move their wings in a circular motion up over their heads. Their wings move so fast, sometimes up to 200 per minute, that at times it seems they are flying without wings because we can't see them at the fast speeds. They are aptly named because you can hear their wings hum-m-m-ing as they fly by.
All this exertion makes them very hungry. They eat about twice their body weight each day. Their appetite makes it great for hummingbird admirers.
Many people are making hummingbird food now a days. What do they eat? 
What makes them come to our feeders? Is making their nectar difficult? Nope, it is very easy and you can do it. You may purchase commercial food mix or you can make your own homemade food.
What are some flowers to attract them? What are the best garden plants for attracting them? Do we need flowers to attract them or are their feeders enough? I totally enjoy watching, feeding, and
painting hummingbirds
God's gift of living jewels. We become a living jewel in God's eyes when we accept Jesus. |
Most are tiny in the 3-4" range. Two found in the United States are larger, the Magnificent as well as the Blue-throat are around 5" in size. There are about 15
