Hummingbirds - Pictures

Hummingbirds - Pictures - Introduction and General Information

Picture source: Animal Diversity Web © 1995-2004 The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors

For modern people this miniature dashing speedster of a bird is also a wonder. The plumage has the remarkable property of changing color in various ways at various angulations of the falling sunlight. These are the only birds that can fly in uncountable numbers of manners. Have you ever seen a bird that can fly sideways, backwards, upwards or even upside down? They even have the ability to stay aloft in the air without moving in the space.

Unfortunately, all these wonders happened to inflict not too enviable a fate on the birds. Human thirst for profit and good looks entailed a massive destruction of the hummingbird population. Nobody knows so far how many species of the hummingbird have lapsed into nothingness. There is no estimation of how many birds were killed or if there would be any left on earth if the Migratory Bird Treaty Act had not have not been passed in 1918.

Currently there are more than 340 different species of the bird. They can be found in both South and North America. Hummingbirds are migratory birds, and in cold seasons those who spend summer in Canada and Alaska, migrate to central and Latin America.

Hummingbirds can be of use to garden keepers not only for creating a romantic environment but also for wariness toward importunate and sugar loving bees and wasps. Hummingbirds are severe and aggressive in defending their habitat and nests. Hummingbirds pollinate flowers like no other animal.