How can a bird weighing only a few grams migrate hundreds or even thousands of miles? And how can hummingbirds hover, fly backward, and maneuver through the air unlike almost any other bird?
This episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together explores the incredible biology of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, the hummingbird most familiar to birdwatchers across much of eastern North America.
Field Museum ornithologists John Bates and Shannon Hackett join RJ and Amanda Pole to explore Ruby-throated Hummingbird migration, flight, speed, feeding, iridescent feathers, behavior, and the extraordinary adaptations that allow these tiny birds to survive their long-distance journeys.
We discuss how hummingbirds hover, why their wings are so unusual, what gives male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds their brilliant red throat, and how such a tiny animal is capable of making an incredible migration between its breeding and wintering grounds.
We also get into hummingbird feeders and backyard hummingbirds, along with the questions that make these birds so fascinating: What do Ruby-throated Hummingbirds eat? How fast can hummingbirds fly? How does hummingbird migration work? Why do hummingbird feathers shimmer and change color?
If you've ever watched a hummingbird hovering at a flower or feeder and wondered how such a tiny bird can do what it does, this episode is for you.
Birds of a Feather Talk Together combines the expertise of Field Museum ornithologists John Bates and Shannon Hackett with the curiosity of birders RJ and Amanda Pole to make bird science approachable, conversational, and fun.
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