[mou] Hummingbird Question
patrick.beauzay@ndsu.edu
patrick.beauzay@ndsu.edu
Sun, 14 Aug 2005 12:19:22 -0500 (CDT)
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Here is an excellent website on the ruby-throated hummingbird.
http://www.rubythroat.org/RTHUMain.html
Hummingbirds use a form of daily hibernation called "torpor" which is a
rest period where body temperature drops and metabolism is slowed down.
This usually occurs at night, but can also occur during the day. Torpor
is energy-saving, but hummers in a torpid state are more susceptible to
predation. Also, because their metabolism is slowed down, they cannot
make fat as they can when they are fully active. I just read a paper in
which the authors studied feeding territory and fat formation in the
blue-throated hummingbird. They found that dominant hummers that guard
nectar sources tend to use torpor to a lesser degree and form more body
fat. This is particularly important in migration when food sources may be
difficult to find.
A note about color. The metallic reds and greens seen in hummers are not
caused by red or green pigments. The color is "structural". That is, the
microscopic spaces between the structural components of the feather allow
only a certain wavelength of light to be transmitted (reflected) back to
the viewer. When viewed at an oblique angle, the microscopic spacings
change size relative to the viewer and that is why the red throat, for
example, appears black. This type of coloration is quite common in
nature, especially among insects like butterflies and tiger beetles.
Hope I haven't been too long-winded!
Cheers,
Pat
Patrick Beauzay
Department of Entomology
217 Hultz Hall, Bolley Drive
North Dakota State University
Fargo, ND 58105
701-231-9491
Patrick.Beauzay@ndsu.nodak.edu
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
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12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>I have 3 Hummingbird feeders up—all
3 feeders have 8 feeding ports. One of the feeders often has birds at all
feeding ports plus some hummer waiting in the air for a free spot. I’ve
seen as many as 16 hummers around that feeder. The other two feeders are each
“guarded” by a hummer that has laid claim to it. No other
hummers are allowed at the other two feeders except the guard hummer. The
guard hummers at my place do fly around “patrolling” their
feeders. The 3 feeders are about 10 ft. apart.</span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
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<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>"The world is a book, and those who
do not travel, read only a page."</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>--</span></font><font color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:black'>Saint Augustine</span></font><font
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:black'> of Hippo
(A. D. 354-430)</span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original Message-----<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b> mou-net-admin@cbs.umn.edu
[mailto:mou-net-admin@cbs.umn.edu] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf
Of </span></b>Ron Green<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Saturday, August 13, 2005
10:33 AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> mou-net@cbs.umn.edu;
mnbird@lists.mnbird.net<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [mou] Hummingbird
Question</span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I have a couple of questions
regarding our resident Ruby-Throated HB's (male and female) that I am
hoping someone could educate my wife and me on regarding a several issues?</span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1) Last night, my wife and I
were eating dinner and watching the male HB. Anyway, we just noticed
a bright red patch under its throat. I have taken quite a
few close-up images and have not seen this before. Is the probably
another male, or is it a change in the one that has been hanging around the
most?</span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2) The last week or so it seems that
the male has shifted to coming to the feeder frequently, but not necessarily to
drink. It flys around, and darts back and forth. It seems like it
is patroling? Is this territorial behavior? We do have a female that shows
up occaisionally and he does tend to chase her off. But, she does come
back when he is not around. Also, there is another male that does come around
but is quickly chased by our resident one. However, the one getting chased off
seems rather persistent and keeps coming back.</span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3) I was at Wild Birds Unlimited
last Sunday to give a talk on Digital Photography. I happened to talk with a
customer of the store who was telling me that she had quite a few HB's at her
feeder at one time (I thought she said 10, but don't quote me on that). I was
surprised based on what happens at out feeder and from a talk we had heard from
a HB expert at the </span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Quarry</span></font><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Hill</span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Nature</span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Center</span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> around
February or March of this year. </span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I would be interested in some inputs
on the above. Thank you in advance.</span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Ron Green<br>
<a href="http://www.greensphotoimages.com/gallery">http://www.greensphotoimages.com/gallery</a></span></font></p>
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