hummingbird
All wild hummingbird species occur in the New World. This topic is part of Birds within Science & Nature. This page currently draws on 13 supporting questions, with answers and bonus facts available below.
hummingbird trivia questions
Hummingbirds are famous for hovering while feeding on what?
Answer: Nectar
Bonus fact: They hover near flowers and feeders.
Hummingbird wings can move in what unusual pattern that helps hovering?
Answer: Figure-eight pattern
Bonus fact: Their shoulder joints allow lift on both forward and backward strokes.
Hummingbirds are native only to which broad region?
Answer: The Americas
Bonus fact: All wild hummingbird species occur in the New World.
Flowers pollinated by hummingbirds are often what color?
Answer: Red
Bonus fact: Bird-pollinated flowers often use bright visual signals.
What flower shape is common in hummingbird pollination?
Answer: Tubular
Bonus fact: Long tubular flowers match hummingbird bills and tongues.
Why do many hummingbird-pollinated flowers have little scent?
Answer: Hummingbirds rely more on vision than smell
Bonus fact: Color and nectar are more important cues.
The ruby-throated hummingbird is native mainly to which continent?
Answer: North America
Bonus fact: It is the most familiar breeding hummingbird across much of eastern North America.
What major geographic barrier do many ruby-throated hummingbirds cross during migration?
Answer: The Gulf of Mexico
Bonus fact: Some individuals make a nonstop flight of hundreds of miles between the U.S. Gulf Coast and the Yucatan region.
The bee hummingbird is famous for being the world's smallest what?
Answer: Bird
Bonus fact: It is so tiny that a large insect can look surprisingly similar in size at a glance.
The bee hummingbird is native to which Caribbean country?
Answer: Cuba
Bonus fact: The species is endemic to Cuba and several nearby Cuban islands.
About how much can an adult male bee hummingbird weigh?
Answer: Around 2 grams
Bonus fact: Its body mass can be less than that of a U.S. dime, making its flight performance especially remarkable.
Which small animals commonly use torpor?
Answer: Hummingbirds
Bonus fact: Hummingbirds can lower body temperature overnight to save energy.