Crash Course: Hummingbirds in Costa Rica By: Laurel Payzant

READY…SET…GO! Scientific Name: Selasphorus scintilla Status in the Wild: Common Habitat: Cloud Forests & Rainforests Diet: Herbivore (“Costa Rica”) rica-rainforest-hummingbird/

THEIR NAME Named for the distinctive sound made by their beating wings Vibrantly colored and energetic “…their remarkable size, fearless nature and shimmering colors have made these flying jewels a favorite among birders and wildlife lovers” (“Costa Rica”) Over 338 known species, around 50 live or breed in Costa Rica’s cloud forests or tropical lowlands What makes them so unique? Their ability to hover for long periods of time & ability to fly backwards (“Costa Rica”)

CONTINUED… Wings beat up to 100 beats per minute So fast that the naked eye cannot detect them Generate power on both the forward and backward wing strokes (Baker) WATCH THIS:

FOOD Hummingbirds eat at least half their body weight in food everyday Need to support their high energy lifestyles Body temperature drops at night & they go into a state of torpor to help conserve energy Highest metabolic rate of any bird Heart rate can exceed 1,200 beats a minute (“Costa Rica”) Highest metabolic rate per unit of body weight in the avian world (Baker)

RELATIONSHIP TO FLOWERS Co-evolved with flowers and plants Developed long slender bills and even longer tongues to feed on nectar Flowers bloom and fade, so hummingbirds live solitary lives Need to aggressively defend nectar sources from rival hummers, bees, and butterflies Also eat insects to supplement fat and protein in their diet (“Costa Rica”)

HABITAT Variety of temperate and tropical habitats in Costa Rica Lowland areas: hummers nest during dry season months of December through April Highlands: nest towards the end of the year when temperatures are colder and epiphytic flowers are blooming (“Costa Rica”)

REPRODUCTION Only mingle with the opposite sex for a short time during mating Nests are constructed out of moss, twigs, plant fibers, fern leaves, and sometimes cobwebs Two small eggs, which are incubated by the female for days Chicks are fed nectar and regurgitated insects Remain in the nest for a month (“Costa Rica”) Not lifetime maters because of competitive and solitary behavior Typically females search for males Males attract females by creating vocal and wing sounds & show off their feathers (“26 Species…”)

STATUS IN THE WILD Abundant No danger of extinction Exception: the mangrove hummingbird, whose habitat along the Pacific Coast is threatened by local development and increased population (“Costa Rica”) New adults must learn on their own (flying, searching for food, avoiding predators, bathing, and grooming) Predators : hawks, orioles, roadrunners, crows, jays, and other large birds Also, mice and cats 19 th century: humans killing for use of ornaments and feathers on hats (“26 Species…”)

HUMMINGBIRD HOTSPOTS IN COSTA RICA Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Santa Elena Reserve Selvatura Park in Monteverde San Gerardo de Dota Los Quetzales National Park La Selva Biological Station in Sarapiqui Poas Volcano National Park La Paz Waterfall Gardens (“Costa Rica”)

VIOLET SABREWING Habitat: found in montane forest, ravines, areas around streams, and wooded areas National Parks: Cara National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Physical Description: One of the largest hummingbirds in the world, surpassed by the Giant Hummingbird Wide, long tail with bright white corner feathers, wide wing feathers, and a long, curved bill Rarely protective or defensive of flowers; not very aggressive in relation to size Height/ weight : 15 cm long, male: 11.5 g Female: 9.5 g (“Birds of Costa Rica”)

FUN FACTS Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world For their size, hummingbirds have the largest heart & brain of all animals Hummingbirds have no sense of smell Hummingbird wings beat around 60 times per second Hummingbird hearts beat from 500 to 1,200 times per minute Hummingbirds are only found in North, Central and South America Hummingbirds visit 2,000 to 5,000 flowers a day Hummingbirds can consume twice their weight daily Their color is produced by refraction of light, not by pigment Their average speed is 45 miles per hour Their tongues are twice the length of their bills In addition to nectar, hummingbirds eat insects for protein Hummingbirds cannot walk, only perch Hummingbirds fly only 20% of the time (“26 Species…”)

Size Range rica-rainforest-hummingbird/

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References "26 Species of Hummingbirds at La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Costa Rica." 26 Species of Hummingbirds at La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Costa Rica. Web. 11 Feb Baker, Christopher. "Birds." CR Handbook. Web. 11 Feb "Birds of Costa Rica." Anywhere Costa Rica. Web. 11 Feb "Costa Rica." - Hummingbirds. Web. 12 Feb