 where they lay two eggs. Spider silk is an excellent choice, as it is lightweight and sticky. Another benefit is that it can stretch up to 40% of it’s length without breaking12, perfect for growing hummer chicks.
Rufous Hummingbirds are listed as Least Concern according to the IUCN. With such swift speeds, they aren’t easy to catch, but venomous spiders, wasps, hornets, snakes, and domestic cats are their main predators. Flying into windows also takes its toll, often killing the bird.
Whether you are an old fan of these hummingbirds, or hoping to add it to your life list this year, the Rufous Hummingbird is yet another great Bird of the Year choice. They might not ride horses, wear armor, or carry shields, but they are just as quick to stop invasions as knights of old. Here’s to 2014 and the Rufuous Hummingbird!
1http://www.birdzilla.com/birds/Rufous-Hummingbird/bent_life_history.html (behavior paragraph 1)
2Ibid (behavior paragraph 1 [brackets for clarity])
3Ibid (behavior paragraph 4)
4http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rufous_Hummingbird/lifehistory (Cool Fact #2)
5http://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_hummingbirds.php (Hummer Facts #2)
6http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rufous_Hummingbird/lifehistory (Cool Fact #6)
7http://www.backyardchirper.com/blog/10-fun-facts-about-hummingbirds/ (Fact #9)
8http://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_hummingbirds.php (Hummer Facts #8)
9http://www.birdzilla.com/birds/Rufous-Hummingbird/bent_life_history.html (food paragraph 5)
10http://www.birdzilla.com/birds/Rufous-Hummingbird/bent_life_history.html (food paragraph 4)
11http://www.birdzilla.com/birds/Rufous-Hummingbird/bent_life_history.html (paragraph 1)
12http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Publications/Birdscope/Spring2008/spider_silk.html (paragraph 2)