The small and energetic hummingbirds
Hummingbirds have been named due to the distinctive sound made by their tiny beating wings. Locally they are known as “colibríes” and they are a favorite for birders due to their small size, fearless nature and sparkling. Fifty out of the 338 known species of hummingbirds live in Costa Rica. Costa Rica car rental
Hummingbirds have co-evolved with flowers and plants, developing long slender bills and even longer tongues to feed on nectar. Most hummingbirds lead somewhat solitary lives, aggressively defending nectar sources from rival hummers, bees and butterflies. They also eat insects in order to supplement fat and protein in their diet. If insects are available the hummingbird may eat a lot of them in just one day. They might even raid a spider’s web to eat the captured insects or even the spider itself.
The smallest Costa Rican hummer is the male scintillant hummingbird (Selasphorus scintilla); it weighs only two grams. The largest is the violet sabrewing which weighs 11.5 grams. Car rental Costa Rica
Hummingbirds dwell in a variety of temperate and tropical habitats in Costa Rica. In the lowland areas, hummers commonly nest during the dry season months of December through April. The ones that inhabit the highlands like Monteverde or San Gerardo de Dota, nest towards the end of the year because the temperatures are colder and epiphytic flowers are blooming.
Hummingbirds are commonly seen throughout the country but especially in the 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 and La Paz Waterfall Gardens.
Most hummingbirds are abundant and they are not an endangered species. The only one that is threatened is the mangrove hummingbird (Amazilia boucardi), whose habitat along the Pacific Coast has been threatened due to local development.
The following are some interesting facts about hummingbirds:
- They are the smallest birds in the world.
- Hummingbird hearts beat from 500 to 1,200 times per minute.
- For their size, they have the largest heart and brain of all the animals.
- Their wings beat approximately 60 times per second.
- They visit 2,000 to 5,000 flowers a day.
- Their average speed is 45 miles per hour.
- They can only perch, hummingbirds cannot walk.
- They are able to consume twice their weight daily.
- They fly only 20% of the time.
- Their tongues are twice the length of their bills.
A great place to observe them is the Selvatura Park located in Monteverde as here you will be able to see 14 species of them. Selvatura Park is one of Monteverde’s most popular attractions. A conservation area that includes more than 850 acres of protected land and stunning virgin cloud forest. The park offers many of the region’s favorite activities combined on one site.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens is another place that attracts about 26 species of hummingbirds from Costa Rica.
Visit Costa Rica and admire these amazing energetic creatures.