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Hummingbirds inspire, fascinate, dazzle, and bring joy. Yet, increasing numbers of species are becoming imperiled in a world changing quickly and with increasing impacts.
Hummingbirds are an outlier in the avian world. For their size, they have the longest migration, the fastest flight (by body length), largest brain, largest heart, and fastest wingbeat. They are the only birds that can fly backwards, have the least amount of feathers, and lay the smallest eggs (yet the largest in proportion to their bodies). Despite being the smallest bird in the world, they are among the most aggressive in defending their territory, even against birds like jays and crows that are hundreds or thousands of times larger. The iridescent, multi-faceted gorget of the males, shifting in brilliant colors, makes them unforgettable. |
