![]() ( Perrins and Middleton, 1989 Terres, 1982 Weekes, 2000)īee hummingbirds are diurnal. ![]() ( Perrins and Middleton, 1989 Peters, 2000 Thomson, 1964)īee hummingbirds are known to live up to 7 years in the wild, and 10 years in captivity. Nests are often lined with down to help keep the eggs warm. Females build a small cup shaped nest with relatively thick walls made of moss, bark and spider webs. helenae are entirely responsible for the care of the altricial young. Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female) 1 yearsįemale M.Breeding season Breeding occurs at the end of the wet season and the beginning of the dry season.gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate).( Perrins and Middleton, 1989 Peters, 2000 Sibley and Ahlquist, 1990 Thomson, 1964 Weekes, 2000) Females make their first attempt to breed when they are 1 year old. Incubation lasts 14 to 23 days and the chicks fledge after 18 to 38 days. The eggs are elliptical in shape and are white. Mating in bee hummingbirds can occur on a perch or while hovering in the air.įemale bee hummingbirds typically lay 2 pea-sized eggs. Breeding corresponds with the flowering patterns of sloandria grand flora, the bird's preferred source of nectar. ( Perrins and Middleton, 1989 Peters, 2000 Sibley and Ahlquist, 1990 Thomson, 1964 Weekes, 2000)īreeding occurs at the end of the wet season and the beginning of the dry season when many trees and shrubs are flowering. A single male may mate with several females in one season. Females visit several leks and select a mate based on his performance. The songs may be brief warbles or a repetition of a few notes. helenae form leks (groups of singing males that form during breeding season) to perform advertising songs to attract females. These characteristics are developed later in the life (decorative patterns) of the adult male (Terres 1982 Thomson 1964). The nestlings’ initial plumage closely resembles that of an adult Bee Hummingbird, with an exception to the dark colorations and the iridescent ornamentations. Hatchlings tend to leave the nest only after their wing feathers are fully-grown. The young Bee Hummingbirds are fed by regurgitation for 20-40 days while the mother hovers over the nest. helenae are blind and nearly naked of plumage (feathers), but their growth is rapid. As is common among other hummingbirds, their shoulder joints allow their wings to rotate 180 degrees and their small feet and legs can only be used for perching. Mellisuga helenae (and other hummingbirds) are also equipped with a large keel and tapered wings, which aid in flying. They have specially adapted flight muscles, which make up 22 to 34 percent of their total body weight. helenae can be distinguished by their bright colors and the iridescent feathers on their throats. These birds have straight and rather short beaks when compared with other species of hummingbirds. This small species is very compact and agile with an average wingspan of 3.25 cm. Males grow to be 5.51 cm long and weigh 1.95 g, on average, while females grow to be 6.12 cm long and weigh 2.6 g, on average. helenae tend to be slightly larger than males. They are comparable in size to large bees. They also spend a higher percentage of their lives flying than any other species. ![]() ( BirdLife International, 2003 Lack, 1973 Perrins and Middleton, 1989 Tyrrell, 1990)īee hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world. They can be found in coastal and interior forests, in mountain valleys, swampy areas and gardens. ![]() Although bee hummingbirds may live at both high and low altitudes, they seem to prefer lowlands. Bee hummingbirds prefer areas with the plant solandria grand flora, which provides their preferred source of nectar. ( Lack, 1971 Tyrrell, 1990)Ĭuba has a humid subtropical climate with no seasonal extremes, a favorable environment for bee hummingbirds. There have also been several bee hummingbird sightings on the neighboring islands of Jamaica and Haiti. Today, bee hummingbirds inhabit the entire island and Isla de la Juventud, which is the largest of the islands off Cuba's southern coast. Mellisuga helenae are residents of Cuba, an island located in the West Indies.
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