Myths and misconceptions

Many myths and tales of old women have developed about the hummingbird. There are also some pretty bizarre facts that sound like myths. Here are some of those myths, confirmed or ARRESTEDand some interesting facts.

• Hummingbirds migrate mounted on the backs of geese. ARRESTED

Humans probably couldn’t imagine this little bird flying the required distances with the frenetic, energy-consuming pace they exhibit, but in fact hummingbirds could give a goose some lessons in migration. The Rufous Hummingbird is known to make a nearly 12,000 mile round trip to Alaska. Adults are the first to leave the nesting area, and new young follow later without adult guidance.

• Hummingbirds can’t walk / don’t have feet – MEDIUM CONFIRMED

In fact, the legs and feet of a hummingbird are practically useless for anything other than perching. A hummer will normally fly straight up, even to turn around on a perch, and will move only very short distances without flying.

• Leaving the feeders outside of the regular departure time will cause the buzzers to linger and perish. ARRESTED

The urge to migrate is stronger than any feeder and the buzzers will leave when nature and instinct say the time is right. In areas of the Southwest, some species can be seen throughout the year, and there is some evidence that the migration pattern of rufous species is changing and some are wintering in the southeastern United States. Surprisingly, the hummingbird is hardy and adaptable and can survive up to 20 degrees F. An article in December 2003 Southeast Missourian described the confirmed and ringed sighting of a rufous hummingbird in southeastern Missouri through mid-December.

• The beak of a hummingbird is a hollow tube. ARRESTED

A hummingbird has two jaws; the upper half overlaps the lower half. They can open the bill, but there are limits to how much it can be opened, about 3/8 of an inch. Sometimes they can be seen moving their tongues in and out; they do it to get the food off the tongue. Its tongue, forked at the tip, has a central canal. Dilute the nectar sticks on the tip of the tongue and in the canal by capillary action.

• Hummingbirds’ tongues are hollow and they suck nectar like a straw. ARRESTED

The tongue of a buzzer is not hollow. They lick nectar like a cat licks water and squeezes it from their tongue into their mouth.

• Hummingbirds hibernate in lake mud instead of migrating – ARRESTED

I have no idea where this could have come from. Only churros are known to hibernate. Hummingbirds in cold places can go “dormant” by lowering body temperature and metabolism to conserve energy at night.

• Hummingbirds only eat red flowers. ARRESTED

Hummers feed on any flower they find rich in nectar.

• Hummingbirds mate while flying – ARRESTED

Hummers mate while perched. What may appear to be mating in the air is part of the complicated mating ritual.

• Birds become dependent on feeders and will starve if feeders are emptied or removed. ARRESTED

Because birds have wings, they instinctively pierce for food and visit many places during the day in search of different sources. Birds never become dependent on a source and most studies have shown that birds with easy access to feeders use them for only 20% of their daily rations. If their feeders are empty or removed, hummers will look to other sources.

• In the winter, the birds’ legs will stick to the metal perches. ARRESTED

Birds do not have sweat glands, so their dry feet will not freeze and turn into metal perches in the winter unless they have gotten wet by some other means.