Rufous’ (female) Rufous’ (male) Hummers Have It All to reach their destination. It can be a This miniature bundle of iridescent energy frightening journey for these powerful and has the gift of unmatched flying skills; the agile fl yers because they don’t necessarily homing instinct of a carrier pigeon; the know where their next meal will be stamina of birds thousands of times their found. Therefore, they must increase their size; and engaging personalities. They are fat reserves as much as possible before ingenious, curious, perky, acrobatic, bright- migrating. A stop here at Crystal Cove eyed, confident, and irrepressible. They State Park may provide them with some have colors pure as a rainbow and are a of that energy. joy for people to watch and observe. — Dan True

Black-chinned Rufouses are often Allen’s have hummers weigh described as feisty and about 1/8 of an ferocious in defending been clocked ounce, so 8 of them their territory and will diving 60 miles could be mailed readily attack other an hour! with a single hummingbirds and Black-chinned postage stamp. Black-chinned larger predators Allen’s (male) Allen’s (female) (female) (male) Calliope (female) Calliope (male) More fun facts... Zoobooks – Published by Wildlife Education Ltd. We are fortunate to enjoy the antics of The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior – National fi ve species as they either nest or migrate • In order to hover at fl owers and feed Audubon Society (the aerial equivalent of treading water), The Birder’s Handbook – A Field Guide to the Natural HUMMINGBIRDS to their wintering grounds in Mexico and History of North American Birds – Paul R. Erlich, David hummingbirds are equipped with a unique Central America. Although black-chinned, S. Dobkin, Darryl Wheye OF CRYSTAL COVE Costa’s, and Rufous hummingbirds are fi gure-8 wing motion that also allows them Orange County Native Plants for Butterfl ies and normally only seen during the spring and to fl y forwards, backwards, sideways, and Hummingbirds STATE PARK summer, both the Anna’s and the Allen’s upside down. Sharing the Wonder With Kids – Laura Erickson have become year-round residents. Of Hummers – Hummingbirds of North America – Millie • While in fl ight, a hummer’s wings can beat Miller & Cyndi Nelson all the hummingbirds, our own Rufous Hummingbirds are among the most as quickly as 70-80 times per second. Hummingbirds of North America, Attracting, Feeding & makes the longest migration by fl ying from Photography – Dan True charismatic creatures seen at Crystal Mexico to Alaska, about 3,000 miles each • A hummingbird’s pectoral (chest) muscles Hummingbirds of North America – Sheri L. Williamson Cove State Park. They are ingenious, way! Although this may not be the longest comprise an amazing 25-30 percent of the Beginner’s Guide to Hummingbirds – Stokes curious, acrobatic, and confi dent. With migration of any bird species, in proportion bird’s total body weight. LA Times, Leslie Carlson – July 13, 1997 unmatched fl ying skills and the stamina www.hummingbirds.net to size, no other bird fl ies further. of far larger birds, hummingbirds, • Birds, in general, are different from any www.hummingbirdsociety.org other animal in that they have feathers Photography by Gary Meredith affectionately known as “hummers", are Special thanks to Maya Decker, Ross Hawkins a joy to watch. The fi ve hummingbirds To “glue” their nests together, and hollow bones. But hummingbirds, by virtue of their miniature bodies, long, featured here are either year-round hummingbirds use the California State Parks does not discriminate against individuals slender bills, and ability to hover while with disabilities. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who residents or visitors stopping to refuel sticky silk from spider webs need assistance should contact the park at (949) 494-3539. feeding, are set apart from all other birds. To receive this publication in alternate format, during migration. combined with saliva. call (949) 497-7647. Costa’s (male) In addition to this great need for nectar, most Parenting: Dedicated Mothers Hummingbirds: hummingbirds must also feed on insects in Creatures of Delight order to get protein, vitamins and minerals. The mother hummingbird, with her They feed only on the tiniest of bugs, and are inconspicuous plumage, must always build partial to fruit fl ies, gnats, mosquitoes, spiders, her nest near an available food source. Crystal Cove State Park offers 2,400 and aphids. When hunting for insects, a Usually she lays two pinto bean-sized eggs acres of unencumbered wilderness Feeding Strategies: hummingbird will usually nab them from the and alone cares for the chicks, which are space, home to myriad animals, including air with their exceptionally long tongue, which born smaller than a bumblebee. She feeds coyotes, rattlesnakes, frogs, and birds. Constantly Hungry is actually the same length as its bill. This her nestlings for several weeks until they One of the most charismatic residents, For little creatures, hummers have enables the tiny bird to rapidly slurp nectar fl edge and are able to fi nd food on their the hummingbird, can be frequently seen enormous appetites and spend most (about 13 licks per second) and reach deeply own. In order to feed her hungry children, feeding, resting, engaging in courtship of their waking hours feeding. Pound displays, and even nesting. for pound they use more energy in Anna’s is the one day than any other warm blooded largest hummer There are more than 300 species of animal. Hummingbirds are primarily in California and hummingbirds, which are the world’s smallest nectar eaters as this concentrated one of only two that birds. The Cuban bee hummingbird, which sing (albeit with a sugar provides them with the most measures 2 ¼” from beak to tail tip, is the high pitched whistle). vital source of energy. In fact, some tiniest of all, with the largest being the robin- Costa’s is the other. may double their body weight each Anna’s (female) Anna’s (male) Anna’s nest sized giant hummingbird from South America. day in nectar, eat one half their body Our local Anna’s, at 4”, is about average. weight in solids, and drink eight times into blossoms. They also glean insects and the mama pokes her bill down the chicks’ their weight in water. In order to meet eggs from cracks and crevices of tree bark, throats and regurgitates nectar and insects As fair weather friends, hummingbirds can this daily requirement, they will visit or perch themselves on a branch and scan from her crop. So what happens to papa? only be found in the Caribbean and the 1,000-2,000 fl owers. their environment for fl ying food. Whichever One theory is that his brightly colored Americas, with at least 16 species nesting method they should choose to feast, watching gorget (throat patch) attracts predators and breeding within the United States. Only Why the great need for sugar? A a hummingbird at “work” is fascinating. to the nest, including snakes, roadrunners, the Anna’s and Allen’s hummingbirds are hummingbird will burn from 6,600- ants, and wasps. The lack of color on the found here at Crystal Cove State Park year 12,000 calories per day. Knowing In our garden you will notice that many of the female may serve to camoufl age both her round; others are just fueling up on their this, it’s always a surprise to see a fl owers have long, tubular blooms. Although and her chicks from these same predators. way between Mexico and Canada in the hummingbird at rest. But when a hummingbirds are thought to be partial to red spring and fall. In southern California, Anna’s, hummingbird is resting, it is likely tubular fl owers, they will feed on a variety of Allen’s, Costa’s, as well as Rufous, and black- digesting nectar it recently consumed. fl owers in all shapes and colors. Migration: Flying South chinned are regularly seen in parks, gardens, Rather than hanging out, a hummingbird and just about anywhere there are fl owers. is probably emptying its crop (the part When the days become shorter, the of the digestive tract that stores food) weather cooler, fl owers are no longer in before it is able to forage again. They may bloom and insects are hard to fi nd, most Costa’s are able to go actually spend more time perching than At rest, a hummingbird’s heart beats North American hummingbirds fl y south through the entire fl ying, since it only takes a few seconds about 500 times per minute. While for the winter. In order to fi nd abundant breeding season to slurp nectar, but between 10-30 fl ying and foraging, its heart can beat nectar and insects, they set sail for warmer minutes to process it in their systems. locations and may fl y at 25 miles per hour Costa’s without any water. as high as 1,260 times per minute. (female)