Ruby-throated hummingbird eggs are so small that a penny would completely cover three of them. The usual brood, however, is two eggs. When choosing scientific names, Hummingbirds were assigned to the family Trochilidae, from the Greek trochilos, meaning “small bird.” Photo Courtesy Of:saiou
“Waxwings take avian aesthetics to a whole new level. That roguish black bandit’s mask, velvety plumage, insouciant crest, and vividly colored tail tip put other birds to shame. Frankly, if there’s a sleeker species, I haven’t seen it. In fact, the genus name, Bombycilla, is a Latin translation of the Swedish name, Sidensvans, which means
Contrary to popular belief, hummingbirds do not diet exclusively on nectar; they also eat insects, grubs, and any other tiny creature they can get their bill on. Scientists once thought that hummingbirds had to ride on the back of larger birds to cross the Gulf of Mexico during their annual migration to South America, because
This pair of Northern Parulas nested on Hog Island, carefully building their home in the hanging Lichen known as Old Man’s Beard, found on many of our local spruce trees. Serving as both curtain and camouflage, the lichen protects the two young that await their daily diet of insects. Northern Parulas are The smallest of
