Understanding Hummingbirds Across Different American Landscapes

Hummingbirds are remarkable small birds found exclusively in the Americas, ranging from Alaska and Canada in the north, through Central America and the Caribbean, and into the diverse landscapes of South America, including the Andes and Amazon basin. Colombia, for example, hosts the highest diversity of hummingbird species in the world, with around 165 species recorded within its borders, a reflection of its wide range of ecosystems and elevation gradients. A hummingbird displays incredible flight abilities, including the capacity to hover in place, fly backward, and change direction with precision, enabled by their unique wing mechanics and rapid wingbeats. These adaptations support their energetic lifestyle, which depends primarily on nectar from flowers and is supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein and minerals. Many species live year-round in forested and mountain habitats, while others migrate seasonally across large distances between breeding and wintering grounds. Hummingbirds occupy a remarkable variety of habitats from lowland tropical forests and riparian woodlands to high-elevation cloud forests and paramo grasslands, with specialized species adapted to specific ecological niches at different elevations. Their close ecological relationships with flowering plants make them key pollinators in many ecosystems throughout the Americas.