giant hummingbird
Quick Summary
The giant hummingbird (Patagona gigas) is the largest hummingbird species, reaching about 20 cm (8 inches) in length. Despite its size, it exhibits remarkable flight capabilities, capable of speeds over 48 km per hour (30 mph) during normal flight and even faster during courtship displays. Hummingbirds, in general, are known for their agility and unique wing structure, which allows them to hover, fly backward, and maneuver with precision to extract nectar from flowers. They are found in the New World, with the greatest diversity in South America. The giant hummingbird specifically inhabits the western slopes of the Andes Mountains in Ecuador and Peru.12
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hummingbirdNatural historyIts close relative, the southern giant hummingbird (P. gigas), whose range extends from Ecuador to Chile, is only slightly smaller at 21.0 g (0.7 ounce), less than that of most sparrows. Both species are roughly 20 cm (7.8 inches) long. The smallest hummingbird species, the bee hummingbird (Mellisuga, sometimes Calypte,…
Read MoreIts close relative, the southern giant hummingbird (P. gigas), whose range extends from Ecuador to Chile, is only slightly smaller at 21.0 g (0.7 ounce), less than that of most sparrows. Both species are roughly 20 cm (7.8 inches) long. The smallest hummingbird species, the bee hummingbird (Mellisuga, sometimes Calypte,…
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apodiformSize range and diversity of structure…member of the family, the giant hummingbird (Patagona gigas) of western South America, has a body only about the size of a large sparrow, although the bill and tail extend this length by about 35 and 85 mm (1.4 and 3.3 inches), respectively. There is relatively little structural diversity among…
Read More…member of the family, the giant hummingbird (Patagona gigas) of western South America, has a body only about the size of a large sparrow, although the bill and tail extend this length by about 35 and 85 mm (1.4 and 3.3 inches), respectively. There is relatively little structural diversity among…
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